Japan question: Courier skis from Narita to Hakuba

[the browndog]

Hi,

My parents in-law take off for Hakuba this Sunday. They arrive in Narita on Monday morning at 7am Tokyo time. From there they get a train to Tokyo station, bullet train to Nagano and then bus to Hakuba.

Question(s): Has anyone used the luggage / ski courier service to get stuff from Narita to the accommodation in Hakuba?

Is it reliable and safe?

It states next day delivery. Does that generally mean first thing next morning or is it more likely to be by the end of the next day?

Concern is that they will be lugging skis etc. around Tokyo train station in peak hour on a Monday morning. Having been to Niseko twice, once with my own skis and once hiring skis I have weighed up both options with them and they have decided to take their own.

Thanks in advance.

[Tobi]

I have used the service before and dropped my gear at the counter at about 7pm one day and when I arrived at my accom at about 6pm the next night it was there.

It doesn't really help with your questions though.

I found the service good and will be using it again this year but again I fly into Narita at about 6:30pm and won't be getting to Hakuba until the next afternoon so I won't need my gear on the 1st day.

[Jahoota]

My brother (who has lived in tokyo for 3 years) reports it is relaible and safe (it is the japanese we're talking about).

Dont know about the timings tho. I always got the impression it was a 24hour thing.

We didnt bother to work it out this trip as we are using a private transfer.

[ 28.01.2009, 01:13 PM: Message edited by: Jahoota ]

[Paul Oberin]

Tokyo station is big, and as you have mentioned can be quite busy, I found you need to keep luggage to a minimum.
Last year I had a carry on, a suit case and a ski bag and it was very difficult, as you have to carry it at times like up stairs, mine all had wheels, but even so it was difficult.
Apart from the Tokyo station it was quite easy at both Narita and Nagano stations and also at the bus depot.

[SA]

Yes there was some hasty repacking involved, wasn't there? graemlins/big_laugh.gif

;)

[Podlettte]

I found escalators or lifts at all but the most isolated train station's on Hokkaido, can't speak for Honshu stations other than Tokyo, which for the platforms I required - city circle area and Narita express - there were lifts/escalators for all areas.

I've heard the Takyuban/Takiyuban is very reliable, not all promise 24 hours, they say allow up to 36, so check before booking etc

[the browndog]

Thanks all. Great info. That will help them once they get over there.

Cheers.

[SnoWhite]

Here's a link to a website that might be useful.

Whilst most people I know have had their ski gear arrive in under 24 hours, the website says 2 days. I'm arriving on a Tuesday night and want to be skiing first thing Thursday morning, so I'm going to hold on to my gear. However, I don't have to change trains and my hotel in Tokyo is really close to the station.

Yamoto Transport (http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/english/services/ski.html)

[Shorty]

We used Black Cat from Osaka and sent 2 lots of gear on the Thursday Night. 1 lot arrived on time but only half of the other lot (2 families travelling)wasn't at the lodge at Hakuba when we rang after about 48 Hours. After much anxiety all the gear was there when we arrived on the Sunday and we suspect it was there the whole time. Just to be sure on the way home we sent as much as we could on the Friday Morning and kept ski gear etc and lugged with us and all was at Osaka for our flight home on the Sunday Night. Lodge owner reckons they have never had a problem as long as you allow the 2 days.