A group of students from Japan are taking in the sights and sounds of Okotoks.

They're here for a few weeks as part of Muskoka Language International's Homestay program, which aims to give students a look at international culture.

On Tuesday, the 18 high students from Kona Girls' Junior & Seniors High School in Kobe, Japan received a welcome from members of Okotoks town council at the municipal centre, and had a tour of the downtown area.

English teacher at Konan, Jude Simmonds, says Okotoks seems to be the perfect candidate to showcase everyday Canadian life.

"The main point is 'small town Canada experience.' The agency, MLI, their whole thing is small towns. It used to be in Canmore but that's a holiday resort town so it's hard to get homestay families, whereas here, it's a real place."

He says the students are also getting a good feel for Okotokian hospitality.

"The homestay families are insanely good, so generous. We've only been here three days and the kids have been to baseball games, swimming, we've been to Elbow Falls, it's just unreal what the families have done. The energy from the families is really, really good."

They've been to local landmarks like Seaman Stadium and the Big Rock erratic, and they'll be taking a trip to Heritage Park before departing on August 9.