Interview: “I Want You to Experience ‘the Best Day’ in Hokkaido” – Wataru Nara, Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide

Wataru Nara, an experienced adventurer who has explored mountains and remote regions across the globe, is now based in Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido where he dedicates himself to showcasing the breathtaking landscapes of Hokkaido to travelers from Japan and overseas as an adventure travel guide. Reflecting on his remarkable journey as a trailblazing Japanese climber, Nara shares the principles and values that define his work as a guide.

The Article That Launched His Journey as a Guide

“You’re hired!”

Those two words marked the beginning of Wataru Nara’s career as a guide. In his fourth year of university, he applied for a position at NOMAD Co., Ltd., a Sapporo-based travel agency specializing in tours to remote mountains and uncharted regions around the world. As he left the travel company after being interviewed, a window suddenly swung open, and an employee enthusiastically shouted the good news to him.

“One of the founding members of NOMAD was a graduate from my university, and I stumbled upon an interview with him on a bulletin board,” Nara recalls. “As I read it, I thought, ‘This is it! This is the dream job that will let me explore the unknown.'” Inspired, he reached out to the company immediately, only to be told there were no job openings. Undeterred, Nara used an alumni visit as a pretext to request an interview, and his persistence paid off.

Now a seasoned guide with nearly 30 years of experience, Nara fondly reflects on his early days while continuing to inspire adventure seekers. He runs SappoLodge, a guesthouse in Sapporo, and uses his wealth of experience to lead backcountry skiing and mountain climbing tours. Through these activities, he shares the breathtaking beauty of Hokkaido’s natural landscapes with travelers from around the world.

Nara became a certified guide for mountain climbing and backcountry skiing through the Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide System, which was established by the Hokkaido Governor in 2023. His expertise was further recognized when he was featured as a “guide you can rely on” in one of the world’s most prominent travel guides.

Let’s delve into the life of Nara, a true master of Hokkaido’s great outdoors.

Climbing the Highest Peak in South America on a Budget

Born and raised in Sapporo, Nara grew up immersed in outdoor activities thanks to the love for the natural beauty of Hokkaido shared by his family and relatives. His childhood adventures included exploring mountains, rivers and the sea. Remarkably, as a sixth grader in elementary school, he and his friends embarked on a journey around Hokkaido—without telling their parents.

“The thrill of traveling as a child is what set everything in motion for me,” Nara says. “When I reached the last stop on the train, I couldn’t help but wonder about the sights beyond, so I hitchhiked and slept under the stars, inspired by others I had seen doing the same. Even now, I travel driven by that same curiosity about what lies ahead.”

Nara’s introduction to mountain climbing came about by chance during his university years. On the day students registered for classes, he overslept and missed the opportunity to join the course he had initially planned to take. Left with no other options, he enrolled in a different class led by a teacher who happened to be passionate about mountain climbing. As one of the class activities, Nara embarked on his first serious climb, scaling the Daisetsuzan mountains, known as the “roof of Hokkaido”. “When I saw the stunning contrast of colors between the plants, snow and rocks, all I could think was, ‘This is incredible,'” he recalls. From that moment on, he was hooked, joining an adult mountaineering club and visiting mountains as if possessed by an insatiable passion.

Nara’s physical endurance was also honed through years of instrumental gymnastics, which he began practicing in high school. His dedication paid off when he won an all-Hokkaido intercollegiate championship. With his well-conditioned physique, he set his sights on Mount Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak at 6,961 meters, as a final adventure before graduation. Despite being robbed in Peru along the way, Nara pressed on, relying on ingenuity and negotiation skills to continue his journey on a tight budget. He eventually achieved a solo ascent of the mountain. For Nara, the journey was transformative. “Whether it was mountain climbing, meeting new people or trying unfamiliar food, every experience broadened my horizons. It’s a journey that has become one of my greatest assets,” he says with a smile.

From Popular Guide to Antarctic Wintering Team Member

Nara as a tour guide at NOMAD (Courtesy of Nara)

At NOMAD, Nara took on a wide array of responsibilities, ranging from planning tours and recruiting participants to serving as an on-site guide. He led travelers to remote and rugged destinations both in Japan and abroad. While honing his skills under the mentorship of senior guides he admired, Nara quickly developed his own style. His engaging sense of humor helped him build a loyal following of regular customers.

In his late 20s, Nara’s passion for mountaineering drove him to conquer Mount McKinley/Denali, the highest peak in North America at 6,190 meters, as part of a group climb. He made history as the first Japanese to snowboard down from the summit, a feat that garnered significant media attention at the time.

Although he had submitted a letter of resignation from NOMAD to accommodate the extended leave required for the expedition, Nara returned to find his desk still waiting for him. Grateful for the opportunity, he continued working at NOMAD for 14 years, skillfully negotiating annual one-month leaves to pursue his personal adventures.

Nara snowboards down Mount McKinley/Denali. (Courtesy of Nara)

While planning tours, Nara became intrigued by the Antarctic wintering team, which conducts research at Showa Station, Japan’s research facility in Antarctica. Driven by a desire to “take the next step,” as he puts it, he applied for a position as a guide and, two years later, passed the screening. At 38, he left NOMAD and traveled to Antarctica, where he supported researchers for approximately 18 months in extreme conditions, with temperatures sometimes dropping as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius.

Nara as a member of the Antarctic wintering team (Courtesy of Nara)

“Base Camp” to Share Hokkaido’s Charm

In December 2014, after returning to Japan, Nara opened SappoLodge with his younger brother. The guesthouse recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Together with their friends, they personally built the facility, which has the cozy atmosphere of a mountain hut, using wood from Hokkaido. The dining bar serves dishes that emphasize the concept of local production for local consumption.

“Having traveled all over the world, I now want to guide people to the wonderful places in Hokkaido, where I was born and raised. That’s why I started a guesthouse—to provide a ‘base camp’ for their activities,” Nara says. “I wanted to be the big buddy of this guesthouse, sharing stories about travel with both local people and tourists from Japan and overseas.”

Although Nara has explored remote regions, he feels a deep attachment to Sapporo, the city where he was born and grew up. “There is no place better than Sapporo,” he says proudly.

“I have my playground in nature, so it’s nice to live in an urban area,” he says with a laugh. “When I return from a trip and see the neon lights of Susukino (the city’s main entertainment district), I feel a sense of relief. Sapporo is a city where history, culture and art intersect, yet within an hour’s drive, you can find stunning nature, home to Yezo deer and brown bears. It’s rare to find a city like this anywhere in the world.”

“I Want You to Have a Great Day”

In the heart of winter, SappoLodge becomes a home for skiers and snowboarders from around the world, all drawn to Hokkaido’s famed champagne powder snow. While working as a guide, Nara co-founded an outdoor activity company with a former NOMAD colleague, also a guide. His company offers a range of activities, primarily in the summer, in the town of Shakotan.

Nara’s guiding philosophy centers on one key goal:

“I want my customers to walk away thinking, ‘It was an awesome day.’ That simple phrase is the ultimate reward for me and adds to my ‘mental savings,'” Nara says. “To provide the best experience, it’s essential to keep learning across various fields on a routine basis and to have a wide range of resources. And, of course, humor plays a key role!”

There’s so much more to Nara’s extraordinary life than can be described here. Want to learn more? Visit SappoLodge.

<Profile of Wataru Nara>

Wataru Nara is a certified Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide specializing in mountain climbing and backcountry skiing. He holds Mountain Guide Stage I and Ski Guide Stage II qualifications from the Japan Mountain Guide Association.

He was born in Sapporo in 1973. While attending Sapporo University, he independently scaled Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in Latin America, at 6,961 meters. After graduating, he spent 14 years as a guide at NOMAD, a travel agency specializing in tours to mountains. His career took an even more remarkable turn when he joined the 53rd Antarctic wintering team in 2011, spending about 18 months in Antarctica.

In 2014, Nara opened SappoLodge, a guesthouse and dining bar in Sapporo, where he continues to guide mountain climbing and backcountry skiing tours across Hokkaido. Additionally, he runs an outdoor activities company in Shakotan.

Watch this video to know about Shakotan tour that Nara offers.

Interviewed by Jiji Press Ltd