What's the best plan if I want to bring my large ski or snowboard bags to Tokyo?

Taking ski or snowboard bags into Tokyo is easy if you plan it: one direct train from the airport, and a hotel next to the station you get off at. It only becomes a hassle when you have to change trains, or when the hotel is a long walk from the station. If you would rather leave the bags at the airport or send them ahead, see storing or sending ski and snowboard bags.

From Narita, the Keisei Access Express runs straight on to the Toei Asakusa Line, so you can reach stations in central Tokyo such as Asakusa, Nihombashi and Higashi-Ginza in about an hour without changing trains. There are plenty of budget hotels close to Asakusa Line stations. Some of these trains carry on through to Haneda Airport, about an hour and a half from Narita, which makes the line a good base if your domestic flight to the snow leaves from Haneda. Check the train's destination before you board, as not every train runs the whole way.

Look for a hotel right at the station. Hotels with ekimae (meaning in front of the station) in their name are usually the shortest walk. Then the trip is easy: push a trolley with your bags to the station at the airport, carry the bags on to the train, get off in Tokyo, take the lift up to street level and then a short walk to the hotel. It's mildly inconvenient, but it's not the end of the world like many people will tell you.

Haneda has far more domestic flights than Narita, including to New Chitose for Niseko and the rest of Hokkaido, so flying on from Haneda gives you more choice of times.

Another option is to hire a car at Narita. A short hire there can cost less than you might expect, and all the luggage stays in the car. Book a cheaper hotel with a car park in the Tokyo Bay area and drive in. Whether driving makes sense depends on the day of the week and the time you are on the road, as Tokyo's roads are slow at busy times. See renting a car for a Japan ski trip.