Seven of the eight home fixtures will be played at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium and the match against the Sunwolves is scheduled for Rugby Park in Invercargill on April 22.
Kick-off is slated for 5.15pm and Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt said he was thrilled the Japanese expansion team would be heading to the deep south.
"We are delighted to have the Sunwolves come and play in our city," he said in a press release.
"Invercargill has a strong Japanese connection with the longstanding relationship with sister city Kumagaya and we know we will get a fantastic crowd along to both support the Highlanders and welcome the Sunwolves — it’s going to be a great game."
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said it is important to recognise the great support the Highlanders get from Southland.
The earlier kick-off time is to make it easier for those planning to travel to Invercargill for the fixture.
Two members of the Sunwolves management team will be familiar with the surroundings at Rugby Park.
Head strength and conditioning coach Simon Jones has previously worked with the Southland Stags and Southern Steel, while Sunwolves assistant coach Ben Herring played for both the Southland Stags and Highlanders during his rugby career.
Former Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is also expected to travel with the Sunwolves to New Zealand.
The remaining seven home games against the Chiefs, Crusaders, Rebels, Blues, Stormers, Waratahs and Reds will be played at Forsyth Barr Stadium with a start time of 7.35pm. The other big game on the calendar is the Highlanders match against British and Irish Lions in Dunedin on June 13.
Highlanders
Home games 2017
February 24: v Chiefs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
March 4: v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
March 31: v Rebels, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
April 8: v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
April 22: v Sunwolves, Rugby Park Stadium, 5.15pm
April 28: v Stormers, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
May 27: v Waratahs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
June 13: v British and Irish Lions, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm
July 14: v Reds, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.35pm