Welcome to Higashikawa

Culture Capital of Photography
The Town of Photography—Higashikawa

The Town of Higashikawa is located in central Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, and has a population of approximately 8,300. Higashikawa is surrounded by plenty of nature—the town overlooks the largest national park in Japan, the Daisetsu Mountain Range; and the highest mountain in Hokkaido, Mount Asahidake.

Water is a vital resource for Higashikawa. The snow that falls on Mount Daisetsu turns into mineral-rich groundwater. This groundwater is not only an essential source of water for the locals of Higashikawa, but it also nourishes the beautiful rice fields around the town that is renowned as one of the best rice production areas in Hokkaido.

In 1985, Higashikawa declared itself as the world’s first Town of Photography and has since been interacting with people globally through photography. In 2015, the International High School Student’s Photo Festival Exchange was held for the first time and was attended by high school students from all over the world who gathered in Higashikawa to expand their friendship circle through photography. From Australia, students from Canberra have been participating in the festival since its inception. In 2019, students from 24 schools in 22 countries and regions gathered in the town for the festival. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the event was held virtually in 2020.

As the ‘Culture Capital of Photography’, the small town of Higashikawa has been spreading its culture globally through various events and projects. Higashikawa is home to Japan’s first public Japanese language school and hosts many international students. The town also runs the annual Higashikawa International Photography Festival, a major event in the town. This Festival is centred on the Higashikawa Prize, which has grown into an internationally recognised photography award.

As one of the top five furniture producing regions of Japan and a major producer of Asahikawa furniture, Higashikawa also has a stake in the furniture industry. The inaugural ‘“Kengo Kuma & Higashikawa” KAGU Design Competition’ was held earlier this year, which accepted entries of furniture design from young designers around the world to inspire a new sophisticated style of furniture.

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  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The sister city relationship between Nagoya City and City of Sydney will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2025.
     
    The Nagoya City official who came to Australia to participate in the Australian Multiculturalism Study Tour hosted by CLAIR Sydney, paid a visit to Sydney City Town Hall on Friday 24 November, and we assisted his visit. In addition to sharing information on the status of exchanges between the two cities’ sister zoos (Taronga Zoo and Higashiyama Zoo) and international exchanges in Nagoya City, a preliminary meeting was held for Deputy Mayor Matsuo’s visit to Sydney for December 2023.
     
    With the landmark year only two years away, CLAIR Sydney will continue to support the exchanges between the two cities.
     
  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • 2022/2023 CLAIR Forum

    On 3 March, CLAIR Sydney held the CLAIR Forum 2023 in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS: IPPG).

    This year’s theme was ‘Multisectoral Approach for Regional Revitalisation’. At the event, two members from CLAIR Sydney and Carol Mills from UTS: IPPG and Andrew Francis from Parkes Council made a comprehensive presentation each on local government policies and strategies that have revitalised local communities and economies in Japan and Australia during the current ongoing pandemic.

    Date: Friday 3 March 2023

    Venue: The Japan Foundation, Sydney – Seminar Room

    Speakers and topics:

    – Ms Shimizu (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney)

    Sustainable Urban Development Project in the Tokyo Bay Area

    – ​​ Prof Mills (Director, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney)

    Local Governments Collaborating with Organisations for Sustainable Urban Development with Reference to Sydney Parklands

    – Mr Inoue (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney)

    Approaches taken by Mihara City to Tackle Population Decline

    – ​Mr Francis (Director Infrastructure and Strategic Futures, Parkes Council)

    Local Governments Collaborating with Organisations with Reference to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.