How To Send Luggage in Japan

The best way to travel around Japan is to use the country’s amazing and efficient public transport network. However, the main problem with using public transport is carrying your bags with you as you travel between destinations. The Tokkaido Shinkansen (bullet trains) have introduced rules regarding oversized luggage on their trains. You can find the details and FAQ here. But basically you will have to reserve a seat in the oversize baggage area on the train. The bullet trains are brilliant but they aren’t designed for large cases. However, Japan has an amazing luggage forwarding service which makes travelling a breeze. Here’s our guide on how to send luggage in Japan.

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The shinkansen – aka the bullet train – is the most marvellous way to travel – it’s fast, efficient and great value if you have a Japan Rail Pass.

It’s also extremely comfortable, with plenty of legroom and reclining seats if those are your sort of thing – and they’re not too intrusive for the person sitting behind you.

However, on our most recent trip to Japan we noticed that a significant number of visitors had excessively large and bulky hard cases which were difficult to manoeuvre onto the train and took up a lot of space, making things cramped for other passengers. Also, many stations and subways have stairs, so even if your bag is a trundler, you’ll still have a fair bit of carrying to do.

We recommend travelling light and using soft luggage bags if possible. We like the ones that have wheels but can convert to a rucksack if needed. We find that these are by far the easiest to use when journeying through the country, especially when using public transport.

If you really can’t travel light there is a solution: the amazing Takuhaibin. It’s a luggage forwarding service that will get your bags from one end of the country to the other overnight. It’s reasonably priced and highly efficient. Although there are many companies, the most well known is Yamato Transport Co , characterised by its kuroneko – black cat – logo whereby a black cat is carrying a black kitten.

We have used this service many times and it has always been exceptionally good. The staff at every business hotel or ryokan we have stayed at have been great at helping us arrange the transportation. Ideally you will need to have the address of your destination hotel written in Japanese.

If you are using a booking service such as Booking.com, you can obtain a printout or use the app to find the destination hotel’s address in the original language.

Say, “Takkyuubin dekimasu ka?” – can you arrange Takkyubin?

If you say, “Nihongo o kakemasen” – I can’t write Japanese – the helpful staff will fill out the forms in Japanese for you.

They will measure the dimensions of your luggage and use a table to calculate the cost. You pay the hotel staff directly – cash is usually best – and they will make all the arrangements.

They may telephone the destination hotel to check that it’s okay for them to receive your luggage.

You need to do a little preparation – you will need to send your main luggage the evening before you travel at the very latest. This is usually before 6-7pm, but does vary, so check with the hotel. Make sure you have a small bag with basic clothing/toiletries that you will need for the night before you travel.

Arriving At Your Destination In Style

Then you can swan up to the railway station the following morning carrying just a day pack. You can buy a delicious bento (box lunch) at the station for a tasty treat as you travel, possibly indulge in a cold beer or cup of sake too, and enjoy the shinkansen experience without struggling with heavy luggage or inconveniencing other people. When you arrive at your hotel your bags will be waiting for you and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. Such a pleasurable way to travel.

Travelling by Train in Japan

We recommend travelling by train around Japan. If you are travelling inter-city it may be more cost effective to get a JR Pass, which will give you unlimited rides on all Japan Rail – JR – trains, including the bullet trains (except the nozomi). You can order a JR Pass using this link.

If you are only travelling in a particular region of Japan, you can opt for a cheaper JR Regional pass. Just click on the link and select which region you wish to buy a pass for. Of course, you can only use the pass within this region.

Final Thoughts

We have used the luggage forwarding service many, many times on our visits to Japan. We can’t recommend it highly enough. It makes travelling through this wonderful country a true pleasure.