Hello r/japantravel!
I’m seeking some advice for our upcoming trip to Japan. We’re first-timers, and our itinerary includes Tokyo, Fuji Five Lakes, Nagano, Kiso Valley, Kyoto, Niseko, then back to Tokyo for 1 final night. We’re so unbelievably excited for it!
Here’s the challenge: We’re sending our skis to Hokkaido from Tokyo via Yamato upon arrival so we can travel the first half without huge ski bags, I’m just unsure how we intend to get them back. Our last day skiing in Niseko is February 4th, and we have a flight with ANA from Sapporo to Tokyo on February 5th (12:30-14:10). We then leave Japan on February 6th at 9:45 AM.
Our plan is to bring the ski bags, alongside one checked bag, on the ANA flight. While we’re prepared to pay excess baggage charges (our total baggage will definitely exceed the 20kg limit), the main concern is the oversized nature of our ski bags (L+W+H over 205cm, but under 295cm).
Here’s where I need help:
**ANA’s Oversized Baggage Policy:** ANA’s policy for oversized baggage seems vague. We can’t pre-book these bags, the website suggests letting them know in advance if we are bringing oversize bags. So I called up, and they say they have added a note, but mentioned that oversized baggage is not guaranteed to be boarded and might be rejected at the airport. They advised using postal services, but with our flight schedule, we wouldn’t receive the skis in Tokyo in time for our international departure the next day.
**Experiences with Ski Bags on ANA Flights**: Has anyone faced a similar situation with ANA flights, particularly from Sapporo to Tokyo? Were you able to board with ski bags and additional check in bags, or did you encounter issues?
**Alternatives?:** With our tight return schedule, using Yamato again might not be feasible (I understand there is a 2 day delivery, which means using Yamato means not having our ski equipment for our last day skiing in Niseko on the 4th if we want to ensure we have the there by the morning of the 6th). Any thoughts or alternative suggestions?
Any insights, experiences, or suggestions from the community would be immensely helpful!
Thank you all in advance!
by KimJongCool