Wataru

I am a Japan Mountain Guides Association (JMGA) mountain and ski guide, born and raised in Sapporo. I have been an avid traveller all my life, starting as a hitchhiker as a primary school child and travelled around 40 different countries in the world since then, including South America (Aconcagua and Andes), USA (Denali), Greenland etc. I have been involved with the JMGA for about 18 years now, guiding in the mountains both in the summer and in the winter on skis. I am a board member of Hokkaido Mountain Guides Association (HMGA). I also have an experience as a field guide in Antarctica between 2011 and 2013 as a part of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Since my return from Antarctica, I have been running my own guesthouse and a bar, SappoLodge, which is located at the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido. It has approximately 30 beds and is always filled with travelers from all over the world. I am happy to be able to guide these diverse and curious visitors in the nature around Hokkaido.

My main field of guiding is in the backcountry all around Hokkaido in the winter. My choice of toy in riding the pow is a snowboard but depending on the type of guests I’m happy riding on my skis too. In the summer, I enjoy guiding in the mountains (climbing and grand traverses), sea-kayaking and canoeing in the river or lake. I full heartedly recommend these fun activities to explore the nature of Hokkaido too!

Get in touch with me if you’d like to enjoy the nature of Hokkaido with me!