ABOUT US
"Nature has always been by my side, where I’ve made my home"
Hello and thank you for finding HO ALOHA among many accommodations.
I’m Nao Sato, the owner, living surrounded and supported by great nature and wonderful friends.
Kirigamine is a quiet place where you can deeply feel the breath and songs of the four seasons. We hope you will experience the nearby nature, and when you find happiness from something small, both you and we will be filled with joy.
We aim to create such a warm and welcoming place — like knitting and unraveling, then knitting again — constantly learning and building together.
A guest recently returned from a hike and told me, ”I feel like I had forgotten how to live for myself. But now, I’ve realized what truly matters to me.”
Hearing that touched my heart deeply. It’s beautiful. These kinds of moments shared by our guests are the reason I run this inn. I am truly grateful for nature’s love. Sometimes, just walking in the mountains or spending quiet time sensing with all five senses helps forget worries and brings new insights.
For me, paddling a canoe is my favorite time of peaceful nothingness.
No matter what others say, what you truly want to do, you only realize by trying. You can’t understand without trying. Failing is natural. It’s better to try and have no regrets than not to try at all. Through trying, you learn your strengths and weaknesses. Failures teach us valuable lessons and offer chances to reflect. Be brave and try, if that’s what you really want.
If it’s not the right path, knock on another door!
This is my cycle in life — to be excited about what I decide and to keep living with passion.
I hope that children full of individuality and adults who were once children will continue to polish the jewels they hold inside. I sincerely wish for everyone to discover what they love and maybe start something new.
It would be wonderful to talk about these things in the mountains. I look forward to meeting you and helping make your trip a truly special one.
let’s be happy together
just be you.
️QUALIFICATION
・Certified Instructor, Japan Canoe Federation
・Early Childhood Physical Education Instructor
・YMCA Early Childhood Physical Education Lecturer (experience)
(Outdoor Camp Instructor, Health Exercise Practitioner, Disability Exercise Instructor, YMCA Swimming Instructor, Early Childhood Gymnastics Instructor)
・NFD Level 2 Flower Designer
・WP Wedding Planner
・Eiken English Proficiency Test, Pre-1st Grade
・Face Painting Certification, Level 1 & 2
・Maternity Painting Certification, Level 1 & 2
・Licensed Ryokan (Japanese Inn) Operator
・Licensed Food and Beverage Operator
・Disaster Prevention Manager
・PADI Scuba Diver (Open Water & Advanced)
・Japanese Red Cross Lifesaving Course Completion
・Japanese Red Cross Water Safety Rescuer
・Wilderness First Aid License (Outdoor and Disaster Emergency Care)
・Interpreter
MY HISTORY
After joining Tokyo YMCA, I worked as an instructor and trainer, teaching children physical education, gymnastics, swimming, camping activities, and skiing.
While I enjoyed teaching children in the city’s buildings, I felt a strong desire to connect with kids in the natural world. So, I chose to follow the path of nature and shifted my fieldwork to the mountains and rivers.
This marked the beginning of I Love Canoe, which I founded 15 years ago.
After working and training at an outdoor company, I realized I wanted to offer nature-based canoe tours in a way that truly reflected my vision. Drawing on my experiences and encounters, I built a simple hut and started a tour company with five canoes. This became the starting point for meeting many loyal repeat customers, whose ongoing connections continue to inspire me.
As the business grew, I launched I Love Outdoor Japan, expanding our outdoor activities through all seasons in partnership with others.
We added a café and offered canoeing, rafting, canyoning, caving, snowshoeing, skiing, and kids’ adventure programs.
After 11 years from the mountains to the sea, I opened GUEST HOUSE HO ALOHA and HO ALOHA ADVENTURE’S in Ishigaki Island—a guesthouse where guests can enjoy canoeing. Meeting visitors from all over the world and sharing the joys of nature experiences has been deeply rewarding. Reunions with repeat guests bring great happiness.
Once again, life presented new opportunities. Feeling a strong pull, I found a property in the mountains.
In spring 2025, I will open GUESTHOUSE HO ALOHA 4 SEASONS at 1,600 meters elevation in Kirigamine Kurumayama Highlands, Nagano Prefecture—a guesthouse where visitors can enjoy all four seasons.
What will the next chapter bring?
HOALOHA SISTERS
蕎麦、珈琲、山、海、水、空、自然ぜんぶ、カメラ、犬、絵、
静かな霧ヶ峰の四季も私の好き。
どの季節もいろんな音が聞こえていろんな色に染まる魅力。
幼い頃から両親の仕事の都合で世界をサーカス一家の様に移動しいつも自然と隣り合わせで。
世界中の人と巡りあえてる事が当たり前だと思っていたけど当たり前じゃなくて。
今ある価値観や自然への感謝祭や出会う人を感じる気持ちも優しさも正しい事の見極めも伝える事も夢があればできるんだとか、自分次第だって事も全部心へ貯蓄されてたんだなと思い活かして進んでる事と願います。
３歳まで黒色の存在を知らなかった私。
母がクレヨン箱から黒を抜いていた様です。
髪の毛も空も山も海もピンクとかブルー‥すきな色で自由に描いてました。
これでなくちゃダメがない我が家
怒られた記憶が無くて。笑
カラフルな心になってるはずです。
出会う人の個性の色も素敵で静かに感じる事がすきです。
小さなゲスト達とのおしゃべりも遊ぶのも、珈琲を淹れる時間も大好きです。
すぐ目の前にある小さな小さな幸せ！楽しい事！ゲスト様と一緒に見つけて感じれたらなと思います。
楽しい旅となります様静かに手助けしますね。
愛良葉【あろは】
SUP 、カヌー、ダイビング、トライアスロン、陸上、登山、スキー、スノーボード、キャンプ自然と共に楽しむ事は私の生きる道！
脳も筋肉なのかな？とよく言われます。
昔は、次のお家がどこでも、置かれる場で輪を広げるのが楽しくて常にワクワクしてました。
この頃から多様性や個性も自然と学んでいたんだと思います。
今もそれは同じで。ありのまんまを大切にする気持ちとそう思う気持ちで溢れてます。
父も母も好きな事を仕事にするターザンの様な多才な人達で、母からはプラス大きな愛を父からはプラス極限を吹き込まれ。笑。
私は強者Wに。感謝！
また、多くのこども達にも笑顔で輝き続けてほしいと心の底から思っています。
なんでもできるよ！ってわたしには伝え続ける使命があります。笑
世界中全ての人とは出会いたくても出会えません。
残念！なので、ホアロハに訪れてくれる出会いは奇跡なのと、出会えてる心に感謝しています。
普段は先生をしているのでお休みの時は皆さんに会えるのを楽しみにしてます。一緒に自然遊びしましょう。
You can do it
and Dream big together!
楽南【らな】
BLOSSOM WITHOUT SUN AND
EVERYONE CAN’T LIVE
WITHOUT LOVE.