Norifumi KanieProfessor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University

The joy of participating in ecotourism in the Karuizawa Hoshino area

--This was Mr. Kanie's first time staying at Hoshinoya Karuizawa. What was it like?

Professor Kanie　I was healed both physically and mentally. There were many things that made an impression on me, such as the terraced rice fields and other landscapes, the rooms with great views, and the hot springs that flow directly from the source, but the breakfast at Japanese Restaurant Kasuke was especially appealing. They use all the vegetables in the soup stock, based on the idea of ​​using up all the ingredients. The taste was very rich and nutritious.

I had previously heard about Hoshinoya Karuizawa producing all of the energy it consumes, which I thought was fantastic, but it was also meaningful to be able to experience the results for myself.

--What were your impressions of the three-day, two-night "Karuizawa Nature Stay" proposed by Hoshinoya Karuizawa?

Professor Kanie　It was interesting. I participated in a nature tour with "Picchio" to learn about the ecology of animals in the Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest, a study tour to learn about efforts to coexist with Asiatic black bears and humans, and observed wild flying squirrels up close. I was able to spend precious time that I would not have in my daily life.

--What impressed you?

Professor Kanie　One thing I noticed was that many children were taking part in the nature tours. Even when walking through the forest, they didn't just rely on a map, but the eco-tour guides gave explanations. I really felt that explanations increase the resolution and deepen understanding.

--It seemed like you asked a lot of questions during the tour learning about bear ecology.

Professor Kanie　Yes. Conflicts with bears are becoming more serious in many places. Even the pandemic is ultimately caused by the boundary between humans and animals becoming too close, so we need to think about how to separate the two groups as a community. By participating in the tour, I learned that Karuizawa is taking various advanced measures, such as using bear dogs to scare away bears and creating buffer zones between bears and people, but the significance of taking it seriously as your own problem is very great. This time, I was also guided to the hydroelectric power plant in the Hoshino area, which is usually not open to the public, and I heard about the hardships of the people there, which made me think deeply about the issues that need to be resolved in order to widely spread hydroelectric power generation.

Karuizawa Hoshino Area is at the forefront of resorts that coexist with nature

--What are your thoughts about Karuizawa from the perspective of environmental conservation?

Professor Kanie　They are very conscious of coexistence with nature. I have been to Karuizawa several times, but this time I stayed at the Hoshino area and I felt that especially. As I mentioned earlier, creating a buffer zone between nature and humans is a common issue throughout Japan. I think the Hoshino area is at the forefront of solving this issue.

-What are your expectations for the Karuizawa Hoshino area?

Professor Kanie　Based on this visit, I realized that this is exactly what the saying "learning from the past to learn about the new" means. The traditional use of hydropower and hospitality that takes advantage of the terrain are very thought-provoking when thinking about "new luxury." This attitude is what sustainability is all about, and making it appealing will become very important from now on. It was while thinking about these things that I visited the Hoshino area, and it was an eye-opener. I have stayed at Hoshino Resorts facilities several times before, but this time I felt like I was able to see it from a different perspective.

I want the Hoshino area to become a hub for environmental education.

--By the way, you are also an educator, Professor Kanie. Just as many children participated in the nature tours of "Picchio," the Hoshino area is working to help adults and children have fun together while also increasing their understanding and interest in animals and nature.

Professor Kanie　Children are like sponges, absorbing information as they learn and grow.

When I was in elementary school, I moved to Indonesia due to my parents' work, and that's when I became interested in jobs that involved overseas. I eventually became interested in the United Nations, and when I learned that the environmentally advanced countries were taking the lead in the UN, I began to study international politics and governance to solve global environmental problems.

Currently, SDGs education is being provided at universities and junior high schools, but junior high school students' minds are flexible. When they learn about sustainability through experiences such as making their own original bottles using recycled materials, they start to think about it as something that concerns them personally. If your child participates in a nature tour, even if they don't understand it now, they will realize what it was about when they look back on it later. I think the Hoshino area is also a very effective place for environmental education.