RAPID CITY, S.D. — A group of students from Rapid City’s sister city of Nikko, Japan, is spending time in the Black Hills this week as part of a long-running international student exchange program that has connected the two communities for more than three decades.

The visit is part of an annual exchange coordinated by the Rapid City Sister City Partnership Association. Students from Nikko are staying with local host families while taking part in educational and cultural activities designed to give them a firsthand look at life in western South Dakota. Later this year, Rapid City students will travel to Nikko to continue the exchange.

The week includes several themed activities, including a Leadership Day featuring visits to the Rapid City Police Department, Fire Station No. 1 and City Hall, where students will learn about local government, public safety and civic leadership. The group will also tour area landmarks and experience the history, culture and natural beauty of the Black Hills.

Rapid City established sister city relationships with Nikko, Japan, and Apolda, Germany, in 1994 to promote cultural understanding and international friendships through student, educational and professional exchanges. In 2015, the Rapid City Council officially designated sections of Rapid Street as Nikko Street and Apolda Street in recognition of the city’s sister city partnerships. The Nikko relationship dates back to Rapid City’s partnership with the former city of Imaichi, which became part of Nikko following a municipal merger in 2006.

The exchange program is intended to foster lasting friendships and broaden students’ understanding of different cultures while strengthening the relationship between the two communities.