Travel
Luggage forwarding in Japan
宅配便たくはいびんtakuhaibinTravel light: sending the suitcase ahead
Japan's door-to-door courier services (takuhaibin, often called takkyūbin after Yamato Transport's brand) deliver suitcases between hotels, ryokan and airports, usually by the next day on the main islands. Luggage is handed in at hotel front desks, convenience stores or airport counters, allowing travellers to move between cities with only a day bag.
Japanese trains are fast but crowded, stations have long corridors and many stairs, and traditional inns have narrow corridors and little space. Carrying large suitcases through all of this is one of the most common complaints of visitors, and it also causes friction with commuters and on the Shinkansen, where large bags now need a special reservation on some lines.
The Japanese solution is simple: send the suitcase ahead. Domestic courier services are used by residents for everything from ski equipment to golf bags, and they are well set up to handle travellers' luggage between hotels and airports.
Step by step
- 1Plan the routeDecide where the suitcase should go and when you will arrive there; allow one day on the main islands, more for Hokkaido, Okinawa and islands.
- 2Hand in the luggageTake it to the hotel front desk, a convenience store or an airport courier counter, fill in the waybill with the hotel address and your name and arrival date.
- 3Pay and keep the receiptPay by size and distance and keep the receipt, which carries the tracking number.
- 4Travel lightContinue with a day bag containing valuables, documents, medication and overnight essentials.
- 5Collect at the destinationThe hotel holds the suitcase until check-in; at airports, collect it at the carrier's counter before checking in for the flight.
How it works
The traveller fills in a waybill with the destination address, the recipient's name (their own), the date of stay and a phone number, and hands in the luggage together with the payment. The carrier collects it and delivers it to the destination, where the hotel stores it until the guest arrives. Delivery can be requested for a specific date and, within limits, a time window.
Most hotels and ryokan accept luggage for guests and will help fill in the forms, as long as the arrival date is noted. Payment is by cash, card or IC card depending on the place of hand-in.
Waybill
送り状okurijōThe shipping form; English versions are available at many counters.
Hotel front desk
The easiest hand-in point; staff often arrange collection.
Convenience stores
Many branches accept parcels for Yamato or Japan Post.
Delivery times
On the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, luggage handed in by the afternoon or early evening is usually delivered the next day. Deliveries to or from Hokkaido, Okinawa and remote islands, or across very long distances, can take two days or more. For stays of only one night, sending luggage ahead two stops is a common approach, keeping a small bag for the night in between.
For flights home, luggage should be sent to the departure airport at least two days in advance, to be collected at the carrier's counter in the terminal. Deadlines vary by airport and carrier.
Airport services
Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu and other major airports have courier counters in the arrivals halls. Arriving travellers can send their suitcases straight to the hotel and take the train with hand luggage only, and departing travellers can collect luggage sent ahead before check-in.
Some cities and railway companies also offer same-day delivery between central stations, hotels and airports, and carriers run hands-free travel services with counters marked by a common logo introduced by the Japan Tourism Agency.
Tebura kankō
手ぶら観光tebura kankō'Hands-free sightseeing': luggage storage and delivery counters for travellers.
Alternatives
For short stops, coin lockers at stations hold medium-sized bags, though large lockers fill quickly at busy stations; staffed luggage rooms and storage services booked by app are an alternative. On the Shinkansen, travellers with large cases can reserve seats with an oversized-baggage area.
What not to send: valuables, cash, passports and medication needed on the way. Lithium batteries and certain items are restricted by the carriers.
Reservation needed for large cases on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines.
- コインロッカーkoin rokkā
Station lockers in several sizes, many payable by IC card.
Frequently asked questions
How long does luggage forwarding take in Japan?
Usually one day between cities on Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu if handed in by the afternoon. Hokkaido, Okinawa and remote islands can take two days or more.
Can I send my luggage to the airport?
Yes, courier services deliver to counters at major airports. Send it at least two days before the flight and check the carrier's deadline.
Will the hotel accept my suitcase before I arrive?
Almost all hotels and ryokan accept luggage for guests with a booking, provided the arrival date and guest name are on the waybill.
Is luggage forwarding expensive?
It is priced by size, weight and distance and is a common, reasonably priced service in Japan; current rates are published by the carriers.
Related
Sources
- 1.Yamato Holdings (opens in a new tab) — Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.
- 2.Japan Tourism Agency (opens in a new tab) — Japan Tourism Agency
- 3.Japan National Tourism Organization – Official travel guide (opens in a new tab) — JNTO