2021-08-21
Missing Japan? Virtual tours come with shopping, drinks and souvenirs
Travelers may not be able attend this year’s Summer Olympic Games, but they can still experience Japan virtually.As the global pandemic marches on, tourist attractions and enterprising tour guides are finding ways to emulate the look, feel and taste of a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Sightseeing and shopping
For 2,000 Japanese yen ($18), armchair travelers can take a virtual trip to the district of Asakusa through one-hour interactive tours conducted by tour company Tokyo Localized. The tour takes viewers down the narrow streets of Asakusa, one of six remaining geisha districts in Tokyo. The area is also home to the Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple; Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan’s oldest amusement park; and Hoppy Street, famous for yakitori skewers and its namesake, beer-like beverage.
Tours are led by Dai Miyamoto, the company’s founder, who said he shops and mails items to online tourists who repay him via credit card.Viewers can request online tours of other locations through Japan Online Tour. Fees are $150 per hour, plus transportation fees from Kobe.
source from The Asahi Shimbun
2021/7/30
URL:https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/30/can-tourists-travel-to-japan-virtual-tours-make-it-feel-possible-.html