Posting From Japan To Aus?

[beau_32]

hey guys/girls, heading over to Japan late January for a bit of a holiday. The 2nd part of the trip we are going up to Niseko to the snow so this is where my question comes into play.

we didn't want to cart our snowboard bags around for the first part, so we thought we would see the extra cost of a bag through the airline, then when we arrived in Tokyo send it up to Niseko and have it waiting when we get up there........ but its cheaper to pay for another ticket then pay for an extra bag lol

So we got a few prices to post direct from here to Niseko, which is pretty reasonable, but wanted to know who you guys would recommend to post our gear back with???

got told about a company that is good for internal shipping in Japan but they were not sure if they did international stuff... it was called kuroneiko (blackcat) delivery service.

Anyone used them??

any help is appreciated

beau

[*LOACH*]

I may have had Kuroneko deliver stuff to my place as they are possibly the biggest delivery company in Japan. For some reason I can't paste a link to their English website but just google "black cat Yamato".

When I go snowboarding here I just rent the gear as it is cheap and although the choices may be limited I have always been able to get my sizes (over 6ft tall and big feet).

[beau_32]

thanks paul, will have a look at their site! I suppose that could be an option also take clothes but just hire board and bindings... do you think it would be an issue for Kuroneko to post from Niseko village? or would i have to get it dropped somewhere?

sorry for all the newb questions

cheers

[*LOACH*]

I am pretty sure they would be able to deliver to Niseko village, I am more concerned about whether they can get stuff from Australia to Japan. I am quite certain they send overseas from Japan, but to Japan I am not so sure. Like I said though, considering the hassle, worry and cost, renting is a way better idea. If you really don't want to rent then maybe buy second hand stuff when you get to Hokkaido. Sell it back to the shop you bought it from when you are finished and the loss you will suffer will still be a lot less than the transport cost I imagine.

Edited December 9, 2014 by *LOACH*

[elrodeo666]

Beua, as Roach said you can have your boards delivered to Niseko . Just send by takubin to anywhere in Japan, straight to your accomodation absolutely no issue using either Sagawa or Kuroneko as both have delivery options for snowboard gear as this is the way Japanese travel. Send their gear ahead and just take small luggage with clothing, been in operation for donkeys years.

You could bring your gear with you and when you arrive take it to either company as they have delivery centres at all airports and send your gear and bob's your uncle. You'll need your accomo name , address and contact phone number and they'll ask for your number in Japan but hotel number is fine, main thing is to have your accomo in niseko correct.

I reckon in your case rent and save the coin and hassle sending your boards . You can get last seasons boards for around $20 a day and multiple shops in Hirafu village (main village in Niseko) with english speaking staff that can sort you out. Everything is available for clothing , bindings , boots and boards and even backcountry gear if your heading out. Boot size is no issue as all the foreign owned shops in Hirafu cater for big feet foreigners. Probably biggest shop with widest range is Rythm Niseko and conveniently located in central Hirafu. There's a multitude of shops so plenty to compare different rates and if your not happy with your board take it back and swap for a different one no issue.

A lot of the shops have try to buy deals where your rental rate comes off the price of new board but be aware the powder boards you will ride in Japan are longer than what you would ride in the excuse they call snow in Oz.

My wife's family come from Korea over to Hirafu every winter and stay at one of our Ski lodges and just rent their gear. They have there own stuff for back in Korea but just bring their own boots, snow wera and kids bring their bindings. They can travel around as much as they want and often go from one resort to another and just hire boards.

Another option is to buy in Japan. Last seasons gear, by the time you arrive will be cheap as chips. you'll still drop 40-50,000 yen on 2014 top line board but it will be up to half the price of Oz. Japanese go nuts for new season gear so they'll be grabbing all 2015 gear and most have done their shopping by now.

Selling it back to a Japanese shop won't happen and if they did you'll get bugger all for it. You could take it to a 2nd store like Hard Off where they give you a few 1,000yen.

Selling back to foreign owned rental shop you'll maybe get better deal but not by much. Way better to take it back to Oz and flog it there.

I've been living and riding snow in Japan since early 90's so have a bit of experience. Yep back in Oz now studying, running a few business here in Oz and back Japan and just had new baby so this will first winter I won't ride there in over 20+ years so envious of your fun in the powder. When I lived in Niskoe there was less than a handfull of us whitey's and I rarely got to speak english as just rode with my Japanese friends. With progress and $$$ the place has changed and lot's of old friends have left. I don't ride there much these days as cant handle the foreign influx and do most of my riding in central and Northern Hokkaido and Northern Honshu where there is awesome backcountry terrain. Japans snow is why I went to Japan in the first place and all the playing with fast cars, and other stuff was just a bonus.

If you need any help with sending your gear or have any questions , flick me a pm as happy to help out.

If you really want to take your gear with you send me a pm with your accomo as I know mosy

[Wongy]

Check your Pm's Marcus

[TM7GTR]

Just to bump this, whats the best way to send parts back to Aus from Japan, say, if I find things I like at an UpGarage?

I'll be there in Jan

[dori34]

does anyone know if I (a tourist) can visit their local post office and send items internationally?

rather than pay hefty airline baggage fees, i am thinking of sending stuff back in a big box.

Cheers

[*LOACH*]

does anyone know if I (a tourist) can visit their local post office and send items internationally?

rather than pay hefty airline baggage fees, i am thinking of sending stuff back in a big box.

Cheers

Yes, it is fine for anyone to post internationally and you don't even need to show ID. They are strict on the contents though so don't try to send anything you shouldn't. I couldn't send a tablet PC because of the battery inside.

Edited March 20, 2015 by *LOACH*

[dori34]

Thanks Loach!

won't be sending anything with batteries.

will be extra clothes, gifts and parts that will be sent back

[elrodeo666]

Mate when filling out the custom deceleration form (you will have to whether it's being sent EMS,SAL or by Sea post) keep it real simple.

eg. if sending parts .. if say its a Tomei Oil pump write down Nissan pump (Auto part) , don't put the word oil or you'll have a headache on your hands.

If say splitfire coil packs then again write Nissan coil pack (Auto Part)

Custom delcaration price is up to you

Just keep it simple, not too much detail and always put auto part and if they ask is, "there anything with oil always" ??? say NO NO NO !!

I've been sending parts ex Japan for years and years and years, trust me you start writing too much detail you'll be fubar , unless you have good Japanese and can tell the clerk how to do his job.

If you have a few things you want to send then try stagger posting them e.g one lot one day , few more another day. If your staying in one area and have no drama sending stuff , then keep using same post office.

Here's a link with info on posting : http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/use/index_en.html

Keep in mind Japan post bases postage sizing off length x width x circumference so you have limitations to box sizing and also length.

EMS has max combined total of 300cm with max length of 150cm and max weight of 20kg. You can send a Tomei Expreme Titanium exhaust using EMS.

You should have no drama's but if you get knocked back with anything just go find another post office.

Just have all your paperwork sorted before you go to post. !!

If you pm me your email I can send you scan of completed EMS and SAL forms so you have an idea of what to do and use them as a template.

[dori34]

elrodeo666 very helpful mate,

I've sent you a PM