A 10-day visit to the Lawrence area begins Friday for 20 students and three chaperones from Hiratsuka, Japan, one of Lawrence’s three sister cities.

The visitors will stay with host families and get a close-up look at municipal services, public schools and various avenues for recreation and entertainment.

Among scheduled stops: tours of Liberty Memorial Central Middle School and Free State High School; shopping in downtown Lawrence; and bowling at the Jaybowl in the Kansas Union.

Among out-of-town stops: shopping and dinner at The Legends and attending a T-Bones game in Kansas City, Kan.; a tour of the state capitol in Topeka; and a trip to visit the Oz Museum in Wamego.

In October, the city of Lawrence, its Sister Cities Advisory Board and members of Friends of Hiratsuka plan to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the sister cities relationship by welcoming an official delegation from Hiratsuka.

Lawrence’s other sister cities are Eutin, Germany, and Iniades, Greece.