Which city is Seattle's sister city in Japan?

Seattle’s sister city in Japan is Kobe. Seattle and Kobe established their sister-city relationship in October 1957, creating one of the earliest formal city partnerships between the United States and Japan.

The connection reflects similarities between the two port cities. Seattle lies on Puget Sound and developed as a major Pacific shipping center, while Kobe sits on Osaka Bay and has long been one of Japan’s principal international ports. Their relationship has included cultural, educational, governmental, and business exchanges.

Kobe is in Hyogo Prefecture and is known for its harbor, mountain setting, and distinctive culinary traditions. Seattle’s Kobe Bell, presented by Kobe for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, became a visible symbol of the partnership. The cities also maintain sister-port ties, separate from their sister-city relationship. Kobe is sometimes confused with Tokyo or Yokohama in this question, but the official Seattle connection is specifically with Kobe.