What Should You Do With Your Luggage in Japan? Simple Solutions for Common Problems

When traveling in Japan, you may run into luggage problems such as:

• Arriving before hotel check-in
• Finding that coin lockers are full
• Having a suitcase that is too large for a locker
• Not wanting to carry your luggage to the next city
• Waiting for luggage that has not arrived yet

You do not need to read everything.

Just find the situation that matches you.

First, Choose Your Situation

• Before check-in → Hotel, coin locker, or luggage storage
• After check-out → Hotel, coin locker, or luggage storage
• Coin lockers are full → Try another location, staffed storage, or ecbo cloak
• Suitcase does not fit → Look for a large locker or staffed storage
• Do not want to carry luggage to the next city → Yamato or SAGAWA
• Need the luggage today → Carry it yourself
• Staying at Airbnb or a vacation rental → Ask the host before sending anything
• Need storage for several days → Use staffed luggage storage
• Want to send luggage to the airport → Use airport delivery
• Luggage has not arrived → Check the tracking number

1. Before Check-In or After Check-Out

First, ask your hotel:

“Can you store my luggage?”

If the hotel cannot keep it, try:

• Coin lockers
• Station luggage storage
• Luggage storage services

→ Find luggage storage with ecbo cloak

2. Coin Lockers Are Full

Large stations may have lockers near different exits, ticket gates, or floors.

If you still cannot find one, try:

• Staffed luggage storage
• A luggage storage service

→ ecbo cloak

3. Your Suitcase Does Not Fit in the Locker

Look for a large or extra-large locker.

If it still does not fit, use:

• Staffed luggage storage
• Hotel luggage storage
• A luggage storage service

Do not force an oversized suitcase into a locker.

4. You Do Not Want to Carry Your Luggage to the Next City

You may be able to send luggage from one hotel to another.

This can be useful if:

• Your suitcase is large or heavy
• You have several train transfers
• You are traveling between cities

However, luggage may not arrive immediately.

Always check the expected delivery date first.

→ Yamato Transport

→ SAGAWA Hands-Free Travel

5. You Need the Luggage Today

If you need the contents that day, carrying the luggage yourself may be safer.

Keep important items with you, such as:

• Passport
• Wallet
• Medication
• Smartphone
• Charger
• A change of clothes

6. You Are Staying at an Airbnb or Vacation Rental

Do not send luggage without asking the host first.

Some properties may not be able to receive deliveries because they have:

• No front desk
• No full-time staff
• No one available when the delivery arrives

If the property cannot receive your luggage, use a luggage storage service instead.

7. You Need to Store Luggage for Several Days

For longer storage, staffed luggage storage may be more useful than a coin locker.

Check:

• Maximum storage period
• Price
• Opening hours
• Size limits

8. You Want to Send Luggage to the Airport

Airport luggage delivery may help if you do not want to carry a large suitcase on trains.

Check:

• How many days in advance you need to send it
• Where you will collect it
• Opening hours
• Size and weight limits

→ Yamato Airport TA-Q-BIN

9. Your Luggage Has Not Arrived

Check:

1. Tracking number
2. Expected delivery date
3. Hotel front desk
4. Reservation name
5. Delivery company tracking information

If the expected delivery date has passed, contact the delivery company.

Useful Links

• JNTO
  Basic information about luggage storage and delivery in Japan
  → JNTO Luggage Information
• Yamato Transport
  Luggage delivery services
  → Yamato Transport
• SAGAWA Hands-Free Travel
  Luggage storage and delivery services
  → SAGAWA
• ecbo cloak
  Find luggage storage locations
  → ecbo cloak

The Bottom Line

If you have a luggage problem in Japan, think in this order:

Hotel → Coin locker → Luggage storage → Delivery

You do not need to remember every option.

Just identify your current problem and choose the solution that fits your situation.

Disclaimer: Luggage storage, delivery times, prices, size limits, and hotel policies vary by location and service provider. Check the latest official information before storing or sending your luggage.