Rhythm Japan has the most comprehensive range of ski and snowboard rental equipment in Japan. Both our Niseko and Hakuba stores are packed with the latest gear, along with skis and boards to suit and standard of rider. And, most importantly, renting with us is super easy. Here are a few tips to make sure the rental process is as smooth and fast as possible.
- Book before you go!
We recommend booking your equipment with us before you start your holiday. This way you are guaranteed your style of gear will be available. Don’t worry, you don’t have to make decisions about boot sizes or your preferred model of ski / snowboard until you visit us in the shop! It’s also an excellent way to streamline the start of your holiday. Pre-booking mean a lot of paperwork has been done and will be ready as soon as you walk in the store. Of course, you are more than welcome to visit us without a booking, just come into the shop and our staff will help you out.
- Decide on your rental package.
We offer two levels of equipment, Standard and Premium. Our Standard range of skis and boards are suitable for beginners and the budget conscious. The skis and boards are all recent models and are kept in pristine condition by our workshop team. They are perfect if you plan on sticking to the groomed runs and the easier off-piste terrain. Our Premium range are the newest models from top of the line brands like Volkl, Salomon, Rossignol, Burton, Lib Tech and Capita. This gear will suit all skier types from beginners who want to progress quickly to experts who want to ride the entire mountain and beyond. Please take note that we can’t reserve specific models however our expert staff will pick out a board or set of skis that you will be stoked with. If you book from our Premium range you can swap and anytime during your hire period.
- Call us for a pick up.
Rhythm offers a free pick up and drop of service for all of our Niseko and Hakuba locations. All you need to do is give us a call! Customers who are staying in Hirafu in Niseko or Wadano in Hakuba should give us 15 – 20 minutes before they’d like to be picked up. If you are staying outside these areas please get in touch with us 30 minutes before you need a ride.
The numbers to call are:
Rhythm Niseko: 0136 23 0164
Rhythm Hakuba: 0261 73 3288
- Check yourself in.
If you’ve never rented with us before and haven’t made an online booking you are welcome to come in and use our self-check in system. It’s super quick and easy to use, plus our staff will be there to help if you have any questions. It’s available at both our Niseko and Hakuba locations. If you’ve pre-booked or you have rented with us before please talk to our guest services staff at the front counter who will locate your paperwork in our system.
- Wear your ski socks and leave the skinny jeans at home!
When trying on ski or snowboard boots you want to get the best fit possible to we recommend wearing the socks you normally ride in. A thin, good quality wool or wool blend sock is always best. If you don’t have a pair you can always purchase some in store. And try to wear pants you can easily roll up to just below your knees. This will make trying on boots a breeze!
- Take your time choosing boots.
It’s important you don’t rush things along when trying on ski or snowboard boots. Our experienced boot fitters want to do their best to make sure you’re comfortable and are happy to answer any questions, especially if you have any issues with your feet. We have different boots for different foot types so should be able to find something suits your needs. If for some reason your boots aren’t suitable you can always come in and swap them for another pair.
- Get tech!
After you’ve found the right boots it’s time to decide on skis. Our ski and snowboard techs love a chat so feel free to ask them any questions you may have. Ultimately this will help us find the best ski or snowboard to suit your style.
- Swap your gear during your stay!
If you’re renting a Premium package you can always come and swap your skis or snowboard depending on the snow conditions or even if you just want to try something different. Visit us at any time during business hours and we’ll sort you out as quick as we can!
- Make a multi-resort booking.
We encourage our customers to experience as much of Japan as possible, so we’ve made it easy for you to travel with our gear between different resorts. For example, you might be starting your holiday in Hakuba and then traveling to Niseko. We will fit your gear in Hakuba and then, once your time there is done, issue you with a customer card. When you’re in Niseko you can show our staff your card and they will quickly re-issue your equipment. If you’re traveling to a resort where we don’t have a shop front we can arrange to have the gear couriered back to us. We simply charge one extra day’s rental for this service.
- Check out this awesome vid!
Our rad retail manager Aurora Braid put this video together to help explain the rental process. Check it out!
