Staff Interview with Peta Ohata

What inspired you to launch Travel Hokkaido?

My husband and I launched Travel Hokkaido this year to be able to offer a different kind of travel experience to travelers looking for a different and more culturally immersive experience. My background is in the education field, and my husband runs a number of guest houses for backpackers - but we both love travel, language-learning, and adventure.

When we had the idea to design Travel Hokkaido it was a way to bring these passions together - to be able to introduce the place that we love most in the world through exciting and affordable travel, while also giving people to chance to learn Japanese and immerse themselves in community at the same time.

Can you tell us about your role as Travel Hokkaido’s Director?

I oversee the team here, as well as program and travel-package design, some website creation, and a bunch of other day-to-day tasks.

My favorite part of my role is getting out and about with travelers, introducing local places and people, and seeing travelers have an amazing experience in Hokkaido.

How do you support students and travelers who participate on Travel Hokkaido’s programs and tours?

From start to finish, supporting students and travelers is one of the most important things to us. From the first email, through to helping think of fundraising ideas, to planning itineraries, airport pick up, and Japan travel itineraries, right until travelers are going back home and where we maintain keeping in touch - we aim to provide on-call support every step of the way.

Travelers taking part in our tours will have a responsible guide who will be their contact for the duration of their travel. Students on our study abroad options will have a program mentor who is available at any point throughout their stay. We are always happy to go the extra mile for those traveling with us, so we stay accessible through social media, phone, or email as often as we can.

You have extensive experience in education. How do you integrate that into your current work?

I’m passionate about education, but I also believe that community or experiential learning is one of the most exciting things we can do - and we aim to make this a big part of Travel Hokkaido experiences. Being a tourist can be a lot of fun, but I think that getting-off-the-beaten-path for a different kind of culturally immersive experience is a lot more worthwhile and a great way to make friends and memories that last a lifetime.

Learning about different people, places, and cultures through travel, and having genuine experiences with local people, gives a rich depth to understanding the local. In a place like Hokkaido, which is full of friendly people, great food and spectacular nature, there is a unique opportunity for this kind of travel. 

In an informal way, I think this kind of education weaves its way through even our shorter tours, but for those coming on the longer term study abroad options, it’s such an exciting way to learn Japanese language and culture.

In what ways does Travel Hokkaido create out-of-the-classroom learning experiences?

Although there are some elements of Japanese grammar or writing that need to be taught in a classroom context, we really believe in the saying ‘not all classrooms have four walls’. Our team has had lots of experience in more traditional language-school settings, and while this can be fantastic, we’ve also seen lots of students forget what they’ve learned or lack confidence in communicating within real-life settings.

Travel Hokkaido study abroad options aim to combine language learning with team building, adventure activities, meeting local people, and community volunteering so that students get to use what they learn and also develop personally and grow in confidence along the way.

Our BTC program is 12 weeks in total, so this program in particular has a real personal development focus where we think about reflection, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, as well as language. You might be supporting a local farmer to get on social media, helping a rural community to run an event, translating for a tour group, or having a language event with local students. You’ll be traveling to local places, getting out of your comfort zone, and having a whole lot of fun along the way.

Why should individuals choose Travel Hokkaido?

I think Travel Hokkaido is for travelers looking for a different kind of experience, and students who are hoping to get out of the classroom and use real-life Japanese. If you are wanting a regular large bus tour or a classroom-intensive Japanese study period - these probably aren’t the travel packages or study options for you.

However, if you love adventure, if you want to meet local people, if you enjoy getting into the less-famous locations, and if you are hoping for personal challenge to be part of your experience, then Travel Hokkaido might be what you are looking for!

We are passionate about travel, but also about ultimately becoming better people, and leaving this world in a better place through our care for local culture, business, environment, and each other. If those things excite you like they do us, then let’s travel together!

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

For me, meaningful travel is travel that changes you in some positive way, and through that, changes the world around you. I love that quote by Paulo Freire that says:  ‘Education doesn’t change the world. Education changes people and then people change the world.’

Travel that includes some kind of educational experience is just that, and at Travel Hokkaido, we think about education widely. We think about learning about language, people, places, and culture. We think about learning about ourselves and the world around us. We think about traveling that impacts you beyond your vacation or study abroad time period.

Why is it important for individuals to travel and experience new cultures?

I think that traveling and experiencing new cultures is vital to broadening your horizons and giving you a global awareness that keeps you teachable, curious, and open-minded.

I think travel helps you to overcome your fears and be braver, while experiencing new cultures helps you to see people as global neighbors and friends that you can learn and grow from. Good communication skills come from more than just learning a language, but through sharing your passion and your life honestly with others. That’s why I really recommend meaningful travel!

If you could participate on any Travel Hokkaido program or tour, which would you choose?

If BTC had been around when I was first considering moving to Japan (I’m from the UK, but have lived here since 2014), then I would have definitely wanted to join this program!

Are there any projects in development at Travel Hokkaido that we can expect to see in the future?

Yes! We are constantly thinking of new ideas and travel plans, and if you have any ideas you can also email us to let us know. Next on our to-do list is an ALP for 18+, for people who might not have a full 12 weeks free to take part in a BTC course. We’re also looking at starting an intensive Japanese language camp a couple of times a year, for people who are wanting a few days of super-intensive language study at the start of their working holiday or university semester. For our regular tours, get ready for more camping, outdoor activities, backpacking, and local experiences.

We are looking forward to meeting you in Hokkaido!