I talk a lot about how I highly recommend taking a 4 wheeled, roll-along/pull-along suitcase in my Preparing For Your Trip to Japan post. This is the style of suitcase used by the locals when travelling around the country.
But how do you go about moving between cities with your luggage?
WHY IS EVERYONE SO OBSESSED WITH FORWARDING LUGGAGE IN JAPAN?
Well, for starters. Because you can! The service is so convenient, cost effective and reliable (next day service.)
Do you have to use the service? NO.
But Japanese people travel light because of this luggage forwarding service. So much so that Japanese people often consider luggage forwarding as a part of general “travel etiquette” – because people who travel light also aren’t cluttering up trains or tripping up others on train platforms, for example.
We use it every single time.
What I do, is forward our luggage to every second hotel so that we can just use an overnight bag for the hotels in between. This is especially handy for when we travel – it’s so nice to jump on and off a bullet train without having to book a spot for our luggage at all and just easily walk from the ticket gate to the platform etc. It makes our whole holiday easier -especially when travelling with children.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something or book accommodation through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
All of the official Disney Hotels accept and assist with luggage forwarding.
Some people mistakenly think that luggage forwarding in Japan is only something done by the cheaper hotels. In correct and in fact, the opposite is true. The most wealthy of Japanese travellers make use of luggage forwarding for everything (including sending boxes of shopping home, forwarding a box of expensive fruit to a friend, sending their golf clubs ahead to the golf club… etc.)
SHOULD I TAKE MY LUGGAGE WITH ME ON THE BULLET TRAIN? IS THERE SPACE?
There are options for shipping your luggage between destinations but if everyone in your group has a small/medium sized suitcase you’ll be just fine.
But it is SOOOOO much easier to forward luggage on to your next destination ( and, from next year, the rules are going to change at it will cost money to bring large pieces of luggage on the trains. ). The courier / forwarding system is so reliable that Japanese people even use it to forward their golf clubs to their golf course the day before they play.
It is also the reason that Japanese people appear to always travel light. Its because their luggage is already waiting for them at their destination.
If you do travel with a large suitcase on the bullet train, you need to book a suitcase spot at the end of your carriage (this can be done at the station.) If there are no spots left, don’t worry – you can always just put it in front of your legs instead (there is much more room than on a plane or bus – you’ll be fine.)
We then keep a hand luggage style smaller bag with us above our seat.
We often take a taxi to the bullet train station to make everything easier.
I have written more about Shinkansen travel with kids here.
I HEARD IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEND YOUR LUGGAGE BETWEEN CITIES ? IS THAT TRUE?
It sure is and it isn’t that expensive.
Your luggage will arrive on the same day or the following day ( following day is the most common) – depending on the service used. Easiest way to do this ? Get your hotel to sort it all for you . (This is why is it so important to choose family friendly hotels that also accept and will help you send luggage. )
Cost to courier a standard suitcase from Kyoto to Tokyo ? Around 2000 yen .
THIS IS HOW MUCH LUGGAGE GENERALLY LOOKS WHEN I’M FORWARDING LUGGAGE TO EVERY SECOND HOTEL
A rolly suitcase means that I never need to worry about how heavy my suitcase is (as I never have to deal with the weight as it just rolls along beside me.
Sending luggage in Japan to every second hotel also doubles as “free” luggage storage. You can choose the day you want the luggage to arrive (needs to be under a week) and you can even choose if you’d like it to arrive in the morning or afternoon too. Please keep in mind that the receiving hotel needs to have a manned front desk – another reason to choose hotels over airbnb in Japan.
BUT MY MIMARU HOTEL TELLS ME THEY CAN SEND MY LUGGAGE BETWEEN MY HOTELS ON THE SAME DAY? I THOUGHT IT COULDN’T BE SAME DAY?
This is a separate luggage forwarding service set up by Mimaru hotels (Only for to or from Mimaru properties). It’s a clever business move by the company – 1) because many international visitors think that same-day service is important 2) because it is only available to or from Mimaru properties (so it keeps guests stay at Mimaru.)
It’s a nice option – for me, the more affordable standard takyubin option is more than adequate and is very reliable.
SENDING LUGGAGE TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT
Options at the airports are: JAL ABC or Takkyubin (or Ta-Q-Bin) luggage delivery services. Prior reservation not required.
When sending luggage to the airport in order collect and then check in for your flight? You must send your luggage at least 2 days prior to your date of departure.
At Narita Airport, the place you collect your luggage is right next to the check in counters. It is soooo convenient.
Please note that, if you are flying from Narita Airport on Jetstar from Terminal 3, you will need to go to the luggage counter on the arrivals floor (not the departures floor.) It’s really easy to get to – just take the escalator down from the departure section with the restaurants & the Lawson convenience store (near the toilets.)
SENDING LUGGAGE BETWEEN HOTELS
The easiest way to do this is to have a hotel arrange a courier service ( takkyubin) collection and delivery for you. This option will not be available if you stay in an airbnb.
Here is an except from my blog post called “Before you stay at an Airbnb in Japan.”
Staying at accommodation without a reception desk also means that you are unable to forward your luggage easily (in either direction.)
This can also mean it will be harder to courier your luggage as, unless your host will be there to accept your luggage, it is not possible to forward luggage to your accommodation. Some places may make an exception if you are able to BE at the airbnb when the luggage arrives (but who wants to wait around for delivery time on holidays?). If you are at an airbnb and need to forward your luggage you can google a Yamato forwarding desk near you and some convenience stores offer this service – but it is more difficult and less convenient than having a hotel do all of that admin for you. Please note that some of the Yamato desks (especially at the airports) will flat out refuse to send to airbnb. It’s just too much hassle for them if no-one is home.”
Cost is between 1300 yen – 2400 yen for a suitcase under 25kg.
One option when staying at a hotel or house that doesn’t have a front desk to help with forwarding – is to use a company called Bounce to transfer your luggage. I have information and my affiliate link here.
Sending luggage to the airport on the same day in Japan?
Same day luggage forwarding to an airport in Japan.
In that case (although it is not as well known and is more expensive than the Japanese courier service) there is an option called Airporter.
How much will it cost to courier my luggage around Japan?
The Yamato Transport website specifies costs depending on luggage size and weight.
Some places will also require you to purchase a suitcase cover for 500 yen.
WHAT IF MY HOTEL DOESN’T HAVE A FRONT DESK OR DOESN’T ASSIST WITH LUGGAGE FORWARDING?
This is more difficult. For this very reason – more than 90% of the hotels I recommend for families offer this luggage forwarding assistance (and I clearly specify if they don’t.)
I find this assistance with forwarding luggage by a hotel (especially when travelling with kids) to be so valuable that I consider choosing a hotel based on whether or not this service is available.
You can organize to send from a counter of a delivery provider. For example, see the Global Yamato Group’s English website and instructions here.
Or, it is possible, although a little more complicated, to send it from a convenience store. Japan Travel Navitime spells out how to do this here.
It is way trickier if you are not a hotel that can help you with forwarding your luggage – so much so that it is one of the things I look for when choosing Which Hotel to Stay at with Kids?
WHICH LUGGAGE FORWARDING COMPANY SHOULD I USE IN JAPAN?
Japanese people don’t even need to ask this question as there is one standard service that everyone uses – it’s the one the hotel you’re staying at will use automatically. It’s the Yamato / Kuroneko service. You will have to actually go out of your way to choose an alternative – and you really don’t need to.
Yes there are now other options that pop up for tourists (for example Mimaru Apartment Hotels have their own more expensive option and some other same day options have popped up – but I recommend sticking with the system Japanese people use. It is most reliable and cost effective.)
HOW DO I USE LUGGAGE FORWARDING IN JAPAN?
When I’m travelling around, I like staying at a hotel near the airport and I like to send luggage as I go to the last hotel. Rule of thumb is you can send luggage ahead up to 1 week before checking in. Then it’s just waiting in the room for you. Sometimes I also just “send myself” all the dirty laundry! Then I can do it at the last hotel and I’m sorted for when we go home – without having to lug it all around !
Please be aware that some hotels (the Mimaru brand for example) charge 500 yen per day to store luggage leading up to the day you check in (ie. if your luggage arrives the day you check in there will be no additional charge.) To avoid this, you can choose the day you would like the luggage to arrive at your next hotel (must be under a week) and then it’s like the forwarding company are storing it for you.
WILL I BE ABLE TO LUGGAGE FORWARD A STROLLER IN JAPAN?
Yes. You can definitely do that. If you don’t have a stroller carry bag – you may need to pay an additional 500 yen for a protective bag.
STORE LUGGAGE IN COIN LOCKERS OR AT YOUR PREVIOUS OR NEXT HOTEL
With the exception of high seasons, coin lockers are readily available at major train stations.
Almost all hotels in Japan are happy to store luggage or have it forwarded to them for a few days ( and for luggage forwarding the standard is as long as 5 days prior to arrival if needed) if you are going to be or have been a staying guest. It’s always good to send an email and let the hotel know when your luggage will be arriving.
EXTRA TIP : Download the Ecbo Cloak app
This app shows you were the empty coin lockers are and what other tourist offices etc will store your luggage ( while you shop or while you wait to check into your accommodation.)
The link to the Echo Cloak app
If you are looking for long term luggage storage in Tokyo (as in weeks and weeks at a time) – it is best to use the JAL ABC Counter at Narita Airport.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something or book accommodation through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
