All Hokkaido Staff- Meet Naoki Hayashi!

Hello from the All Hokkaido staff! We are going to introduce ourselves and the other members of Hokkaido Treasure Island over a series of posts. First, here is the man in charge- Naoki Hayashi! I asked him some questions about his time in Hokkaido!

What is your job?

I am the editor-in-chief of All Hokkaido and the vice president of Hokkaido Treasure Island Travel. My job is to enjoy Hokkaido activities with guides and share the fun and wonderful lifestyle of the guides who live here with everyone who visits our island.

Why did you come to Hokkaido?

I originally came to Hokkaido when I was transferred by my previous company. The government decided to create a Hokkaido outdoor guide qualification system, and I was in charge of creating the textbook for that system. Through my work I met many guide operators and experienced many activities, and fell in love with the wonderful nature experiences that the Hokkaido guides introduced me to, and I admired these guides living strong lives in each region of Hokkaido. I wanted more people to know about these wonderful guides and incredible nature experience programs- so I quit my job, moved to Hokkaido, and started a business here. We started by creating a search and reservation site for Hokkaido’s guided experience-based tourism programs.

What do you love about Hokkaido?

Not only is the nature and food wonderful, with all of the  different seasonal varieties, but there are also many charming guides living in various places who can interpret the wonderful nature of Hokkaido. I love becoming friends with guides through nature experiences and being able to experience not only the experience but also the local area and life. It’s a waste to just go to tourist spots, take pictures, and eat delicious food without getting deeper involved in the area.

What is your favorite thing to do when you have time?

Relaxing in nature and daydreaming (I love a hammock!) I like water-based experiences in general (canoeing, sea kayaking, SUP), so I often go do those activities.

What do you hope everyone who comes to Hokkaido will do?

I would like people who come to Hokkaido to participate in nature experience programs with guides. Hokkaido has the most guides in Japan! Many people love Hokkaido and have moved here to become guides. Through these experiences experiences, please also listen to the many stories about the area from the guides who live there. I think you will hear many recommended stories and things to do that are unique to the local area that you won’t find on the internet.

What is your fondest Hokkaido memory?

37 years ago, when I was still working at my previous job, I had just been transferred from Tokyo to Hokkaido and was on my first business trip to the Okhotsk region. I was taking a taxi from my client’s place to the hotel where I was staying, and was talking to the driver about how I’d just been transferred to Hokkaido, and how this was my first time in Okhotsk. When we arrived at the hotel, the driver opened the trunk of his taxi and took out 4-5 king crab legs, telling me “My brother is a fisherman, and these are delicious- so try them.” I borrowed crab scissors from the hotel’s front desk and ate them in my room. What a nice guy – Hokkaido has a lot of warm people who are welcoming to people from outside!