Then, in 2019, a decade after SPROUT first opened, a new hub called Camp&Go was established right next door. It houses multiple shops and a gallery, with each section referred to as a "site," just like in a campground. The people who work and create there are affectionately called "campers."

It's a place where many people come and go, influencing and being influenced, growing and moving on to their next destination. We spoke with Mr. Touge to learn about the background of this inspiring place and his vision for the future.

I wanted to live in an environment as close to Alaska as possible.

When Mr. Touge was a 20-year-old student in the Kanto region, he stumbled upon Michio Hoshino's book "Alaska: A Journey of Light and Wind" in a secondhand bookstore. This discovery led him on a journey to Alaska, as if guided by fate. The experience of its magnificent nature gradually instilled in him a longing for life in the north. He wondered where he could find a place with an environment similar to Alaska's, and his search led him to Hokkaido.

Mr. Touge at age 20 during his visit to Alaska

"My relatives loved skiing, and I had been to Niseko once in junior high. I never thought I'd end up living here, but the name 'Niseko' always stuck in my mind. After returning from Alaska, I interviewed with a few companies, but something just didn't feel right. Then, I saw NAC (Niseko Adventure Centre) featured in an outdoor magazine and was shocked to see people living and playing in Niseko! (laughs). That's when I thought, 'I want to work here,' and my interest in Niseko began to grow."

NAC is an adventure center offering activities like rafting and ski tours that let you fully enjoy Niseko's nature. While his desire to move to Niseko deepened, Mr. Touge first took a job at an outdoor manufacturer in the Kanto region after graduating from university. He gained experience as a kayak instructor and guide, and at the age of 24, he finally made his dream of moving to Niseko a reality.

While working at NAC, Mr. Touge guided kayak tours in the summer and worked as a ski patroller in the winter, also discovering the joy of trail running. He got married during his second year, and after five years at NAC, he and his wife decided to travel to the U.S. again to think about their future together.