Japan Luggage Forwarding (Takkyubin) and Storage Guide

Luggage forwarding in Japan, called takkyubin, lets you send your suitcase from your hotel, the airport or a convenience store to your next hotel, usually by the next day. It typically costs about 2,500 to 3,500 yen per suitcase within Honshu and is one of the best travel hacks in Japan, especially if you move between cities by Shinkansen.

If you only need to park your bag for a few hours, coin lockers and baggage counters at stations are the easy answer. Below I explain how takkyubin works step by step, what it costs, the Shinkansen luggage rules and all your options for storing luggage.

What is takkyubin?

Takkyubin is Japan’s door-to-door delivery service. The best known company is Yamato Transport, recognisable by its black cat logo (Kuroneko). Sagawa Express and Japan Post offer similar services. Japanese people use it all the time to send ski gear, golf bags and suitcases, so the system is very reliable.

For travellers it means you can ride the Shinkansen, walk through stations and do sightseeing on a transfer day without dragging a large suitcase behind you.

How luggage forwarding works, step by step

• 1. Find a drop-off point: most hotels accept takkyubin at the front desk. You can also use convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart or Lawson, or the delivery counters at major airports.
• 2. Fill in the delivery slip: write the address of your next hotel, its phone number, your name as it appears on the booking and your check-in date. Hotel staff often help with this, and some counters have English slips.
• 3. Choose the delivery date: within the same region next-day delivery is normal. Longer routes and airports can take two days.
• 4. Pay: usually cash, and at many counters also card or IC card. You get a copy of the slip with a tracking number.
• 5. Pick it up: your bag waits for you at the next hotel’s front desk.

I used takkyubin myself to send luggage from Osaka to Tokyo, and it was really easy.

How much does takkyubin cost?

The price depends on the size of the bag (length plus width plus height), its weight and the distance. As a rough guide for a normal large suitcase:

Yamato’s standard service accepts bags up to about 200 cm in total size and up to 30 kg. Prices are updated from time to time, so check the current price at the counter or on the Yamato website. Small discounts apply in some cases, for example when you drop the bag at a Yamato office yourself.

Airport luggage delivery

Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports all have delivery counters in the arrivals hall. A popular trick is to send your big suitcase from the airport to your second hotel and travel the first days with just a backpack.

• Airport deliveries often need two days, so plan ahead
• When flying home, send your bag to the airport at least two days before your flight and collect it at the airport counter
• Keep valuables, medicine, chargers and anything fragile in your hand luggage

Can you take luggage on trains in Japan?

Yes, but space is limited. Local trains in Tokyo and Osaka are very crowded at rush hour (roughly 7:30 to 9:30 am and in the early evening), and a large suitcase makes it hard for everyone. Try to travel outside those times.

On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, bags with a total size of over 160 cm (up to 250 cm) need a seat reservation with an oversized baggage area. If you bring such a bag without that reservation, you may have to pay an extra fee on board. Normal carry-on and medium suitcases are fine on the overhead racks. My guide on how to book Shinkansen tickets shows how to reserve these seats.

From my own trips: a normal large suitcase fits on the overhead rack of the Shinkansen without problems. Only extra large bags need the special reservation.

Luggage storage: coin lockers

Coin lockers are everywhere in Japan: in train and subway stations, shopping centres and tourist sights. They are the easiest way to store a bag for a few hours.

• Price: about 300 to 800 yen per day, depending on the size
• Sizes: small lockers fit a backpack, large ones fit a medium suitcase. Very large lockers are rare.
• Payment: many newer lockers take IC cards like Suica, and some only work with IC cards. See my Suica and IC card guide.
• Time limit: lockers usually have a maximum storage period of a few days

In big stations like Tokyo, Shinjuku and Kyoto, the large lockers fill up quickly in the morning. If you arrive late, try lockers a bit away from the main exits or use a baggage counter.

Other luggage storage options

• Station baggage counters: many big stations have staffed counters for large suitcases, sometimes combined with same-day delivery to hotels.
• Booking apps: services like ecbo cloak let you reserve storage space in shops, cafes and other businesses near stations.
• Your hotel: almost every hotel stores luggage before check-in and after check-out for free.
• Same-day delivery: in some cities you can drop your bag in the morning and have it delivered to your hotel the same evening.

Is luggage forwarding worth it?

For most travellers, yes. Paying about 3,000 yen to skip carrying a big suitcase through stations, stairs and crowded trains is a good deal. It is especially useful when:

• You travel with family or with several bags
• You stop in a city for a day of sightseeing between two hotels
• You stay in a ryokan or small inn where large bags are a problem
• You travel during rush hour or in busy seasons

If you travel light with one carry-on, you probably do not need it. My Japan packing list helps you keep your luggage small.

My own rule: most of the time I carry my luggage myself, because then I always have it with me. But on a trip in Hokkaido there was no space for it in the cars, so we sent it ahead with takkyubin and picked it up later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final thoughts

Takkyubin is one of those Japanese services that make travel easier once you know it. Send big bags ahead, use lockers for short stops, and your transfer days become sightseeing days. For more planning help, read my Japan itinerary.