Arisa was born in Tokyo and spent her childhood in the U.S. (New Jersey and Illinois). Together with her friends and classmates, she made many pleasant discoveries as well as bittersweet memories, because of language barriers and historical and cultural differences. Stemming from this experience, Arisa developed an insatiable urge to see various parts of the world for herself: so far she’s lived in the U.S., France, Algeria, and Japan and has traveled to over 40 countries.
She enjoys connecting with people and hopes that visitors to Hokkaido will be able to experience the beauty of this land, both out in the wild and in the locals’ hearts.
Wildlife and history have always been key points of interest for Arisa. She loves animals and is interested in their habitats, and also enjoys drawing pictures of them. The first thing she bought after moving to Sapporo was an annual pass to the local zoo. In particular, she adores the shima-enaga (“snow fairy” bird), the Ezo red fox, and the Ezo flying squirrel.
Also, Arisa is actually not originally from Hokkaido. “It’s true that sometimes I feel that I may never become an expert like some ‘Dosanko’ (= people born in Hokkaido), but my strength is my fresh, outsider perspective on what makes Hokkaido so amazing.”
● Her favorites:Unique and heart-warming
“Hokkaido is really unlike any other place in Japan or even in other subarctic regions around the world,” Arisa shares enthusiastically. “There’s just so much to love about Hokkaido—the wildlife, the plants, the food (oh, the food!), the city vibes, and of course, its deep-rooted history and culture. When people come to Hokkaido, I really hope they get to experience its unique beauty and feel the warmth of the locals. There’s this heartwarming quality to the island that’s hard to put into words.”
“You know, Hokkaido has these amazing contrasts—like you can go from bustling cities like Sapporo to serene landscapes that just take your breath away. And the food! Seafood, dairy products—you name it, Hokkaido does it best. Whether you’re strolling through fields of lavender in Furano or hiking in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido has something that captures your heart. It’s a place where you can really unwind and discover something new around every corner.”
● WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN TRAVEL?
Arisa’s experience abroad allowed her to appreciate Japan not only as her home country but from multiple other perspectives. This led her to work at a traditional Japanese restaurant, organize events with other Asian students at university, and later organize international conferences and events in the public sector. Hoping to specialize in creating memorable experiences for visitors to Japan, she decided to jump into the travel industry by starting her work at HTIT.
