Oyama, Japan
Oyama is the gateway to the North Kanto area due to its easy access by national highways and railways and as a result has a growing industrial estate. It is considered a city in the fringes of Greater Tokyo. The city is centred around Omoigawa River and Oyama Station includes a platform for the Tohoku Shinkansen, or bullet train.
Oyama was given city status on 31 March 1954. One of the major employers in the city is Komatsu making iron castings, diesel engines, fork lift trucks and other hydraulic equipment. The population of Oyama is 162,282 inhabitants (2008); Japan 127 million.
Oyama is located in the southern area of Tochigi prefecture, just 80 kilometres north of Tokyo.
The local time of Oyama is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +9 which is one hour behind Cairns.
Although Oyama has a left-coast climate, it reaches both extremes in the summer and winter months. Most summer days are over 30 degrees Celsius and occasionally reach 35. The rainy season is usually the month of June and the Omoi River fills right to the edge in some places. In winter, the lowest temperature is about -5 degrees and there are only a handful of days of snow, but the wind chill factor makes for a very cold winter especially in January and February.
The population of Oyama is approximately 166,000 (2015), Japan 126.5 million.
The Sister City agreement is effective from the day of signing until its 10th anniversary when the Mayors of Cairns and Oyama will confer to renew the bond for a second decade. The agreement was signed on 15 May 2006.
The proclamation reads
'The cities of Cairns, Queensland in Australia and Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, in Japan hereby signal their intent to establish lasting and friendly relations by formally entering into a Sister City relationship.They agree to promote economic, educational, cultural and sport exchanges to generate mutual understanding and goodwill leading to a better life for their citizens. Through this agreement they will:
- Communicate with one another on a frequent and continual basis to strengthen their links, always responsive to special needs and requests.
- Identify and implement projects that will provide specific, meaningful contributions to the health, welfare and prosperity of the people of Cairns and Oyama.
- Regard the officials and citizens of one another's city with utmost respect, friendship and goodwill.'
- 2025 Deputy Mayor Brett Olds hosted twenty-two high school students, their school principal, two teachers and five officials from Oyama City during their visit to Cairns on Wednesday 20 August. On Friday 22 August, we enjoyed a sausage sizzle at the Sister Cities BBQ on the Esplanade with host families and local community members who helped make their visit possible.
- 2024 Mayor Amy Eden hosted a Morning Tea for twenty-two high school students and four teachers from Oyama during their visit to Cairns on Wednesday 21 August. On Sunday 25 August, Oyama joined our other Sister City students from Minami at the Sister Cities BBQ on the Esplanade for a joint BBQ with each other, host families and the local community.
- 2023 Mayor Bob Manning hosted a Morning Tea for the Oyama student delegation visiting Cairns in August.
- 2019 Oyama student delegation visits Cairns in August
- 2018 Oyama student delegation visits Cairns in August
- 2018 Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and Oyama Mayor Toshio Okubo sign a new agreement on 26 October.
- 2017 Students and teachers from Oyama Junior High School visit Cairns in August.
- 2016 Cairns Sister Cities Ambassador Sim Hayward visits Oyama in November.
- 2016 Oyama Student delegation visits Cairns in August
- 2015 Mayor Toshio Okubo leads a delegation, including the new President of Oyama City Council, Ryohei Seki, to Cairns (pictured above, touring the Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory at the Cairns Botanic Gardens).
- 2015 Oyama Student delegation visits Cairns in August
- 2014 Chair of Cairns Sister Cities Advisory visits Oyama City in February
- 2014 Two students from Oyama visit Cairns in August as part of the Youth Ambassadors Program
- 2013 Oyama Mayor Toshio Okubo leads delegation to Cairns
- 2013 Oyama Junior High School students visit Cairns for 10th student exchange
- 2013 ALT/CIR Michelle Young appointed from Cairns to Oyama
- 2012 Visit to Oyama by Paronella Park owners for Dream Letter project
- 2012 Cairns State High School students visit Oyama
- 2012 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2012 Oyama Councillor Norio Oyama visit to Cairns
- 2011 Oyama Mayor Toshio Okubo visits Cairns with a delegation to celebrate five years as Sister City
- 2011 Oyama Deputy Mayor Mr Miyajima accompanies junior high school students on Cairns visit
- 2011 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2011 Youth Ambassadors attend program in Cairns
- 2011 Mayor Val Schier visit to Oyama
- 2010 Councillor Di Forsyth visit to Oyama
- 2010 Cairns State High School students visit Oyama
- 2010 Edge Hill State School students visit to Oyama
- 2010 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2009 Oyama participated in the Cairns "Face of a Sister City" photographic exhibition
- 2009 Councillor Di Forsyth visit to Oyama
- 2008 Ruby Wilson, St Monica's Catholic College sponsored by Australia Japan Society of FNQ to visit Oyama.
- 2008 Oyama participated in the Cairns "Earth Links" Sister Cities ceramics exhibition
- 2008 Oyama Dance and Cultural Groups visit to Cairns
- 2008 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2008 Oyama Council delegation visit to Cairns
- 2007 Cairns State High School students visit to Oyama
- 2006 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns City Council
- 2006 Councillor Margaret Gill visit to Oyama
- 2006 Sister Cities Agreement Signed in Cairns
- 2006 A delegation from Oyama City visited Cairns, bringing with them artworks and cultural items. The exhibition, Dear Shisuta, was displayed for six weeks at the Tanks Arts Centre.
- 2005 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2005 Oyama Council delegation visit to Cairns
- 2004 Councillor Alan Blake and Councillor Margaret Gill visit for 50th Anniversary of City of Oyama
- 2003 Oyama Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2002 Mayor Toshio Okubo, Oyama visit to Cairns
More information
Last Updated: 27 August 2025
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