Picture this. You’ve finally just arrived at the airport in Japan, a country you’ve been dreaming of visiting for years, with a very heavy suitcase. You stop in front of the train information board, ready to look for the train that will take you to your hotel. But then you realize your hotel is farther away than you thought, and you’ll have to carry that suitcase with you for quite a while. Did you know this can be easily avoided, allowing you to travel freely without worrying about lugging your belongings throughout the city? Let us introduce you to Japan’s luggage delivery services, a fast and efficient way to travel.
What Are Luggage Forwarding Services?
In Japan, luggage forwarding, called takuhaibin (宅配便), allows you to send your bags from one place to another so you can explore without having to carry everything around. It’s reliable, easy to use, and surprisingly affordable. Whether you want to send your suitcase from the airport to your hotel, from one hotel to the next, or even across cities, it’s all possible thanks to this service.
One of the most well-known companies that specialises in luggage forwarding is Yamato Transport, famous for its adorable black-cat logo (you’ll hear people call it Kuroneko). They’ve made the whole process super simple and traveler-friendly, taking all the stress of worrying about your luggage out of your trip across Japan.
How Does It Work?
Using luggage forwarding in Japan is simple; all you need to do is follow these easy steps:
- Choose a drop-off point: Airport counters (usually located in the arrivals hall), Hotel reception desks, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson, or dedicated delivery centers.
- Fill out a form: Staff will help you write the delivery slip. You’ll need your destination address, hotel name, and sometimes your check-in date.
- Pay the fee: Prices vary depending on the size of your luggage and the distance, but it’s generally affordable.
- Now you’re free to go: Your luggage will arrive at your destination, usually the next day, though same-day delivery may be possible for short distances.
Photo Credit: Drazen Zigic
Where To Send From
Airport to Hotel
After a long flight, the last thing you want is to carry all that heavy luggage onto a crowded train. Most major airports in Japan, including Narita, Haneda, and Kansai International Airport, have convenient counters where you can hand off your luggage right away. By the time you reach your hotel, your bags will be on their way.
Hotel to Hotel
If you’re planning to move between cities (Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka to Hiroshima, or anywhere in between), luggage forwarding becomes even more useful. Instead of carrying your bags through multiple transfers, you can simply send them from one hotel to the next. Most hotels in Japan are very familiar with this process and will assist you at the front desk.
Some hotels even have their own luggage delivery services, especially if you’re traveling to another property within the same hotel chain or to a nearby region. It’s always a good idea to send them an email before your stay to check whether they offer this service. If they do, you can typically arrange everything easily during check-out, no need for forms or finding a delivery counter.
Convenience Stores
If you’re not near a hotel or airport counter, don’t worry, convenience stores are called “convenient” for a reason. Yes, just as you might be thinking, you can indeed send luggage from there too. Many convenience stores offer takuhaibin services, making it easy to ship your bags even from remote areas. This is especially helpful if you’re staying in an Airbnb or guesthouse.
How to measure your luggage – Photo Credit: Yamato
How To Measure Your Luggage
If you’d like to do it yourself, without the help of the hotel receptionist or store clerk, let me show you how to measure your luggage so you can know in advance how much it will cost to send it to your next destination.
The parcel size is the total of your luggage’s width, length, and height. Grab a tape measure and note all the measurements (don’t forget the wheels). Add the three numbers together; this total is your parcel size. Each size corresponds to a category set by the shipping company. If your luggage exceeds the limits of any category, simply move up to the next size.
Each company uses different parcel size categories, but these are the general ones. JAL ABC offers the largest sizes, Sagawa the smallest, and Yamato’s are the most standard:
Things to Keep in Mind
As I mentioned earlier, the price depends on the company, the size, and the weight. In addition, if you want it to arrive faster, it could cost a bit more. Otherwise, luggage usually arrives within a maximum of two days (with the minimum being same-day delivery).
Another thing to keep in mind is the distance between the departure and destination points; the closer they are, the cheaper it will be. For example, sending it from Hokkaido to Kansai will be more expensive than sending it from Kanto to Kansai. But don’t worry too much about specific cities, because the rates are usually based on regions, not cities. For the same reason, if you send your luggage from Kyoto to Osaka, the price won’t be as different as if you send it to Tokyo. So if you value saving money over convenience, it might be better to carry the suitcase yourself.
There are also certain restrictions depending on where you send it from. Convenience stores tend to be the most restrictive, as the largest size you can send from a konbini is size 180.
Traveling with luggage – Photo Credit: Gustavo Fring on Pexels
Which Company Should I Choose?
Choosing the right luggage forwarding company depends on what you’re looking for: convenience, size options, or airport availability. Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) is generally the most convenient and traveler-friendly option. You’ll find their services everywhere: hotels (even luxury ones like the St. Regis), airports, and convenience stores. They offer standard parcel sizes up to Size 200 and provide reliable next-day delivery. For most travelers, this makes Yamato the easiest and most practical choice, especially when moving from one city to another.
From Kanto to Kansai with Yamato
If you’re carrying an extra-large suitcase or prefer arranging everything directly at the airport, JAL ABC is a great pick. They have counters at major airports and accept some of the largest luggage sizes, making them ideal for airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers.
From Narita and Haneda Airport to Tokyo with JAL ABC
From Kansai Airport to Osaka or Kyoto with JAL ABC
Sagawa Express isn’t as convenient as the other companies, though it’s still reliable. Its size limits are generally smaller, and it’s not as commonly available in hotels or convenience stores. However, you can often find Sagawa counters near major train stations, which can make it a good option depending on where you’re staying.
From Haneda Airport Terminal 1 to Tokyo with Sagawa
Luggage forwarding is truly a game-changer in Japan. It lets you explore freely while your bags travel safely to your next destination. It’s simple, reliable, and makes every journey lighter, literally. Try it once, and you’ll never want to travel with heavy luggage again. So book your next trip to Japan with ease, knowing that the hassle of moving your belongings is no more!
Featured Photo Credit: Eminent Luggage on Unsplash
