Sister City
Partnership Established : December 24th, 1976 (old Shimizu City)
Population : approx. 100,000
Areaii : approx. 80 km2
Muroran was established long ago at the site of an amazing natural harbor, and has played an important part in the development of Hokkaido's southwest. In the middle of the Meiji Era it served as a base for coal shipping, and through the Taisho and Showa Eras it developed into an industrial port city. As part of its tourism program, in 1992 Muroran set up Nature Watching, a unique activity for dolphin and whale observation.
Sister City
Partnership Established : October 22nd, 1995 (old Shimizu City)
Population : approx. 210,000
Areaii : approx. 973 km2
Joetsu is to be found facing the Sea of Japan in the southwest of Niigata Prefecture. It has long been a focal point for both land and sea traffic, and is home to the important Naoetsu Harbor, the Hokuriku and Joshinetsu Expressways, and the JR Hokuriku Main Line. It was reborn on the 1st of January, 2005, when 13 nearby towns merged together to form the new "Joetsu City."
Friendship City
Partnership Established : October 12th, 1989 (old Shimizu City)
Population : approx. 100,000
Areaii : approx. 424 km2
Saku is a beautiful place located in the centre of the Saku Plateau on the eastern end of Nagano. On April 1st, 2005, three closely located towns merged to become "Saku City."
