Japan - Takuhaibin but ...

My wife and I are moving to Japan, and we're arriving before our housing is available... We get there Sep 6 and housing is not available until Oct. 1

I understand that yamato can hold it for 7 days no charge... but they charge 500円/day/bag for longer.

Three questions:
1) does anyone offer longer for free?
2) is the fee inclusive -- meaning if we hold it for 8 days is it 4000円/bag or 500円/bag?
3) would a hotel in Sapporo hold luggage from Sep 13 to Oct 1 (18 days) before we arrive or is that too long? / what hotel would people recommend?

Perhaps you could ask your landlord if he has some storage space to hold your personal effects until you move in?

If you're a resident at a hotel, I'd say there's a good chance they could store something for you - but probably not a houseful.

Well, my landlord is the Japanese government... who pre-empted any question of that by writing: "事前に荷物を宿舎で保管することはできません。荷物を郵送する場合は，自分の入居日以降に荷物が到着するよ うにしてください。"

We're bringing a total of 6 boxes that each weigh ~22.5kg (So not really a houseful (by American standards).

I'm wondering whether I can stay in a hotel for a night just for the benefit. Otherwise, my friends might be none too happy about me leaving them with that much for 18 days.

Renting a small storage space for a month would cost you about 5000 yen, I think. Probably a cheaper and easier option than trying to turn one night's lodging into 18 days storage for six boxes:
http://www.quraz.com/sapporo/chuokuyakushomae.aspx

If it's overseas shipment (not by courier/postal service), you have quite some time after shipment arrival to clear customs and collect the items, no?

If it's overseas shipment (not by courier/postal service), you have quite some time after shipment arrival to clear customs and collect the items, no?

This is flyertalk. We're bringing it over when we fly. Then I fly back to bring the last load on the gov't supplied flight

I'm going to try jib71's solution. :D

Flyertalkers have their household possessions packed and shipped by international movers.

Flyertalkers have household staff to take care of those pesky details.

Flyertalkers have their household possessions packed and shipped by international movers.

^ Especially if their company is picking up the costs.

This flyertalker moves over long distances by flying back and forth a lot and using his baggage allowance to the fullest. If you don't have furniture, and your large appliances are incompatible between countries, this is usually pretty easy.

Moreover, I am very long on miles and short on cash these days... The 7 boxes we will fly are about 66% of everything we own at this point.

jib thanks for the idea re self-storage. Their package receiving is limited. Basically, they'll receive a package if (a) you have physically gone there to sign the contract and (b) you go there soon after to put it in your unit.

My friends will let me send it to one of their places (they have a number of places).