End of the Ski Season in Japan: Leave Your Gear Until Next Winter
Published Last updatedReviewed by Max
The ski season is ending and the gear has to go somewhere. With Silk Crane, you dry and pack your skis, snowboard and boots, send them from your hotel front desk to storage in Japan, and fly home without the long bags. Next winter, the gear is delivered to the hotel or resort where you ski.
At the end of the season, hand skis and snowboards, in Yamato’s required plastic cover, to the hotel front desk or a Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment. Confirm acceptance before sending. Storage plans are monthly or annual, and shipping is charged separately.
Store your gear until next winter
The last run of the season, and nothing long to carry home
Imagine the last morning of a March ski week in Hokkaido. After one more run you dry your boots and layers, pack the skis, wrap the bag in a Yamato cover and hand it to the hotel front desk with your Silk Crane shipping instructions. You fly home with a suitcase. In autumn you book a hotel in Hakuba and send Silk Crane the delivery details at least 7 days ahead. You confirm the property can receive and store the gear before delivery. Your own skis are waiting when you arrive.
What should I do with my skis at the end of the season?
- Dry and clean. Send gear clean and dry where you can; it lowers the risk of odor, rust and mildew while it waits. The drying and packing guide goes step by step.
- Protect the edges if you like. Silk Crane offers anti-corrosion edge protection for skis and snowboards in storage; see edge protection and tuning.
- Cover the bag. Yamato requires its plastic protective cover for skis, snowboards and all-in-one cases, even inside a padded bag. The Yamato cover guide shows which one you need.
- Send it. Book first, and you receive the storage address, suite number and shipping instructions. Hand the bag to your hotel front desk or a Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment. Confirm acceptance before sending. Keep flight clothes and essentials with you.
Annual or monthly for the off-season?
For gear that stays from one winter to the next, annual storage suits that storage period, and it also covers repeat trips during the year. Monthly storage suits a shorter gap, such as two ski trips in one season. Monthly or annual ski storage: how to choose compares the two in more detail. Shipping is charged separately from either plan.
Can next winter’s gear go to a different resort?
Yes. Silk Crane can deliver stored gear to hotels, lodges and resorts throughout Japan, including Niseko, Furano, Tomamu, Hakuba and Myoko. Send the accommodation name, reservation name, full address, phone number, arrival date and delivery date at least 7 days before you need the gear; confirm the accommodation agrees to receive and store the gear before delivery. The hotel, resort and airport delivery guide explains each request.
Heading back to Hokkaido? Niseko ski and snowboard storage covers Niseko trips.
Is a tune-up included while the gear waits?
No. Storage keeps your gear; care is a separate choice. Storage members can arrange a full tune-up for skis and snowboards, usually done during the off-season, and cleaning or drying help can be requested before or during booking. See the optional care services for what you can add.
End of season: questions
Can I take one item out over the summer?
Storage is planned, not a locker. A normal delivery sends the complete stored package; opening, repacking or taking out a single item is a special request to arrange with Silk Crane in advance.
Visit Japan more than once a year? Keeping ski gear in Japan between trips covers the back-and-forth. How ski and snowboard storage works across Japan explains sending from anywhere in the country, and keeping a Japan ski kit when home is warm suits travelers with no snow at home.
Storage plans are monthly or annual; shipping is charged separately.