His business books, including the "Leverage Series" that has been popular among many businessmen, and books introducing Japanese chefs active overseas and giving advice on how to spend your time in Hawaii based on his experience visiting over 60 countries, are also popular. His books have sold over 3 million copies in total. Honda says, "Travel is life and a lifestyle," and we asked him about the secrets he has discovered for successful travel.
Text: Tsukasa Sasabayashi Photo: Kaori Nishida
Have the World Heritage Site all to yourself on an early morning "travel run"
JAL: If you eat six meals a day while traveling, you're likely to gain weight during your trip.
Honda: Whenever I travel, I always try to do a "travel run." I run about 10 kilometers slowly in about an hour. That way, I can get an overview of most cities and see them from a bird's-eye view. You can also run to a place you want to see, such as a World Heritage Site. I like to run on roads that I would never take on a tourist trip. I can see the life and atmosphere of the city. "Everyone in this city gets up early," "This city is welcoming," "The people in this city don't even look me in the eye." If the city has a big market, it's nice to stop at the end of your run to have breakfast.
JAL: Are there any must-have items for a traveling run?
Honda: Lightweight is the most important thing, so I only take the bare necessities with me when I go for a ride. I carry my smartphone, credit card, and some small bills in a military-spec waterproof and dustproof cover.
Honda's favorite travel items. From the left, a waterproof and dustproof cover for running trips, a smartphone, and a camera. On the far right, earphones with excellent noise canceling function that are comfortable to sleep on the plane.
JAL: Earlier we asked you about the country that left the biggest impression on you in terms of food, but which country left the biggest impression on you during your travel run?
Honda: There are many. First of all, Rome in Italy. The cobblestone streets make it difficult to run, but the city is full of World Heritage sites. Especially when you run early in the morning, there is no one in the places that are crowded with tourists during the day. The quiet Colosseum was very mystical. Other than that, Florence in Italy is also pleasant. I also enjoyed Bruges in Belgium, Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria, and Barcelona in Spain.
How to enjoy Hawaii from a local perspective. Take a step outside the tourist areas.
JAL: Mr. Honda, you not only take short-term trips to Europe and Asia, but also practice a dual life, spending five months a year in Hawaii and three months in Tokyo. Could you tell us about the charm of Hawaii and how to enjoy it?
Honda: Oahu is popular among Japanese people, isn't it? The good thing about this island is the coexistence of city and abundant nature. You can enjoy the city, and if you go a little further, you can also find magnificent nature like Diamond Head. My recommendation is to take a step outside of Waikiki, the mecca of tourism. For example, Ala Moana Beach Park is only a 10-minute drive from Waikiki Beach, but it's full of locals and the scenery and atmosphere are completely different. You can also walk there. It's also a good idea to experience nature on neighboring islands other than Oahu.
JAL: Some people who have visited Hawaii several times have the impression that it's full of Japanese people and there's nothing delicious to eat.
Honda: If you go a little outside the tourist areas, you'll find some great local restaurants. If you're a repeat visitor, I think it would be fun to explore these places and enjoy your time as if you were living there, rather than just visiting from a tourist perspective. My favorite place is called "Side Street Inn." It's a gastropub, a place that's both a bar and a restaurant.
Pork chops from Honda's favorite restaurant, Side Street Inn. Very filling.
JAL: Honda's lifestyle of traveling around the world while based in Hawaii and Japan is an ideal one for anyone who loves to travel. With the development of the Internet environment and the growing momentum of "telework," which allows people to work from places other than the office, I'm sure there are many people who are realistically considering a similar way of working.
Honda: I think anyone can do it. At least, you don't have to be tied to a place. But it depends on how you use it. You need to be creative and choose from a variety of options how to achieve your ideal lifestyle. For example, think about how to utilize new technologies and services, or find a company that promotes teleworking and diverse working styles. I think it's all a choice of your own volition. If you can't do it right now, you can just gradually prepare.
Seeing the world reminds me of the great things about Japan. The uniqueness of each region is especially wonderful.
JAL: Mr. Honda, you continue to travel, so I would like to ask you a question. If you were to settle down, which country would you like to choose?
Honda: I have no intention of settling down. I don't want to stay in the same place, I don't want to be tied down to a country. However, I will never leave Japan at 0% as a base. There is no other country as good as this. It's convenient, safe, and the food is delicious. Above all, the level of service and hospitality is high. The same goes for planes; I only fly with airlines operated by Japanese companies (laughs).
JAL: By traveling around the world, you were able to discover the great things about Japan.
Honda: For the past three years, I have been traveling around Japan for two months a year. When I travel, I can feel the big trends of the world. I think we are gradually moving away from the materialistic supremacy of mass production and mass consumption to a spiritualism that values unique experiences. I have felt this very strongly for about 10 years now.
From there, I started to want to look at Japan, not just other countries. Japan's regions have always had their own unique characteristics, with diverse cultures in terms of food and festivals. Until now, there have been some areas that have been eroded by the culture and economy emanating from Tokyo, but if the regions could take pride in their uniqueness, things would be much more interesting. Now I want to learn more about the charms of such regions.
Naoyuki Honda
After working for foreign companies such as Citibank, he participated in the management of Bucks Group and led it to listing on JASDAQ as a managing director. He currently invests in venture companies in Japan and the US. His books include the Leverage series, "Escape from Tokyo: A new way to relocate, eliminating the barriers between work and play," "Why Japanese chefs are able to compete on the world stage," "TraveLife: 35 important things I learned from traveling to live creatively," and "The Hawaii's Best Restaurants." His books have sold over 3 million copies in total, and translated versions are also available in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China.
Thunderbird School of International Management Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Graduated from Meiji University, School of Commerce, Department of Industrial Management
Japan Sommelier Association Certified Wine Advisor
Lecturer at the Academie du Vin
Part-time lecturer at Meiji University and Sophia University
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
