We regret to inform you that due to the typhoon Lupit making landfall on Japan, the following two live virtual tours have been cancelled:

Tour URLs :

https://live-travelers.com/products/abashiri-englishtour

https://abashiri-chinesetour.peatix.com/view

We understand that this sudden disappointment may cause great inconvenience for you and are sincerely sorry. Be assured that we are doing everything in our power to offer you an even better event as soon as possible.

▼Tour Info

Time: Starts at 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 10th, Japan Standard Time
(GMT+8) Check your Local Time
Length: The tours are usually between 1h and 2h depending on conditions
and Virtual travelers participation
Price: It’s FREE !
Who can participate: Everyone! The tour is family friendly and interesting
for all ages.
Language: English
Necessary equipment: Any internet capable device with a steady connection

■Virtual Experiences

Become A Virtual Traveler with us and see the wilds of Hokkaido from
the comfort of your home.
Using high-fidelity binaural microphones and HD video, virtual travelers
will be treated to the vibrant sights and sounds of Lake Abashiri and its
surrounding areas.
The interaction is at the forefront of Live-Travelers priorities, allowing the
virtual travelers to ask all their questions to the local guide during the live.

■Tour Highlights

• Kayak on the scenic Lake Abashiri
• Learn about the indigenous northern peoples of Hokkaido
• See rare wildlife and plants · Interact with the locals and guide in live with the chat

■The Tour

Learn about the peculiar phenomenon of drift ice and its influence on the sea, allowing vibrant sea life which in turn supports the area’s fishing industry—one the most plentiful in all of Japan!Next, discover the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples in Abashiri. The museum is dedicated to the aboriginal northern peoples across Eurasia and the Americas. Learn all about the culture, history, art, food, and spiritual beliefs of the northern peoples, and how kayaks were an integral part of their livelihood.Go on a kayak adventure through Lake Abashiri with the folks at Connectrip, with the tranquil sights and sounds of nature for companion. While making our way to the Yobito peninsula on the opposite shore, sharp-eyed travelers might spot rare birds and other wildlife native to the area: Kingfishers, northerns foxes and more!Once on the Yobito peninsula, go hunting for ‘shirakaba’, white Japanese perch trees that can only be found in Hokkaido. Chat with our guides around a hot bowl of Hokkaido’s famous freshwater clam miso soup.Returning to the lake, head towards the northernmost point of the peninsula. The area is home to beautiful white-tailed eagles, which often roost there for the winter.

■The Northern Peoples

Hokkaido is well known for its native inhabitants, the Ainu. But fewer perhaps know that northern Japanese island, and the islands dotting the Sea of Okhotsk to the north were once home to many other indigenous peoples.One such group, the Okhotsk culture, were fishers and hunter-gathers blessed with the abundance of the sea, who used kayaks to navigate the lakes, rivers, and surrounding ocean. According to researchers at Waseda University these northern peoples are a direct ancestors of modern-day Ainu, and traces of their fishing culture can still be seen today in towns like Abashiri, located on the northeast coast of Hokkaido.

■Locations and Organizations

Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples (http://hoppohm.org/english/)
Connectrip (https://connectrip-okhotsk.com/en/)

■The Guides

Our polymath of a local guide not only have an intimate knowledge of the area’s long history and culture, but he is also a renowned artist making environmentally friendly glass artworks. In addition, he works in the local fishing industry and in the regional self-defense forces. Our interpreters and navigators Meg from Connectrip, and Bertrand Thierry will take the virtual travelers with them through their adventures chatting with local people along the way. Virtual travelers are encouraged to use the chat to ask questions and engage with locals in real time!