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“I learned the charm of Tokachi from my customers”
“I originally started hot air ballooning as a hobby, and then I commercialized it to ‘earn money doing what I love.’
Mr. Shinoda, who has been living with hot air balloons for over 35 years, says. He used to participate in competitions and achieve good results, winning the Hokkaido Balloon Festival in 2019. After that, he expanded his activities to the tourism business with the desire to let more people experience his hobby.
“At first, I wanted to convey the fun of hot air balloons themselves, but when I opened the lid, I received many comments like ‘I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the sky and land of Tokachi’ or ‘It was like a scene from a movie.’ I realized that the scenery of Tokachi, which I took for granted, was actually ‘one of a kind,'” Mr. Shinoda says with a smile.
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
~The Man Who Reads the Wind, Hiroyuki Shinoda, Talks About the Charm of Hot Air Balloons and His Love for Tokachi~
――What was the reason you encountered hot air balloons in the first place?
Mr. Shinoda“I was born in 1967 and grew up in Honbetsu Town. My father ran a maintenance shop and loved the outdoors, so I had many opportunities to go motorboating and skiing from a young age. I think that was the origin of my fascination with ‘moving activities.’ After graduating from high school, the company I joined decided to purchase a hot air balloon as a group. They were recruiting for pilot qualification, and I raised my hand out of curiosity, thinking it looked interesting. When I actually flew, the feeling of moving relying on the wind instead of an engine was very fresh, and from there I became immersed in hot air balloons.”
――What is the feeling of “reading the wind” in a hot air balloon?
Mr. Shinoda「The direction and speed of the wind are different in the sky and on the ground. You adjust the ascent and descent with the burner of the gondola, find a good wind layer, and align the course in the direction you want to go. So, even if you take off from the same place, you can draw a completely different route each time. There are days when you can accurately aim like hitting a strike in a competition, and there are days when you are at the mercy of the wind. That’s the difficult but never boring part. Actually, my friends joke that ‘I can read the wind but not the air (the atmosphere of the place),’ but that’s just a joke (laughs).”
――What was a memorable episode when you started taking customers on board?
Mr. Shinoda“I was happy when I received the comment that ‘the hot air balloon ride in Hokkaido is exceptional.’ When I told a group of three in their 20s from Tokyo that ‘there are places where you can ride in Kanto,’ they all replied with a big smile, ‘It’s best to ride in Hokkaido!’ Especially in Tokachi, where the vast land, straight roads, and impressive mountain ranges come into view at once. I was also told that ‘I experienced overseas without going abroad.’ I realized that the scenery, which is familiar to locals, gives a special impression to outsiders.”
――Are there more overseas customers?
Mr. Shinoda「Recently, a group from Taiwan came, and although we didn’t speak the same language, we were able to share the excitement with the scenery, and by the time we landed, we communicated with gestures saying ‘the best!’ The great thing about balloon flights is that you can share the excitement beyond nationality and language. Now, we are working on making our website available in English and Chinese and focusing on inbound demand.”
――What kind of charm of Tokachi do you want to convey through hot air balloon flights?
Mr. Shinoda“Of course, I want people to enjoy the great nature of Tokachi, as well as the ‘endless fields’ and the ‘joy of food produced by the land.’ Since the flights are mainly in the early morning, after the flight, I guide them to ‘let’s go eat a delicious breakfast!’ or recommend my favorite restaurants. Ideally, I want to support a total Tokachi experience that makes customers want to come back.”
――I heard you are also working on environmental measures and new challenges?
Mr. Shinoda「Yes, we are participating in an experiment to use liquefied biomethane (LBM) made from fermented livestock manure as fuel. Compared to propane gas, it is expected to reduce about 120 kg of CO₂ per hour. If it can be officially sold as fuel for hot air balloons, we can aim for the world’s most environmentally friendly hot air balloon flight. There are still many improvements to be made, but I want to realize an eco-friendly sky journey.”
――Finally, a word to those who are hesitating to ride a hot air balloon!
Mr. Shinoda“Seeing is believing. The scenery you see in photos and videos is, of course, beautiful, but the feeling of ‘moving through space’ with your whole body is something you can’t experience elsewhere. You will surely realize ‘Hokkaido is so vast!’ Tokachi is a land where free flights are easy in both summer and winter. Please experience the ‘journey of reading the wind.’ I think we can deliver an excitement that exceeds your imagination!”
The Fun of “Leaving It to the Wind” Learned from the Spectacular Scenery
Hot air balloons are vehicles without engines. If the wind doesn’t blow, they don’t move forward, and if the wind direction changes, the course changes accordingly. It may seem uncontrollable at first glance, but Mr. Shinoda skillfully reads the different winds at different altitudes and draws a course.
“There is always a different wind in the sky. The pilot’s skill is to ‘catch’ that wind while ascending and descending. It’s never boring because it doesn’t go as planned,” Mr. Shinoda laughs.
And above all, this “leaving it to the wind” route is the biggest point that creates a different spectacular view each time. When you leave the ground, patchwork-like fields and straight windbreak forests spread out below, and the impressive ridgelines of the Hidaka Mountains and the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range rise in the distance. Depending on the season, weather, and wind direction, the sea may shimmer faintly beyond the horizon. Many people are captivated by the “contrast of the sky” that cannot be captured in photos.
Tokachi is a “rare land” where you can fly all year round
Generally, in summer, when the fields are spread out, landing spots are
