Shop Winter Gear in Japan—and Keep It Here for Next Season
Published Last updatedReviewed by Max
Finding ski boots that fit or a jacket you love can be a highlight of a Japan winter trip. Silk Crane, a luggage storage service for travelers in Japan, keeps those purchases in storage for you, so the shopping does not turn the rest of the holiday into an exercise in carrying bags.
You send skis or snowboards from your hotel front desk or an airport counter of the delivery company Yamato that accepts ski equipment; Silk Crane takes ordinary suitcases from your hotel front desk or a 7-Eleven.
The right boots, then a lighter journey
Picture finding a comfortable pair of ski boots during a Tokyo shopping day. You use them for the mountain part of the trip, then pack the boots with your winter clothing and send them from your hotel front desk to Silk Crane. The rest of the holiday is a city break with a smaller bag. For the next winter visit, Silk Crane delivers the familiar kit to your ski hotel.
After you sign up, Silk Crane gives you the address and the sending steps. Keep city clothes and daily essentials in your own bag.
Shop for the winters you actually want to have
Start with fit
Give boots and clothing time in the shop. A useful purchase is something you want to wear on the mountain, not simply another item to fit in a suitcase.
Think about repeat use
If Japan is where you enjoy winter sports, keeping that equipment in Japan can make the next trip easier to pack for.
Keep exploring after shopping
When you no longer need purchases with you, Silk Crane keeps them in storage, so the size of your luggage does not decide which cities you visit next.
A shopping stop can be part of a bigger trip
Exchange rates and discounts change, so choose around fit and condition; Silk Crane then keeps what you buy until your next trip. The shopping-to-storage guide explains sending purchases to storage.
Can I order winter gear online instead?
Often, yes. After you sign up, you can have a Japanese retailer’s online shop ship a prepaid order to your Silk Crane address; each retailer decides whether to take your order. Boots are worth trying on in a shop; for gear whose size you already know, an online order can work.
If you already store a kit with Silk Crane, newer gear ordered online can reach the same address, and Silk Crane can deliver it to your ski hotel in a resort area such as Niseko, Furano, Tomamu, Hakuba or Myoko with the bag you already store.
Store for the next stop or the next season
Silk Crane keeps luggage, ski and snowboard equipment and other sports gear in storage. You send from your hotel front desk or, for a suitcase, a 7-Eleven, and Silk Crane delivers later to a hotel you choose in Japan.
Use the winter storage plan guide to compare a shorter break with a returning ski routine. The drying and packing guide covers preparing used gear before it is sent.
Watch: luggage and sports-gear storage
An introduction to storing suitcases, ski and snowboard equipment and golf gear in Japan.
Listen: planning ski and snowboard storage
A podcast-style introduction for travelers considering storage between Japan winters.
Watch: another look at Japan winter storage
Continue with this companion video, or jump to the practical guides below when you are ready to plan.
Questions before you go
Can I store boots and winter clothing as well as skis?
Yes. Silk Crane keeps boots, winter clothing and skis, and the storage plans page shows the options.
Can a shop send purchases directly to storage?
Yes. A shop can ship purchases straight to your Silk Crane storage address once you have signed up.
Do I have to collect purchases at the storage facility?
No. Silk Crane delivers them to your hotel for the next part of your trip.
Keep planning your trip
For combining several purchases before delivery, read consolidating shopping with stored luggage. Browse the Japan storage guide collection for more ideas. Storing gear for about a month? See the one-month ski storage page.