Sister Cities Longview, WA

03/16/2026

🇯🇵 Interested in learning Japanese?

If you’re planning to visit our sister city—or just want to try something new—join our Introduction to Japanese Conversation class this spring at Lower Columbia College Professional & Continuing Education!

This beginner-friendly class will help you learn basic phrases, practice conversation, and gain confidence speaking Japanese.

✨ Non-credit class
✨ Open to everyone
✨ Fun and welcoming environment

Start your Japanese learning!

📌 Register today and invite a friend to join you!

Learn how to weave an 8-inch, Appalachian-style, melon basket with ribs that you can take home and use!

09/25/2025

It’s Longview Week! Our sister city, Wako, celebrates "Longview Week" every year to showcase our friendship.

The display is located at the entrance of their City Hall, allowing Wako citizens to enjoy a glimpse of our city!

Photo credit: Keiko Uchiyama, Wako City Council member and former member of the Wako Sister City Network.

08/18/2024

Thank you very much for stopping by our booth at the Squirrel Festival!

06/01/2024

Come stop by International Featival at LCC Student Center!

06/01/2024

See us at the International Festival! Stop by and learn about our sister city!

03/08/2024

Are you interested in being a host family for our Sister City in Japan?

The Longview Sister Cities Commission is looking for host families for 10 Japanese students (7 girls, 3 boys) visiting Longview from Wako International High School in Saitama, Japan, March 16 - 31.

From 8:00 am - 2:30pm they will attend Mark Morris High School and take part in various tours and activities around town. Then during the evenings and the weekend you can plan activities together with your host student.

Host families will be expected to:
- provide daily breakfast and dinner (lunch is at school)
- provide transportation to and from Mark Morris High School Monday through Friday
- provide a private room for the student to stay in (two beds in one room is acceptable for families who host two students)
- pass a background check and sign up to be a CHAMPS volunteer through the Longview School District

If you are interested in hosting for two weeks at the end of March, please contact Sister City member Russ Brewer at [email protected] or 503-277-3553.

It will be a fantastic experience for your family and these high schoolers!

03/03/2024

Japanese tradition on March 3rd
ひなまつり

Today, March 3rd is Hinamatsuri Day!🎎🌸🍡
Hinamatsuri (雛祭り), also known as the Doll's Festival, is a Japanese festival. It is a time to pray for the healthy growth of girls.
Do you have something like Hinamatsuri Day in your country?🥰

On this day, families with young daughters display a set of hina dolls (雛人形) in their homes. The dolls are arranged on a tiered platform, with the Emperor and Empress dolls at the top. The set also includes dolls of the imperial courtiers, musicians, and attendants.

In Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, there is a large-scale Hinamatsuri festival called Katsuura Big Hinamatsuri (かつうらビッグひな祭り). This festival features over 30,000 hina dolls displayed at various locations throughout the city.

The main venue for the festival is Tōmisaki Shrine (遠見岬神社), where over 1,800 hina dolls are displayed on the 60-step stone staircase.

The Katsuura Big Hinamatsuri is a popular event that attracts visitors from all over Japan. It is a great opportunity to see a large collection of hina dolls and to experience the festive atmosphere of Hinamatsuri!



🎎📸

12/05/2023

Sister city Squirrel bridge now is in the Japanese news! #東京新聞 #和光市 #ロングビュー市 #ワシントン州 #姉妹都市

https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/294056?rct=saitama&fbclid=IwAR3QQOho19ROu_FBE555I7uwXe68vT0n2-LUxo5dVrNr7Ps6S9jcuZeUYtU_aem_AUgMvGP7gGMr85AzNrigAYAsonrPplaaJg9w3J8ji8930abZGLHKCeLXaHmtHxImyFk

和光市と姉妹都市の米ワシントン州ロングビュー市で、埼玉県和光市の白子橋を模したリス専用の橋が完成した。橋は長さ約5メートル、幅約40セ...

10/21/2023

Thank you very much for hosting!!!

10/20/2023

The Wako delegates sang a song that Katsura Shimizu who is a Japanese famous poet and Wako resident wrote (it was produced in 1919)

The song is engraved on the Shirako-bashi Bridge in Wako. The design of the bridge is inspired by and reflects the sister city Squirrel Bridge.

Side note: On March 11th. 1937, 9-year-old Shirley Temple recorded the song at Japan Polydor Studio in Tokyo, Japan.

Longview's sister city delegates, from Waco, Japan, sing a song Thursday, Oct. 19 by poet Katsura Shimizu. The poem was written about the Shirako-Bashi Bridge in Waco, which inspired Longview's

10/20/2023

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts❤️