Warabi City is located in Saitama Prefecture.
El Dorado County is located east side of Sacrament in California.
Placerville, CA, March 24, 2025. El Dorado County is rolling out the welcome mat for a special delegation from Warabi, Japan, in celebration of 50 years of friendship through the People to People International and Sister City programs.
Eight esteemed visitors from Warabi will arrive on April 25, 2025, and enjoy an exciting week of exploration, cultural exchange, and celebration while staying in the homes of El Dorado County residents before their departure on May 3.
Residents and visitors alike are invited to take part in this unique cultural experience, culminating in the lively “Sayonara Party,” when all are welcome to bid our friends a heartfelt farewell.
The visit will be packed with activities that highlight the best of El Dorado County while honoring the enduring bonds between the two nations. Many locals participating in the exchange have also traveled to Warabi in prior years, and many plan to visit
Warabi this fall in this dual exchange year. Highlights of the exciting Warabi visitors’ experience this spring will include:
• April 26–27: Warabi guests will spend the weekend with their host families, engaging in specially planned activities that provide a warm, personal touch to their visit.
• April 28: A “Welcome Party” at Wakamatsu Farm, the historic site of the first Japanese colony in America, with a small but meaningful ceremony at the gravesite of Okei-san, the first Japanese woman and immigrant buried on American soil.
• April 29: A possible visit with El Dorado County’s Board of Supervisors in the morning before heading off for a beautiful day exploring Lake Tahoe or Old Sacramento (depending on the weather).
• April 30: A spirited “Scavenger Hunt” through Placerville designed by local high school students. This day will feature stops along the beer trail, a visit to the gardens at the Folsom Lake College campus, and shopping in downtown Placerville. The entire group will gather at a Main Street restaurant for a joyful midday meet-up.
• May 1: A delightful wine tasting experience will showcase regional world-class wines.
Commemorating 50 years of cultural connection, the community is invited to participate in this historic occasion. The “Sayonara Party” on May 2 is open to all who wish to celebrate and send off our Warabi friends with warmth and goodwill.
For more details, information about the El Dorado County and Warabi Sister Cities and People to People chapter, or to RSVP for the party, please contact Janet at jsambucetti29@gmail.com.
Warabi's first trip to El Dorado County in 1975
