A new travel agency in Japan helps those that are too ill or physically unable to travel to send their favorite toys on adventures, according to ABC News.
Unagi Travel, founded by Sonoe Azuma, has been taking stuffed animals on trips for the last three years, allowing owners who may wish to travel the opportunity for the travel experience vicariously through their stuffed toys.
Just like any other traveler, the stuffed animals look out the windows of tour vans, enjoy sweeping views and have resting periods to relax.
The most well traveled stuffed animal is a hippo named Kaba san, from Osaka, according to Azuma, who said she has many repeat customers. Trips range from $35 to $55 per stuffed animal. The cost includes return shipping and memento photographs. The owner can follow the adventure of their toy through updates on the Unagi Travel Facebook page.
"I love Shibuya!" a fan wrote on the page below an image from Tokyo. "Thank you for showing it to me!
"Brings back memories," the fan continued.
"You made it!" another fan wrote, following a stuffed animals adventure. "Is it raining?"
Unagi Travel is not the first company to offer this type of service. Tomio Okamura launched a similar travel business in 2010 in Prague. There is also Teddy Tour Berlin, which offers travel packages out of Germany. However, those companies market their services as economic alternatives to people traveling themselves, rather than a vicarious experience for those unable to travel. Some clients have later been able to make a return trip to a destination with their toy, Azuma said.
"Not regularly, but I do trips to Tohoku, the area which was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami," Azuma said. "One client visited the area several months after the tour.
"Recently, I asked 25 clients if they became interested in traveling to the areas their stuffed animals visited," Azuma continued. "All 25 of them answered yes."
Unagi Travel agency takes stuffed animals on trips.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
