Ski Boots: Cheaper to buy in U.S.A or Japan?
With the recent influx of American skiers visiting our stores, we want to address a common question: is it cheaper to buy ski boots in Japan than in the USA? We’ve done a price comparison of our top selling ski boots from this season, and looked into the factors influencing price, so you can be more aware of what to expect when shopping with us this season.
Why are boots cheaper in Japan than in the U.S.A?
As we can see above, our top selling boots are on average 19% cheaper than if paying full price when purchasing in the states, as of the 16th February 2026. There are a few key factors that have influenced this, with the main one being a weaker yen when compared to the US dollar, which increases the purchasing power of the USD. Another reason is tariffs, with many ski boots being subject to 10%-20% import tariffs over the past year, which is generally passed on to the consumer. Another reason is that the rate of inflation is relatively much lower in Japan when compared to the U.S.A, so although globally prices have gone up drastically over the past few years, we have not seen this on the same level here in Japan.
But price isn’t everything, as getting the right boot is always more important than saving a few dollars. Fortunately when you buy boots from us you not only get great value, but we also make sure that we get you the right boot for your feet, and make further customisations to make sure they fit. If you purchase a boot that we recommend for your feet along with custom footbeds, we charge the price of the boot, plus custom footbeds at RRP, and no further costs for needed customisations, as per our bootfit guarantee.
Tax Free Shopping
To make buying ski boots with us an even better deal, Japan offers tax free purchases for overseas tourists who are not planning on using the products until after they leave Japan. This grants customers the opportunity to waive the 10% consumption tax at the time of sale, providing that they provide their passport, are visiting for less than three months, and are going to leave Japan with their ski boots in unused condition with original packaging. Click here for full terms and conditions on japan’s Tax Free Shopping rules.
English Friendly Service
Finally, it is worth reminding our U.S customers that our shops are geared towards the international market and our service is provided primarily in English, making us the ultimate destination for english speaking travellers who are seeing the ultimate bootfitting experience.
To see the range for yourself, please visit one of our three stores, located in Hakuba, Niseko Hirafu, and Niseko Village.