Interview

Koichi Hatakeyama

Snow sports instructor, mountain guide examiner, mountain and eco-tour guide. Based in Shiga Kogen.

“I’ve spent 30 years as a snow sports instructor here, and today more and more people are joining us for the great snow and mountains of Shiga Kogen. But we’re also here to guide visitors in many other nature experiences as well. ”

“I am very much involved with the Japan Mountain Guide Association, as a trainer and examiner for nature, climbing and mountain guides. I’m also active throughout the country in Association activities, as well as in the development of people who want to be guides.”

“Those efforts really come into good use when we introduce people to places like the Zakko River, which we’re introducing in this website. The natural charms of the river, set in a high beech forest, is truly amazing. IT’s said to be one of the most rich and diverse beech forests in all of Japan. Getting there is a wonderful challenge, one many people can certainly handle under the watchful eye of a local guide. The effort is very much worth it—this is a fantastic, untouched river and forest environment. I invite ever visitor to this site to come and visit us. I’d be very pleased to be your guide to this unique ecology.”