Mayor Nobby Clark, Crs Trish Boyle, Alex Crackett, Darren Ludlow and Barry Stewart and deputy mayor Tom Campbell will be departing Invercargill Airport bound for the Japanese city.
Governance and legal manager Michael Morris said the group would spend one night in Auckland, one night in Tokyo and three nights in Kumagaya.
The trip was part of the 30-year celebrations of the sister city agreement between the Invercargill and Kumagaya city councils.
In January, about 12 representatives of the Japanese city, including Kumagaya Mayor Tetsuya Kobayashi, visited Invercargill to commemorate 30 years since the signing of the sister city agreement and for a city tour.
Mr Clark said now it was time for Invercargill to return the visit.
"While I’m not necessarily a supporter of sister cities [agreements], per se, I think Kumagaya is an important relationship.
"We have trade relationships with them through the aluminium smelter. A lot of exchange students go back and forth between the two, which helps people learn each other’s culture.
"So that’s been ongoing for 30 years and it’s important to them."
Mr Clark said during his visit he also wanted to establish a relationship between the Southland Rugby Union, of which he is the chairman, and the Kumagaya Rugby Union.
"We are looking to potentially have a player development exchange so that way Japanese players could come here to play in our league and Southland players could go there to do the same as their seasons are not at the same time of the year — so it would work well."
A budget of $35,000 was allocated to pay for "economy class" flight tickets plus accommodation for the delegation, which also included an interpreter.
Kumagaya International Friendship Association representatives and Waihopai representative at Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Michael Skerrett would also be joining the delegation, but would be travelling at their own cost.
Mr Clark said meals and tours were organised by the hosting council.
The delegation’s itinerary included a signing ceremony, welcome party and participation in the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival today, then a visit to the Kumagaya Temple and Rugby Stadium tomorrow and travel to the town of Nagatoro and a farewell party hosted by the Kumagaya International Friendship Association on Sunday.
They would also be taking an artwork by a local artist to give to Kumagaya’s mayor.
Some of the elected members — such as him — had chosen to take their partners on the trip but those costs would be paid by each individual, Mr Clark said.
"I don’t think this was the case in the past, but we are travelling in the cheapest way possible.
"Nobody will have upgrades — at least not paid by council."
Mr Clark said some of the delegation would be back in the country next week, while he would return to Invercargill on August 4 as he was taking a couple of days’ leave to explore Japan further.
