Oyama City is located in the southern part of Tochigi Prefecture, approximately 60 km north of Tokyo and 30 km south of Utsunomiya City, the prefectural capital, and takes approximately 40 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train. National highways and railways run north-south and east-west through the city, making it an important transportation hub.
With a population of approximately 166,000, this city ranks as the second largest in the prefecture. The number of foreign residents is approximately 7400, and the residency rate is the second highest in the prefecture, making it one of the municipalities with a large foreign population nationwide.
Moreover, there is a well-balanced mix of agriculture and commerce, and the area surrounding the urban centre features rich pastoral environments, including farmland and flatwood forests.
Oyama City is a ‘Garden City’ that stands out within the metropolitan area, characterised by a harmonious balance between a rich rural environment and urban surrounding, shaped by a long-standing history, traditions, and culture that have been passed down for generations, creating expansive and vibrant atmosphere.
In spring, visitors can enjoy vivid cherry blossoms, including Omoigawazakura, a variety native to Oyama City with pale pink flowers. Visitors can walk or jog while viewing the cherry blossoms, or capture photogenic pictures along the cherry tree-lined approach.
Festivals and events are also among the attractions of Oyama City. Every year on 5th of May, one of Kanto region’s leading eccentric festivals, “Mamada no Jagamaita,” is held, designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of the nation. Seven giant snakes made of bamboo and ferns parade through the Mamada area, praying for a rich harvest and good health.
In late July every year, one of the biggest events in Oyama City, the “Oyama Summer Festival” is held lighting up the summer night sky with over 20,000 fireworks and leaving inspiration to many people.
Additionally, as an important environmental resource to be passed on to future generations, there is the vast Watarase Retarding Basin(Watarase-yusuichi), which spans four prefectures (Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Ibaraki).
In the Watarase Retarding Basin, designated as a Ramsar Convention wetland in 2012, visitors can enjoy a variety of natural landscapes throughout the four seasons. And since 2018, the Oriental Stork, designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan, has been establishing a habitat and from 2020, chicks have been born for four consecutive years.
The inhabiting and breeding of the Oriental Stork serve as evidence of the rich and harmonious ecosystem in the surrounding area of Watarase Retarding Basin.
Oyama City is actively promoting citizen international exchange and international understanding. In 2005, the city formed a sister city affiliation with Cairns, Queensland. Since then, students responsible for the future of both cities have served as bridges between them by engaging in language training and interactions with local residents.
Although in-person exchanges were impossible by the challenges posed by the pandemic, in 2021, a commemorative ceremony was held to mark the 15th anniversary of the sister city affiliation. During the event, the mayors of both cities held a virtual meeting, reaffirming the deep bond between the sister cities.
While the local exchange program was temporarily suspended, in August 2023, 22 students from Oyama City visited Cairns for the first time in four years. Through activities such as a visit to the city hall, school exchanges, and homestays, they were able to deepen friendships with local residents.
The exchange with Cairns City holds great significance for the future of Oyama City.
Oyama City will continue to foster a deeper and enduring relationship between the two cities by implementing various exchanges, including student exchanges.
