The World Traveler Who Returned to His Mountain Home
Shin Kaneko was born and raised in Hakone, later moving abroad to attend middle and high school in France followed by university in the United States. After graduating from the University of Southern California, he returned to Japan to begin a career in the corporate world, but the pull of his hometown proved too strong to resist and so, at the age of 30, Kaneko returned to Hakone.
Shin Kaneko founded Explore Hakone in 2015 to show international visitors what he loves so much about his hometown
Back in his hometown, Kaneko began to encounter many travelers from all over the world. “I enjoyed these interactions and became impressed by the appeal of Hakone to international visitors,” he explains. He began to consider new ways to show people from around the world what he loves so much about his hometown. As a certified, experienced hiking guide fluent in English, Kaneko decided to found Explore Hakone to offer customized Hakone tours (limited to one group per day) that focused closely on the experience of each individual visitor.
Hakone is home to truly breathtaking views, drawing visitors from around the world
A Special Place Where the History of Japan and the Inner Workings of Our Planet Are All Around You
Hakone has provided hospitality to travelers for hundreds of years, both as a destination in itself and as a waystation on longer journeys. As well as being a place to relax in hot springs amidst beautiful natural surroundings, Hakone was once a post town on the Old Tokaido Road connecting Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto that provided food and lodging to travelers. Sections of cobblestones (ishidatami) from this ancient road remain, as do rows of cedar trees planted to provide shade. The roadside teahouse Amasake Chaya still serves amazake (sweet non-alcoholic sake) and tea with light meals and snacks just as it has for 400 years.
With Kaneko, you can walk on cobblestones from the Old Tokaido Road, once trodden by travelers about 400 years ago
In Hakone, along with the tangible presence of human history, you can also see the effects of the inner geological workings of our planet, with steam vents and hot springs literally bubbling to the surface. “Mount Hakone is an active volcano,” explains Kaneko. “You can take the ropeway here right over Owakudani Valley and watch the steam rising from the ground. I don’t think there are too many places in the world where you can observe an active volcano up close like that.”
A well-preserved section of the Old Tokaido Road runs lakeside, lined by giant cedar trees
A Land Where You Can Immerse Yourself in the Myriad Colors of Nature
Kaneko has discovered many fascinating new places in Hakone since returning to his hometown and starting his guiding business. “Obviously the famous views across Lake Ashinoko of Mount Fuji and Hakone Shrine are well worth seeing, but there is so much more here that I want to show people. The west side of the lake is almost completely undeveloped, a place where you can really immerse yourself into the natural beauty of Hakone. It’s even possible to travel for up to 50 kilometers around the outer rim of the Hakone caldera.”
Hakone is home to many uniquely beautiful tree species, including this himeshara tree with its smooth orange-brown bark
The words of one guest from Qatar made a particularly deep impression on him. “He came in the rainy season and told me he just couldn’t believe how many shades of green there were in Hakone,” says Kaneko. “Being from Qatar, which is known for its deserts, I guess it was quite striking to him to see so much greenery in one place. Hearing that really provided me with a fresh lens on a forest that I know so well. I started noticing lime greens, dark greens, forest greens, and on and on. We tend to focus on cherry blossoms and autumn foliage in Japan, but the rainy season produces many incredible colors too.”
No matter the season or time of day, Hakone can dazzle you with its cascade of colors
Connecting with Local People and Local Culture Is at the Heart of What Travel Is All About
Two of the destinations on Kaneko’s hiking tours were chosen to introduce his guests to Hakone’s legacy of traditional craftsmanship and hospitality. At the Hatajuku Yosegi Kaikan Hall, visitors can learn about Yosegi Zaiku, a style of woodworking unique to Hakone that involves combining segments of wood from different trees of varying grains and colors. The elaborate patchwork patterns can be used to adorn boxes, cups, platters and other attractive objects.
The Hakone woodworking tradition of Yosegi Zaiku involves combining segments of natural wood from different trees to create intricate patterns
At Amasake Chaya, visitors can take a break to enjoy tea, amazake, and snacks in an Edo-period roadside teahouse. This incredible thatched building is run by the thirteenth generation of the same family that has been serving travelers for over three centuries. “I want to show my guests the real Hakone,” says Kaneko. “Along with showing them special places, I want to help them connect with local culture through conversations with local people. That is at the heart of what travel is all about.”
The opportunity to meet local people who care deeply about local traditions is what truly makes a trip memorable and valuable
Kaneko is also well aware of the precarious situation of traditional arts and industries in Japan. The number of people who work towards the continuation of these precious cultural legacies is dwindling all over the country, including in Hakone. “If bringing my guests to meet the owners of Amasake Chaya and local Yosegi Zaiku artisans can make even a small contribution to preserving these priceless traditions—well, that alone makes it all worthwhile.”
Kaneko wants to do what he can to contribute to the preservation of priceless local cultural traditions
There Is Something About Hakone That Captivates People from Around the World
Guiding international travelers comes with opportunities and responsibilities. “For some visitors coming to Japan, we guides might be the Japanese people that they end up spending the most time with during their stay,” explains Kaneko. “So we are aware that their experiences with us may contribute significantly to their impressions of Japan, Japanese people, and Japanese culture. My approach is to focus on Hakone during tours, sharing my local knowledge and deep love of my hometown with our guests. If, through speaking with me, they gain some sense of Japanese culture and everyday life in Japan, that makes me very happy too.”
There is always more to discover in Hakone, but the only way to understand its allure is to walk its paths yourself
When asked what it is about Hakone that captivates people from around the world, he shakes his head and smiles. “I don’t really have a single answer for that. It’s difficult to put into words. Maybe the best advice for anyone who wants to find out is to join us for a walk through nature and history here. I think you’ll find that Hakone speaks for itself.”
Shin Kaneko, CEO and Chief Guide of Explore Hakone
Shin Kaneko founded Explore Hakone in 2015 to provide international tourists with a richer experience of Hakone through private guided tours (one group per day). Kaneko was born and raised in Hakone but spent many years studying in France and the United States before returning to his hometown and starting his guiding company. He is a nationally certified guide-interpreter (English-Japanese) and mountain climbing guide (Goldwin Mountain Guide, JMGA Trekking Guide II) who has led more than 1,200 excursions with visitors from over 30 countries.
