Introduction of Sister City Ozora Town (Hokkaido)

A town that nurtures people, flowers, and hearts in the vast sky

Overview of Ozora Town

Ozora Town is located in the Okhotsk region of northeastern Hokkaido and was established on March 31, 2006, through the merger of Memanbetsu Town and Higashimokoto Village.

The population is 6,510 (as of the end of June in the 6th year of Reiwa), and the area is 343.66 square kilometers (about 20 times that of Inagi City).

This town, which is the gateway to the skies of the Okhotsk region, is home to Memanbetsu Airport and is rich in seasonal nature with places like Lake Abashiri, Mount Mokoto, Meruhen Hill, and Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park.
The main industry is agriculture, with a wide variety of crops including grains, potatoes, sugar beets (the raw material for granulated sugar), legumes, and vegetables, as well as rice from the easternmost part of Japan.

• Ozora Town Website(External Link)
• Ozora Town (Google Maps)(External Link)

• Town Tree: Nanakamado, Shirakaba
• Town Flower: Moss Phlox, Skunk Cabbage
• Town Skills Volleyball

Meaning of the Town Name (Origin)

The name Ozora Town was given to signify a place where residents live with dreams and hopes under a clear sky and on fertile land that spreads beneath it, aiming for a bright and cheerful life.

Memanbetsu Lakeshore of Lake Abashiri

Memanbetsu Lakeshore of Lake Abashiri, located in Abashiri National Park, is a beautiful and nature-rich lake that has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Scenic Spots in Hokkaido."
Along the lakeshore, there is a colony of natural monument, skunk cabbage, and in summer, you can enjoy "shijimi clam digging" on the beach.

Exchange with Ozora Town

In 1988, an exchange of children's works initiated by a former principal of a Tokyo metropolitan high school from the former Memanbetsu Town led to activities primarily focused on the education sector (children's exchange).
In 1991 (when it was still Memanbetsu Town), a Sister City partnership was established, and after the merger of Memanbetsu Town and Higashimokoto Village, a formal signing as a Sister City was conducted again in July 2006.
Now, exchanges are taking place not only in the education sector but also in a wide range of fields including culture, sports, and industry/economy.

• Ozora Town Website(External Link)

30th Anniversary of Sister City Partnership with Ozora Town

Inagi City and Ozora Town celebrated the 30th anniversary of their Sister City partnership in November 2021. This has continued since the agreement made with Memambetsu Town before the merger in 1991.

Currently, there is a deep-rooted exchange between the citizens of Inagi City and Ozora Town, including interactions among cultural and artistic organizations and participation in local festivals. In the rapidly changing social climate, the continuation of exchanges across generations is a result of both communities cherishing and nurturing the flame of connection. This bond has become an invaluable asset for both municipalities.

Ozora Town PR Video

• A clear sky spreads over Ozora Town(external link)

Ozora Town's OZORA LIFE

"I want to work" "I want to live in two locations."

• Would you like to engage with Ozora Town in a way that is "uniquely you"?(External link)