Japan is a magical place to visit for a ski holiday, the culture, food and of course the vast amounts of powder snow. Travelling here for a ski holiday is a great chance to take in some of the attractions in the cities. To enjoy this you do not want to be carrying around huge bags. Planning a ski holiday does not need to be stressful and with a bit of forward planning, you can take advantage of all the conveniences available in Japan to ease you into the holiday.
Read on for our top tips for travelling light to get the most out of your trip.
Luggage and Ski/ Board Equipment
Luggage allowances for international travel are getting tighter and differ from airline to airline which can make navigating this very difficult. To save carrying your long heavy ski/ board bags through the airport we recommend renting. With the premium rental offering at Rhythm Japan, we have a huge range of equipment suitable for all abilities and conditions. With skis from brands such as K2, Armada, Volkl and snowboards from Capita, Burton and Jones – to name a few – you can be confident that we have the right equipment for your holiday. Click here to book rentals.
Japan has so many undiscovered gems and there are ski resorts everywhere, if you are really feeling adventurous and looking to experience multiple resorts during your visit then our multi resort rental program has you covered.
Without the heavy ski luggage, you can include some sightseeing and take in some of the amazing culture Japan has to offer at the start or end of your holiday.
If you do travel internationally with ski gear then we recommend Yamato (Kuroneko) transport service for the convenience of couriering your luggage to your hotel. They have desks in the airport and for a very low rate you can ship your luggage and enjoy the hands-free time to get out and experience the city. Shipping from Tokyo airports to Hokkaido usually takes 2-3 days so this is only suitable if you wish to spend some time in the city first.
Essentials
Clothing
We recommend warm practical clothing for your time off snow and the correct ski gear for your time on the slopes. If you are coming from a country with limited winter products available, the retail range at Rhythm Japan Online Store has everything you need for a ski holiday. Shop online and take advantage of the low Japanese ¥ then collect in-resort when you arrive to save travelling with the product.
Amenities
Japanese hotels are very well stocked with everything you need, most even come with complimentary toothbrushes. Leave your heavy toiletries at home. Towels are available at the onsens for rental.
Money
Japan is still a cash heavy society with lots of bars and restaurants being cash only. Although some businesses are modernising and will accept cards or electronic payments it is still recommended to carry the cash to cover you. A lot of ATM’s are also only open for certain hours so cash is king. Pro tip- coin purses are back, outside of Japan we are so used to a cash-free life we have forgotten what to do with the shrapnel. A coin purse keeps the loose stuff all together.
Footwear
The vast amounts of snow are probably a major reason for booking your holiday to Japan, this does make walking the streets a sometimes-dangerous, always-cold experience. A suitable pair of winter boots will keep your feet warm and stop you from slipping over. Save the hassle and shop here for winter footwear to collect when you arrive in the resort.
Travel
There are a large number of budget airlines and this has opened up low cost flying domestically in Japan. These all come with restricted baggage options so it pays to travel light.
The Bullet Trains (Shinkansens) are iconic within Japan and provide an epic way to travel around. Discount passes are available for visitors to Japan and are a cost effective way to move around. There are no luggage restrictions on the trains but moving around the busy train stations with luggage can be tricky.
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