Tragic Update: Body of Missing 22-Year-Old Tevel Shabtai Found in Northern Japan
After days of extensive searching across the snow-covered peaks of Hokkaido, rescue teams tragically located the body of 22-year-old Tevel Shabtai.
A massive search and rescue operation is currently underway in the rugged wilderness of northern Japan as authorities scramble to find 22-year-old Tevel Shabtai. The young Israeli woman, a resident of Modi'in, has not been heard from since May 1, 2026, when she contacted her mother to share her plans for a solo hike. Her disappearance has triggered significant concern among local authorities and the Israeli Foreign Ministry, as the mountainous region remains gripped by harsh winter-like conditions despite the spring date.
Tevel was last known to be heading toward Mount Asahidake, the highest peak in Hokkaido and a prominent part of the Daisetsuzan mountain range near the town of Higashikawa. Japanese police have confirmed that security camera footage captured her in the area on Friday, but no sightings or signals have been reported since that time. Rescue teams are currently utilizing helicopters for aerial surveillance alongside ground units, but the presence of deep snow and freezing temperatures at higher elevations has hampered the search efforts.
The Israeli Embassy in Tokyo has been notified and is working closely with Japanese law enforcement, who have officially categorized the incident as a high-risk mountain disappearance. Friends of the missing woman have taken to social media to distribute digital posters in multiple languages, hoping that someone in the local hiking community might have seen her. "Please help us with any information," her friends wrote in their public appeal, as the window for a safe rescue begins to narrow in the face of the elements.
Asahikawa, the city closest to where she vanished, is the second-largest urban center in Hokkaido, but the surrounding terrain is notoriously unforgiving for solo travelers. Experts note that while it is May, the upper reaches of the Daisetsuzan range are still covered in significant snowpack, making trails difficult to navigate and increasing the risk of accidents. For now, the search continues in a race against the clock, with rescue teams focusing their efforts on the specific trails leading up to the Asahidake summit.
UPDATE:
Following a massive search operation on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, mountain rescue units have located the body of 22-year-old Tevel Shabtai. Her body was discovered by specialized rescue teams following days of intense scanning through complex terrain and harsh weather conditions. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Tokyo are currently working with Japanese authorities to complete the identification process and investigate the exact circumstances of her death. Efforts are now underway to coordinate the return of her body to Israel for burial, while government officials continue to provide support to her grieving family.
