So I’m heading to Japan soon to shred. This may be one of my only posts in WCIF , but I’m actually completely lost as to where to go for snow gear.
I have
I will rent
I need
I know Decathlon has some stuff, which I think I’ll hit up for pants and one or two things, but what about everything else? Has anyone else gone to Japan to ski/board?
When I lived in Taichung I remember that Decathlon had skiing and snowboarding gear, and both me and my wife were puzzled by that because the Taiwanese skiing market doesn’t seem one where I’d invest money. Now they don’t have that sort of gear, but they still have good equipment for mountain hiking and you can probably find something good there.
There’s a place called Metro Oasis that has a good amount of hiking gear, even very specialized tools for mountain climbing. Might be worth checking what they have, you may find some useful accessories/equipment there.
I remember there was a store on the corner of Civic and Zhang Shan N Rd. in Taipei. However I think it closed.
Neihu has a couple of winter gear stores, I forget the name now but that’s where I got the small stuff you are looking for. They do have some nice boards and blades too.
Putting “snowboard gear” into google maps gives a few hits 
I went to “GoFun Sports” recently, and would expect they have whatever you want: Google Maps
In Neihu there is indeed another shop called “All Ride Skate/Surf/Snow”, but I haven’t been there: Google Maps
That’s where I bought my stuff
Google is so much less trustworthy than members of this forum though.
Where in Japan are you headed? If you’ll go through Nagano (the largest city in the Japanese Alps), there are sporting goods shops right near Nagano station. I picked up some good bargains there on my way to Hakuba last year. Yuzawa is also a ski town (smaller than Nagano) with shops if that’s where you’re headed.
I’m headed towards Nozawa. According to my friends I’m going with, it’s a bit cheaper than the major resorts and not as crowded.
I was actually thinking about buying some of the gear when I arrived since I have one day in Tokyo before heading out to the resort, but leaving those things to last minute really get me anxious, especially when I don’t know my way around and the language.
What I think I might do is buy a pair here in Taipei, don’t remove the tag and bring it along if I find a better deal in Japan I’ll just come back and return the one I bought in Taipei.
Don’t bother. Nozawa is the oldest ski resort in Japan. It’s an entire village that caters to skiing/boarding. Whatever you’ll find in Taipei, you’ll find something better at a lower price in Nozawa. Now it would be a different story if you were going to a remote, one-hotel resort like the Club-med in Hokkaido. The language is nothing to worry about. You’ll find lots of Australian holidaymakers on the slopes and in the village.
Add to your list a winter-weight balaclava that is thin enough to fit under your average helmet. Or, get a “tube”-style neck warmer. These will save your neck and head if you find yourself in high-wind areas above the tree line or on a lift. I would also get a pair of thin liner gloves and stash them in your pack. Lastly, make sure that everything you wear is quick-dry.