Opening. After skiing at Niseko, Furano or Hakuba, your gear can stay in Japan and you carry on with everyday luggage. Silk Crane is a luggage storage service for travelers in Japan: you hand packed gear to the hotel front desk, and Silk Crane collects it, keeps it and later delivers it to your next hotel. If you arrive with ski gear, an airport counter of the delivery company Yamato (nicknamed Black Cat) that accepts ski equipment can send it to storage. Silk Crane can also take an extra suitcase; suitcases can go from the hotel desk or a 7-Eleven.
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At a glance. Four lines: what Silk Crane does; the three ski areas; where gear is sent from (hotel desk or an airport Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment); where it is delivered (your next hotel in Japan, or your ski hotel in ski areas such as Niseko, Furano and Hakuba).
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Short-stay card. A link to the English page of storage options, labelled as an English page. The message on the right: after skiing, store the gear and keep exploring Japan with the bags you still need.
滑完雪後，雪具怎麼辦？二世古滑一週，接著去札幌吃拉麵
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Scenario. A week in Niseko, then a few nights in Sapporo. Hand the gear to the hotel front desk, go into the city with a smaller bag and enjoy ramen in the evening. The gear is kept until your next ski trip or sent to your next hotel. Clothes for Sapporo stay in your own bag.
Three areas. The luggage arrangement is the same at all three; Silk Crane has no walk-in shop in these ski areas. Niseko: four linked resorts, many runs, and transport worth checking when you choose a hotel. Furano: skiing plus small-town life, with two ski zones. Hakuba: a valley of resorts, with hot springs. Each card ends with an English link to official information (the Furano one is a PDF).
Sending. The easiest way is the hotel front desk. After booking, Silk Crane gives the sending steps; there is an English guide on drying and packing gear. Suitcases can go from the hotel desk or a 7-Eleven; ski gear goes from the hotel desk or an airport Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment.
Timing. If you ski first, keep the gear with you and store it afterward. If you ski later, Silk Crane delivers stored gear to your ski hotel in areas such as Niseko, Furano, Tomamu, Hakuba and Myoko. If you land with gear and ski days later, hand it to an airport Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment; after booking, Silk Crane sends it to your ski hotel. For two ski areas back to back, sending hotel to hotel may be simpler. English guides cover Sapporo and New Chitose, Tokyo, and sending gear separately.
What is kept. Yes, both skis and snowboards. Silk Crane can keep your own skis, snowboard and ski boots until next winter or between long trips; or keep only boots and winter clothing and rent skis or a snowboard on each visit. English links: storage options, and a guide comparing renting with storing.
Questions. Can I switch to another ski area next year? Yes, because delivery is to hotels in Japan. Is the booking page in Chinese? No, it is in English; your browser can translate it, and the team normally communicates in English.
