Ebetsu and Gresham
The Gresham Sister City Association was formed in 1977 between Gresham, Oregon, and Ebetsu, Japan.
Mission statement: “To foster friendships with our sister city that promote and strengthen our educational, economic, and cultural ties to enrich the lives of our citizens.
This association has resulted in a contingent of Gresham folks visiting Ebetsu on a somewhat regular basis with return visits to Gresham from the people of Ebetsu. This association has fostered friendship and trade between our cities.
Like Gresham, one of the highlights of the city is its proximity to nature, as it abuts the extensive Nopporo Forest State Park — the world’s largest park of virgin forest on level ground. Ebetsu also is known for having year-round wind, something Gresham residents can understand with the Columbia River Gorge often funneling the East Wind through the city.
Further strengthening the bond is that Portland also is in a Sister City program with Sapporo, Japan, Ebetsu’s larger neighboring city.
Going to Ebetsu was a ton of fun! It was scary at first, but as I learned from my host family and the friends I made at school, they made life really fun and easy. They helped me out with getting settled and took me out to interesting and fun places which allowed me to learn more about Japan! If you have the chance to go on an exchange, definitely apply to go!