Boot Solutions Hakuba

Fantastic experience. James was an absolute master and helped get me into boots that fit perfectly and are moulded to my feet.
The next day I had the best day of riding I’ve ever had, so much more control and balance. It was a different world!

I have had a hard time getting rental boots that fit my rather oddly shaped feet. I am usually in more than a little pain, and often loose toenails later. This year I attempted to fix this by buying my own boots, but having visited outlets in both Sydney and Tokyo who didn't have anything they could do for me, (but to be completely fair they both tried hard), I had all but given up and decided that it was going to be same as usual, poorly fitting rentals. But, I found a brochure for boot Solutions in the lodge and thought that should give them a try as a last resort. Very knowledgeable staff, worked hard to achieve a custom fit, and didn't charge a bomb. I am more than happy to recommend this business to anyone, like me, who doesn't have off the shelf feet, go give them a try.

I walked into Boot Solutions and had the most amazing experience getting new ski boots! Feb 21st 2024. Awesome place, service with very experienced boot fitters. James knows his stuff! Many thanks for helping me find amazing boots.

Bought my very first pair of ski boots and got them fitted by Josh in January 2023. They know their stuff and came away having had an awesome experience (the craft beer helped!) and a very comfortable pair of new boots! Now just need more time on them slopes!!!

They saved our lives and our ski trip :)
We had an appointment with Joshie, my girlfriend needed a boot stretch and I wanted some adjustment to my liner.
What can I say, the experience was awesome all the way through. Joshie is a really nice and funny guy and made our
appointment a very pleasant experience. I felt like we got just what we needed, the work was done on the spot but with a lot of
explanation of what certain adjustments will do to your foot and the skiing and why they will improve your foot comfort. Joshie has 25 years of experinece boot fitting, so he definitely knows his stuff. Will recommend 100%, if you need adjustment to your boots or have troubled feet skiing/snowboarding, go there and they can help you out for sure. Thanks Joshie!

Update - see below for my preliminary review.

If I could give 10 stars I would. James is an absolute miracle worker! I was hoping for a good fit and comfort (see below). I was NOT expecting James to fix my skiing but WOW!! What a difference. A pervasive fault I’ve battled with for 10 years and it’s fixed in a day. What an expert knowledge of biomechanics James has. I’m so thrilled. I didn’t bring my own skis this trip but they are going to think it’s someone else in the bindings next time I take them out.

Now if you don’t take his advice & want silly things done to boots that don’t fit in the first place, well that’s probably outside the range of possible miracles, but if you listen you’ll get what you need at the best price. And at a fair price too - he had the opportunity to sell me new shells, but no, he assured me the ones I had were fine.

Some minor adjustments by Sataru and the boots are PERFECT! Also giving a shout out to the rest of the staff who are all just so lovely & welcoming. THIS SHOP IS WORTH TRAVELLING TO.

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A preliminary review after the best boot fitting experience ever! I can’t wait to try my new boots tomorrow & I will report back once I do.

But I can’t wait to review. For context, my feet are a boot fitters nightmare. 2 sizes smaller than the smallest boot most manufacturers make, but I’m advanced skier (and qualified instructor), so options are very limited. I’ve previously travelled to specialist boot fitters in 3 different countries, so I’ve dealt with many boot fitters (most of whom have given up in despair). I own a pair of every ski boot made in my size & the only ones that worked well gave up last season after 10 years. Needless to say I was nervous about getting new ones.

James is quite simply a class apart. Instantly spotting what I needed, what might work, what wouldn’t, discussing whether an option potentially available next year might be worth waiting for, he quickly gained my confidence. I knew he wouldn’t sell me something unsuitable just because it’s what was in stock, which has happened several times before.

And amazingly, James was able to tell me what my main problem skiing is - which Level 4 ski instructor trainers have struggled to diagnose - just by looking at my feet.

We ultimately settled on new liners, new footbeds with a brave new ramp angle, and new heating elements. At one point in the shop I was near tears - just sheer hope - after so many years of ski boot trouble. Finally I felt someone actually got it. So I can’t wait to try them out tomorrow!

But just for knowledge, experience and customer service alone - I unreservedly recommend Boot Solutions and particularly James for boot fitting. I’d have flown from Europe years ago if I’d known.

I was fitted by Sataro yesterday (as my original boots were not fitted correctly to me). Sataro did a fantastic job, he was thorough and spent so much time with me and reassuring me that I was going to feel my feet/toes again when riding. And damn was he right. So happy with them mind you this is now the third pair I have had to purchase as I have not been fitted correctly previously. So I would like you to say a massive thank you to you

“Most calcified navicular I’ve ever seen in my career” - James, from Boot Solutions.

After two seasons of crying through the slopes, being incredibly frustrated with every turn, unable to focus on any technique just so I could avoid pain, James validated my concerns and completely transformed my skiing experience. It was like magic - truly, honestly. I tried putting pressure ulcer dressings on my naviculars, I tried insoles (the wrong ones for sure) and even bought a boot “built for comfort.” I was at my wits end. But a quick trip to Boot Solutions and some in-depth physio testing with James had my feet and soul singing. This guy is incredibly smart, kind and easy to work with. I cannot recommend him and this shop enough. THANK YOU for giving my feet life again and preventing me from quitting skiing altogether.

The ONLY place to get your boots for the mountain. Whether you’re in Hakuba to ski or ride, you WANT and NEED to go in to see Josh. This isn’t assembly line shoe purchasing. This is individual treatment, one on one customer service and a relationship. This QUALITY customer service that, while in the upper price range, can be considered an investment. You’ll ski/ride better, longer, in more comfort and will have your boots for YEARS!! Barring damage or a growth spurt. You won’t regret it.

Came in with shin bang and my boots just totally wrong after having them fitted when I bought them. Within 15 mins of looking at my boots they were fixed and saved my holiday letting me actually ski pain free for the next 2 days.

I walked in straight off the slopes in agony so I had to wait for a while but everyone in the store was so friendly and they tried to get to everyone.

Thanks so much!!

James is an absolute legend. Highly recommend buying boots and getting them custom fitted. So much difference and James is very knowledgeable and a genuinely great bloke! Cheers for the great service 👌

Closest to Tokyo to get custom boot fitting. Bonus: English speaking. Developed a bunion this season and needed to get some custom work on Burton Step-On boot which is supposedly difficult to adjust — except Henry did it! He carefully checked my feet. Gave a plan of action, did an easy pain-free mild heat stretch to the boot and it fit! If I needed more custom orthotic then I could come back, but he was honest and said to try a cheap adjustment first. It worked!
Highly recommend!!!

I used to think that ski boots were just uncomfortable plastic shoes you had to endure if you wanted to go skiing. Everything changed when I walked into Boot Solutions 9 years ago and I’ve never looked at my feet the same way since. I felt like Cinderella when everyone else had been invited to the ball and Josh was my fairy godmother who conjured the perfect pair of glass slippers so I could go too. I’ve lived in ski towns all over the world and Josh is the only person I trust to work on my boots - I will literally travel to Hakuba just to get a boot fit.
At Boot Solutions they don’t just want to sell you boots, they truly care about finding you the best boot that will work for you and doing everything they can to make it fit perfectly. Josh is a delightful person to talk to and can make even the bones of your foot and obscure types of boot plastic seem fascinating, and he’s so knowledgeable about how everything relates to each other and affects your skiing.
It might feel like a splurge in the moment but I’m so grateful to my past self for investing in custom footbeds and Zipfit liners - years later these are still as good as new and the benefit to my skiing has been immeasurable!
If this review seems over the top, trust me, there is nothing I can say that is effusive enough. Just go and buy yourself some magic boots, your future self will thank you.

One of the friendliest and professional foreigner I have ever met in Hakuba. The sole of my foot is inflamed and it hurts when I step on hard floors. Unfortunately, the insoles of my snowboard boots are very hard. Luckily Boot Solutions Hakuba opens at 08:00am, the owner carefully adjusted the insoles for me, and I no longer feel any pain after snowboarding for a whole day. I had just arrived in Japan from Taiwan for two days, and he saved my snowboarding trip. Highly recommended.

James is a great guy and knows what he's talking about. He had no problem getting his hands in my shoes after riding all day to figure out exactly what I needed. If that's not professional service I don't know what is. Highly recommend

These guys are the best, any of your custom boot fitting needs can be sorted by the experts here!
If you need your boots punched, parts replaced, custom moulding, or you just want to hang with some of the nicest guys in Hakuba then you have to stop in here.
100% gonna stop in with these legends again!

Went to the boys at Boot solutions with boots that were to big, they made me custom insoles and added foam to my boot liner and they fit absolutely perfectly now. If you need amazing insoles for your snowboard or ski boots they are the guys for the job.
Thanks Guys

I came here on a super busy night so I recommend booking in if possible. After being told I essentially need new boots and me explaining I just need these to get me through the season, Ben gave me a couple options. We ended up getting me some custom fitted insoles. I can now ride with ALOT less pain than I use to. Shoutout Ben!

I had an appointment for boots fitting with Josh and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. He's definitely an expert in his field and extremely knowledgeable regarding what works best for each individual. He took his time examining my feet, tried different boots until finding the best fit, then made me a custom insole/footbed and completely customized/adjusted the boot liner to my feet. I now have ski boots that fit me perfectly and I can't wait to try them on this Wednesday.
It was an amazing experience and worth every penny.
Whoever is thinking of purchasing new ski boots or whoever is unhappy with how their current boots fit (my case), do NOT buy from sellers who are not experts is boot fitting. They will sell you ski boots going by your shoe size, which an absolutely wrong approach.
Josh will ask you very detailed questions, he will examine carefully your feet and you will leave Boot Solutions with foot gear that is totally customized for YOU, not an assembly line product, which is the best investment you can make to progress in your skiing skills.
I'm SO happy to have gone to Boot Solutions, will always highly recommend them to anyone, and anytime I need anything relation to skiing footwear, I won't hesitate to pay them a visit again. Thank you SO much, Josh!!!!!

Amazing service. They are very personal and professional. They helped me set up heating in my boots and recommend me to get a fitted sole aswell. Which im glad i took. My skiing is alot more comfortable