TR 02Getting Around line · stop 2 of 7
Travel hands-free: sending your suitcase ahead
How luggage delivery works between hotels and airports, what it costs per bag, how to fill in the form, and when to send it.
Japan's luggage delivery services, known as takkyubin, carry a suitcase from one hotel to the next while you travel light. Locals use them for skiing, golf and moving house. For visitors, they make train days much easier.
What it costs
| Bag size | Example | Typical price per bag |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Carry-on, up to about 23 inches | about ¥2,000 |
| Medium | 24–26 inch checked bag | about ¥2,500–3,000 |
| Large | 27–30 inch or oversized | about ¥3,000–3,500 |
Price depends on size and distance. Airport delivery counters charge similar amounts.
How to send a bag
- Ask at your hotel's front desk, or go to a convenience store that offers the service.
- Fill in the delivery slip: your next hotel's name, address and phone number, your name exactly as on the booking, and the arrival date.
- Write the address in Japanese if you can. Copy it from the hotel's booking confirmation.
- Choose the bag size and pay. Hotels often add it to your bill.
- Keep the receipt with the tracking number.
Timing
- Between major cities: usually next day, arriving in the evening.
- Airport to hotel: often the same evening in central Tokyo.
- Hotel to airport: send it at least two days before your flight to be safe.
- Delivery is slower during Golden Week and New Year.
Pack an overnight bagYour suitcase may arrive after you. Keep a change of clothes, chargers, medicines and toiletries with you.
Tell your next hotel
Send a short message to say a bag is arriving before your check-in. Most hotels are happy to hold it, but some ask in advance.
When it is worth it
- Moving between cities by shinkansen with big bags (and avoiding the oversized luggage booking).
- Staying somewhere with stairs, such as a ryokan or a small guesthouse.
- Day trips between hotels, such as Tokyo to Kyoto via Hakone.
