In this guide
- What luggage forwarding is
- When to send your bags ahead
- Measuring your suitcase: sizes and weights
- Yamato TA-Q-BIN: how it works
- Yamato fares from Tokyo (October 2026)
- How to send a bag, step by step
- Sending bags to the airport
- Sending bags from the airport
- Same-day services in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
- City-by-city cheat sheet
- Japan Post Yu-Pack
- What you can’t send
- Packing a bag for forwarding
- Skis, golf bags and bicycles
- Luggage storage and coin lockers
- Big bags on the shinkansen
- Big bags on airport trains, buses and in Kyoto
- Families and travelers with limited mobility
- Choosing a luggage-friendly hotel
- Words you will see
- Sample plans: the Golden Route without suitcases
- Options compared
- If something goes wrong
- Travel-day checklist
- Frequently asked questions
- Plan the rest of your trip
What luggage forwarding is
In Japan, parcel companies collect and deliver suitcases as easily as boxes. You hand your bag over at a hotel front desk, a convenience store, a delivery company’s office or an airport counter, fill in a form, pay, and the bag arrives at your next hotel or the airport. Japanese travelers use it all the time for ski trips, golf and holidays, and it is one of the best ways to make a multi-city trip easier.
Look for the “Hands-Free Travel” logo: it marks luggage delivery and storage counters certified by the Japan Tourism Agency, at airports, stations, hotels and tourist centers. JNTO describes the process simply: find the counter, drop off your bags and fill in a delivery form, choosing same-day or a set delivery date where offered. Fees vary by airport, destination and size.

When to send your bags ahead
- Between cities: moving from Tokyo to Kyoto, for example, you can send your suitcase a day or two before and take the shinkansen with a small bag.
- To and from the airport: avoid dragging bags through stations on arrival or departure day.
- Ryokan and small towns: many traditional inns and rural areas involve stairs, narrow streets or local buses where big bags are a burden.
- Rush hour: Tokyo’s trains are packed in the morning and evening, and there is little room for suitcases.
- Day trips between hotels: send the suitcase to your next hotel and sightsee on the way, for example via Hakone between Tokyo and Kyoto.
The main limit is time: standard delivery takes at least a day, so plan around it, and send the bag the day before you move rather than on the morning itself. If you need your bag the same evening, use one of the same-day services below.
Measuring your suitcase: sizes and weights
Delivery companies price bags by “size”, the total of length, width and height in centimeters, and by weight. The larger of the two classes applies. Yamato’s classes are:
| Size (L + W + H) | Maximum weight |
|---|---|
| 60 | 2 kg |
| 80 | 5 kg |
| 100 | 10 kg |
| 120 | 15 kg |
| 140 | 20 kg |
| 160 | 25 kg |
| 180 | 30 kg |
| 200 | 30 kg |
Most medium and large suitcases fall in the 140 or 160 class. Measure your bag at home, including wheels and handles, so you know what to expect. Yamato’s standard service takes up to size 200 and 30 kg, and each parcel is insured up to ¥300,000.
Yamato TA-Q-BIN: how it works
Yamato Transport (the black cat logo) runs the best-known service, TA-Q-BIN.
- Where to send from: hotel front desks, Yamato sales offices, TA-Q-BIN agencies, convenience stores, delivery lockers, or by arranging a pickup. For most visitors, the hotel desk or a nearby convenience store is the easiest.
- Drop-off discount: ¥100 off per parcel when you take it to a sales office, agency or convenience store yourself.
- Convenience-store limits: some stores cannot accept parcels of size 180 or larger.
- Multiple parcels: suitcases of size 160 or more are excluded from Yamato’s multiple-parcel discount.
- Same prefecture: a cheaper rate applies when sender and recipient are in the same prefecture, for example within Tokyo.
- Delays: delays of a day because of weather or traffic are not compensated, so leave a margin.
Yamato rates rose on October 1, 2025, with the biggest increases for sizes 120 to 200, so older guides understate the price.
Yamato fares from Tokyo (October 2026)
These are Yamato’s own rates per bag, including tax, before the ¥100 drop-off discount. Cashless payment is a few yen cheaper.
| Size | Within Tokyo | Tokyo → rest of Kanto | Tokyo → Kyoto / Osaka |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | ¥1,730 | ¥2,040 | ¥2,170 |
| 140 | ¥2,090 | ¥2,630 | ¥2,780 |
| 160 | ¥2,410 | ¥3,020 | ¥3,160 |
| 180 | ¥3,030 | ¥3,680 | ¥4,480 |
| 200 | ¥3,690 | ¥4,470 | ¥5,410 |
For a 160-size bag from Tokyo, Hokkaido and Kyushu cost ¥3,630 and Okinawa ¥4,680. Paying cashless, Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka costs ¥2,167 (120), ¥2,772 (140), ¥3,157 (160), ¥4,477 (180) or ¥5,401 (200).
Example: a 160-size suitcase dropped at a Tokyo convenience store for a Kyoto hotel costs ¥3,160 − ¥100 = ¥3,060 in cash. Compare that with carrying it through Tokyo Station at rush hour.
How to send a bag, step by step
From your hotel
- Ask at the front desk the evening before; many hotels handle TA-Q-BIN for guests.
- Fill in the delivery slip with your next hotel’s name, address and phone number and your name, and write your check-in date. Staff can help with addresses.
- Pay at the desk, or choose to pay on delivery if offered.
- Keep your copy of the slip; it has the tracking number.
From a convenience store or Yamato office
Take the bag to the counter, fill in the slip, pay and keep your receipt. You get the ¥100 drop-off discount, but remember that some convenience stores cannot take very large bags.
Delivering to the right place
- Send to a hotel or inn with a staffed reception. Yamato will not pick up from or deliver to Airbnb-type lodgings without staff; send from a Yamato office or a 7-Eleven or FamilyMart instead.
- Do not address a parcel to a convenience store.
- Tell your next hotel a bag is coming. Many hotels hold bags that arrive before you; OMO hotels, for example, accept courier parcels from the day before your stay.
Sending bags to the airport
Yamato’s Airport TA-Q-BIN delivers your suitcase to the departure airport so you can travel there light and collect it at the counter before check-in.
- Timing: send it by two days before your departure (three days from some areas), before the counter’s cut-off time. It is delivered to the airport by the day before your flight.
- Price: the normal rate plus a ¥660 airport handling fee; parcels over 30 kg are not accepted. For example, a 160-size bag from Tokyo to Narita costs about ¥3,020 + ¥660 = ¥3,680 in cash; check Yamato’s estimate.
- Limits: no time-slot delivery or cash on delivery to airports.
- Round trip: Yamato’s round-trip service, with the return leg valid for one month, gives a ¥200 discount per parcel.
JAL ABC also collects bags for Narita by advance booking: from the Kanto area, ¥2,700 (120 size), ¥3,190 (140), ¥3,580 (160), ¥4,340 (180) or ¥5,130 (200), and ¥3,720 for a 160-size bag from Kansai.
Same-day delivery to Haneda is also possible (see below), but Yamato says it does not offer same-day delivery to Narita.
Sending bags from the airport

JAL ABC (Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai)
JAL ABC has counters at Narita Terminals 1 and 2, Haneda Terminals 2 and 3, Chubu Centrair and Kansai Airport. Fill in a form at the arrivals counter with the destination’s postcode, address, a Japanese phone number and the recipient’s name; staff can look up hotel addresses. Bags up to 240 cm in total and 50 kg are accepted, and there is a ¥500 surcharge per item if you ask for a specific delivery company at Narita or Haneda. From Narita:
| Size | Narita → Kanto | Narita → Kansai |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | ¥1,950 | ¥2,070 |
| 140 | ¥2,430 | ¥2,580 |
| 160 | ¥2,820 | ¥2,960 |
| 180 | ¥4,240 | ¥5,040 |
| 200 | ¥5,030 | ¥5,980 |
JAL ABC also sells Keisei’s “Hands-free Liner” at Narita’s arrival counters, which combines delivering a bag with a Skyliner ticket.
Same-day from Narita (Sagawa)
Since July 22, 2026, Sagawa has counters at Narita Terminals 1 and 2 with same-day delivery to hotels in 10 central Tokyo wards, including Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato and Taito, if you drop off by 14:00.
Same-day from Haneda
- Keikyu × ecbo (Haneda Terminal 3 station, 2nd floor): open 7:00–23:00 since August 17, 2026. Delivery to hotels in Tokyo’s 23 wards, Kawasaki and Urayasu (reception 7:00–16:00): ¥1,600 for small bags (up to 120 cm), ¥2,100 for large (up to 160 cm), ¥3,700 for oversized. Pay by cash, card, IC card or mobile payment; book online.
- Yamato (Haneda): same-day delivery, with no reservation, to central Tokyo hotels and nearby areas including Yokohama, Kawasaki, Urayasu (the Tokyo Disney area), Chiba and Funabashi, delivered after 18:00. Prices in cash:
| Size | Haneda → central Tokyo hotel | Haneda → other areas |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | ¥4,490 | ¥4,800 |
| 140 | ¥4,850 | ¥5,390 |
| 160 | ¥5,170 | ¥5,780 |
| 180 | ¥6,890 | ¥7,540 |
| 200 | ¥7,550 | ¥8,330 |
Yamato’s Haneda counters are on the 1st floor of Terminals 1 and 2 (domestic), on the 2nd and 3rd floors of Terminal 2’s international area, and on the 2nd floor of Terminal 3 for sending. The Terminal 3 pickup counter is temporarily on the 2nd floor until November 30, 2026, returning to the 1st floor from that date.
- Which to choose at Haneda: the Keikyu × ecbo counter is cheaper for a single large bag to a Tokyo hotel; Yamato covers a wider area around Tokyo.
Same-day services in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
Tokyo to Haneda the same day
- Yamato: drop your bag by 11:00 at listed offices (including Ningyocho, Ginza, the Shinagawa Prince Hotel center and the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower tourist center) and collect it at Haneda from 17:00 to 23:00 for international flights (to 21:00 for domestic), from three hours before departure. Cash prices: ¥4,800 (120 size), ¥5,390 (140), ¥5,780 (160), ¥7,540 (180) and ¥8,330 (200). From farther away, such as Kyoto, use standard delivery and ship two days before your flight.
- Keikyu × ecbo: drop at ecbo cloak Marunouchi (9:00–14:00), or by 11:00 at Keikyu EX Inn Tokyo Nihonbashi if you are a guest, and collect at Haneda Terminal 3 station from 16:00 to 23:00. This hotel-to-Haneda direction began as a trial on March 9, 2026.
Tokyo Disney Resort hotels
- JAL ABC: same-day delivery between Haneda and Tokyo Bay hotels in Maihama and Shin-Urayasu costs ¥1,800 one way; drop the bag at Haneda Terminal 1 (1st floor) between 7:30 and 13:00 and collect it at the hotel after 20:00. Reception at Terminals 2 and 3 is suspended.
- Yamato: same-day delivery from Haneda also covers the Urayasu area.
Tokyo to Kyoto the same day
JTB and JR Central’s LUGGAGE EXPRESS sends bags by Tokaido Shinkansen between some Tokyo hotels and some Kyoto hotels. Drop your bag by 9:00 and receive it by 18:00 (Express, ¥16,500 per bag) or by 21:00 (Regular, ¥13,200). It is expensive, but it means you never handle the bag on travel day. There are also counters at Tokyo and Kyoto stations; book on the service’s website. An extension to Osaka has been mentioned as a future possibility.
Kyoto and Osaka: JR West’s pikuraku PORTER
- Kyoto: smart lockers at JR Kyoto Station (Karasuma side) and inside the Kintetsu Kyoto Station gates. Drop by 14:00 and your bag reaches one of about 280 Kyoto hotels by evening: large ¥2,800, medium ¥2,300, small ¥1,900.
- Osaka: lockers at Osaka, Shin-Osaka, Universal City, Nishikujo, Tsuruhashi, Shin-Imamiya and Kyobashi stations deliver to about 350 Osaka hotels the same day. From Osaka stations to Kyoto hotels costs ¥3,300, ¥2,800 or ¥2,400; delivery from Kyoto Station to Osaka hotels is not available yet.
- Seasonal desk: a temporary luggage desk in front of Hotel Granvia Kyoto is planned for November 21–23, 28 and 29, 2026 and March 20–22, 27 and 28, 2027, delivering to Kyoto and Osaka City hotels.
Sagawa in the city
Sagawa runs a service center at Busta Shinjuku, the highway bus terminal, for storage and same-day delivery to hotels and airports, and a SAGAWA EXPRESS service center in front of the Tokaido Shinkansen’s Nihombashi gate at Tokyo Station. In Kyoto it has trialed a storage and delivery counter inside the MUFG Bank branch at Shijo Karasuma.
For hotel-specific options, see our guides to where to stay in Kyoto and where to stay in Osaka.
City-by-city cheat sheet
| Place | Useful services |
|---|---|
| Tokyo (Haneda) | Keikyu × ecbo same-day to hotels from ¥1,600 and day storage (T3 station, 7:00–23:00); Yamato same-day; JAL ABC counters in T2 and T3 |
| Tokyo (Narita) | Sagawa same-day to 10 central wards (drop by 14:00); JAL ABC; Keisei Hands-free Liner |
| Tokyo (city) | Hotel front desks and convenience stores for Yamato; Sagawa at Busta Shinjuku and at Tokyo Station’s Nihombashi side; Yamato same-day to Haneda from listed offices |
| Kyoto | pikuraku PORTER lockers at Kyoto Station and Kintetsu Kyoto; seasonal desk at the station plaza; the free “Kyoto Station Smart Navi” map showing which coin lockers are free |
| Osaka | pikuraku PORTER lockers at seven stations, including Osaka, Shin-Osaka and Universal City |
| Hakone | A carry service from Hakone-Yumoto Station to inns, with morning drop-off |
| Imabari (Shimanami Kaido) | Coin lockers at JR Imabari Station (large ¥500 for 3 hours, ¥1,500 for 24 hours), pikuraku lockers, and a Sagawa hands-free service for cyclists (¥2,200 a bag) |
Japan Post Yu-Pack
Japan Post’s Yu-Pack is another option, with post offices everywhere. Its basic rates rose by about 10% on average on October 1, 2026. Airport Yu-Pack costs the basic rate plus ¥880 (for anything over 140 size, the 160-size rate plus ¥880), and Heavy Yu-Pack the basic rate plus ¥620. The weight limit is 30 kg per piece. Check the current rate at the post office for your bag’s size.
What you can’t send
Yamato will not carry:
- Cash, securities, credit and bank cards.
- Passports and other hard-to-replace documents.
- Pets.
- Batteries and other dangerous substances, and flammables such as gas cylinders, fireworks and paint thinner.
- Items worth more than ¥300,000 in total, and parcels over size 200.
In practice: keep your passport, cards, cash, medicines you need and power banks with you, not in the forwarded suitcase. If in doubt about an item, ask at the counter before you seal the bag. Keikyu’s service similarly refuses pets, hazardous materials, valuables and cash.
Planning your trip? Get our free 7-Day Japan Itinerary (PDF)
Get the free guide →Packing a bag for forwarding
- Pack a day bag for the gap: with standard delivery you will be without your suitcase for at least a night. Take a change of clothes, toiletries, chargers and any medicines with you.
- Keep documents and valuables on you: passport, cards, cash and power banks cannot go in the suitcase.
- Lock and label: lock the suitcase and attach a tag with your name and your next hotel’s name.
- Write the check-in date on the delivery slip, so the hotel knows when to expect you.
- Photograph the slip and the bag: the tracking number on your copy is what you need if anything goes wrong.
- Mind the value: Yamato insures each parcel up to ¥300,000 and will not carry items worth more than that in total.
Skis, golf bags and bicycles
- Skis, snowboards and golf bags: JAL ABC charges them at its 160-size rate from the airport, and accepts items up to 240 cm in total and 50 kg.
- Bicycles: on the Shimanami Kaido, a Sagawa hands-free service sends cyclists’ bags for ¥2,200 a bag, so you can ride with just a small pack.
- Big items on trains: for the shinkansen, bags between 161 and 250 cm need an oversized-baggage seat; larger items have to be sent instead.
Luggage storage and coin lockers

If you only need to leave a bag for a few hours, storage is cheaper than delivery.
- Coin lockers: Tokyu’s station lockers, for example, cost ¥300 (slim), ¥500 (small), ¥600 (large) and ¥900 (extra-large, about 84–114 cm tall), with some season-variable prices since August 1, 2026, a maximum of 3 days and an extra charge after 2:00. Extra-large lockers fill up first.
- ecbo cloak: shops that store bags for you, booked online: ¥500 a day for bags under 45 cm on the longest side and ¥800 a day for suitcases, with insurance up to ¥100,000.
- Yamato storage counters: at some stations and shopping areas, with no reservation; keep your receipt copy.
- pikuraku PORTER storage only: ¥400, ¥600 or ¥900 per 24 hours in Kyoto and Osaka.
- Haneda: the Keikyu × ecbo counter stores bags for the day (7:00–23:00), no overnight storage.
- Hotels: many hold bags before check-in and after check-out, for example Dormy Inn.
To find storage near where you are, try Radical Storage in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka.
Big bags on the shinkansen
On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen (Tokyo – Shin-Osaka – Hakata – Kagoshima-Chuo), JR Central’s rules for large luggage are:
| Bag size (L + W + H) | What to do |
|---|---|
| Up to 160 cm | Put it on the overhead rack; no reservation needed |
| 161–250 cm | Reserve a “seat with an oversized baggage area” (same price as a normal reserved seat). Without it, you pay a ¥1,000 fee |
| Over 250 cm | Not allowed on board |
Oversized-baggage seats are in the last row of some cars, and the space is shared by the five seats in that row; non-reserved cars have none. Book them at ticket offices, reserved-seat machines or online, and JR Pass holders through the JAPAN RAIL PASS reservation site. Some Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama cars also have deck baggage compartments you can use without a reservation on a trial basis, locked by tapping a transport IC card. Our shinkansen guide explains seat booking.
Choosing a luggage-friendly hotel
Your choice of hotel can make luggage much easier:
- Near the airport bus: the Airport Limousine Bus stops right outside some Tokyo hotels, including Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier and Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro, so you never carry bags through a station.
- Bag-friendly policies: many hotels hold bags before check-in and after check-out (Dormy Inn does), and OMO hotels accept courier-delivered bags from the day before your stay.
- Covered by same-day services: pikuraku PORTER delivers to about 280 Kyoto hotels and about 350 Osaka hotels, and Keikyu × ecbo to hotels across Tokyo’s 23 wards.
- Staffed reception: needed for delivery; unstaffed vacation rentals cannot receive forwarded bags.
See our guides to the best hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Words you will see
- Takkyubin (宅急便 / 宅配便): door-to-door parcel delivery. TA-Q-BIN is Yamato’s English brand name.
- Size (サイズ): the total of length, width and height in centimeters, for example 160 size.
- Hands-Free Travel (手ぶら観光): the Japan Tourism Agency’s logo for certified luggage delivery and storage counters.
- Same-day delivery (当日配送): delivery the same day, offered only on some routes with early cut-off times.
- Airport TA-Q-BIN (空港宅急便): delivery to the departure airport, collected at the counter before check-in.
- Coin locker (コインロッカー): self-service lockers at stations, sized from slim to extra-large.
Big bags on airport trains, buses and in Kyoto
- Skyliner: every car has a dedicated luggage space between the cabin and the vestibule, with security cameras.
- Airport Limousine Bus: a good choice with heavy bags if it stops at your hotel; reservations are made online.
- Commuter trains: Tokyo’s trains are packed in the morning and evening rush; avoid those times with suitcases, or send the bags ahead.
- Kyoto’s city buses: the official guide asks visitors to store or send luggage before boarding a bus, and the city names crowding and large luggage as problems on buses. Use the trains or a delivery service instead.
Our airport guide compares every route into Tokyo.
Families and travelers with limited mobility
Luggage forwarding is especially useful if you travel with small children or have limited mobility. Large stations involve long walks, stairs and crowds, and many traditional inns have steps and narrow corridors. Sending the big bags ahead means you only manage a stroller or a small bag on travel days.
- Arrange same-day delivery on arrival day (from Haneda or Narita) so you can go straight to your hotel unencumbered.
- Book an oversized-baggage seat on the shinkansen if you keep a large bag with you.
- Choose hotels near stations or airport bus stops.
- Consider a private transfer from the airport for a group with bags; our airport guide lists options.
Sample plans: the Golden Route without suitcases
Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Kansai Airport
- Arrival at Haneda: send your suitcase from the Keikyu × ecbo counter at Terminal 3 to your Tokyo hotel (¥2,100 for a large bag) and ride into the city with a backpack.
- Leaving Tokyo: on your second-to-last morning in Tokyo, send the suitcase from your hotel to your Kyoto hotel by Yamato (¥3,160 for a 160-size bag, or ¥3,060 from a convenience store). Take the shinkansen with a day bag.
- Kyoto to Osaka: send the bag by Yamato the day before, or use a pikuraku PORTER locker in Osaka on arrival for same-day hotel delivery.
- Leaving from Kansai Airport: send the suitcase to the airport at least two days before your flight with Airport TA-Q-BIN, or carry it on the train on the last day.
One-night stays in a ryokan
Send the big suitcase from Tokyo straight to your hotel after the ryokan, and take only an overnight bag. In Hakone, a carry service at Hakone-Yumoto Station takes bags to inns, with drop-off in the morning.
Options compared
| Service | Best for | Example price | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamato TA-Q-BIN | City to city | ¥3,160 Tokyo → Kyoto (160 size, cash) | At least a day |
| Yamato Airport TA-Q-BIN | To the airport for departure | About ¥3,680 Tokyo → Narita (160 size) | Send 2 days before |
| JAL ABC from Narita | Arrival day | ¥2,820 Narita → Kanto (160 size) | At least a day |
| Keikyu × ecbo at Haneda | Same-day to Tokyo hotels | ¥2,100 large bag | Same day |
| Sagawa at Narita | Same-day to central Tokyo hotels | Check at the counter | Drop by 14:00 |
| pikuraku PORTER | Same-day within Kyoto or Osaka | ¥2,800 large bag | Drop by 14:00 |
| LUGGAGE EXPRESS | Same-day Tokyo ⇄ Kyoto hotels | ¥13,200–16,500 | Drop by 9:00 |
If something goes wrong
- The bag has not arrived: ask the hotel front desk to check, and contact the delivery company with the tracking number on your slip.
- It is late because of weather: Yamato does not compensate for delays of about a day caused by weather or traffic, which is why a margin matters, especially before a flight.
- Something is damaged: report it to the company with your slip; Yamato’s insurance covers up to ¥300,000 per parcel.
- You are staying somewhere without staff: Yamato will not deliver to unstaffed lodgings, so redirect the bag to a staffed hotel or a Yamato office.
- You need it the same day after all: switch to a same-day service if one serves your route, such as pikuraku PORTER in Kyoto and Osaka.
Travel-day checklist
- The day before: send the suitcase from the hotel or a convenience store, and keep the slip.
- Pack a day bag with clothes for a night, chargers, medicines and documents.
- Tell your next hotel a bag is on the way.
- For flights: send to the airport at least two days before, or plan a same-day service to Haneda.
- On the shinkansen with a big bag: reserve an oversized-baggage seat if the bag is over 160 cm in total.
- At the airport: collect the bag at the partner counter before check-in.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to send a suitcase from Tokyo to Kyoto? With Yamato, ¥3,160 in cash for a 160-size bag (¥3,060 if you drop it off yourself), ¥2,780 for 140 size and ¥4,480 for 180 size, at October 2026 rates.
How long does luggage forwarding take? Standard delivery takes at least a day. For the airport, send your bag at least two days before your flight. For the same day, use services such as Keikyu × ecbo at Haneda, Sagawa at Narita, pikuraku PORTER in Kyoto and Osaka, or LUGGAGE EXPRESS between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Can I send luggage to an Airbnb? Not with Yamato, if there is no staffed reception. Send from a Yamato office or a 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, and deliver to a staffed hotel instead.
Can I send my bag on the day I arrive? Yes. At Haneda, Keikyu × ecbo delivers to Tokyo hotels the same day; at Narita, Sagawa does too if you drop off by 14:00, and JAL ABC sends bags for later delivery.
Do I need a Japanese phone number? JAL ABC’s form asks for a Japanese phone number; use your hotel’s number. Hotel staff can help fill in Yamato slips.
What can’t I put in a forwarded suitcase? Cash, cards, passports, power banks and other batteries, flammables and items worth more than ¥300,000. Keep valuables and documents with you.
Do I need to reserve a seat for my suitcase on the shinkansen? On the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, yes, if the bag is 161 to 250 cm in total; otherwise there is a ¥1,000 fee. Bags up to 160 cm go on the overhead rack.
Where can I store a bag for a few hours? In a coin locker (for example ¥500–900 at Tokyu stations), at an ecbo cloak shop (¥500–800 a day), at a Yamato storage counter, or at your hotel.
Is luggage forwarding worth it? For a multi-city trip, almost always. A few thousand yen saves you carrying a heavy bag through crowded stations, up stairs and onto busy trains, and it leaves your hands free for sightseeing on travel days.
Can I send luggage overseas from Japan? Yes. Sagawa’s service center at Busta Shinjuku, for example, handles overseas as well as domestic shipping, and post offices offer international parcels.
Can I pay by card? Yes, at many counters. Yamato’s cashless rates are slightly cheaper than cash, and the Keikyu × ecbo counter at Haneda accepts cards, IC cards and mobile payments. pikuraku PORTER lockers take IC cards or credit cards.
How do I know my suitcase’s size? Add the length, width and height in centimeters, including wheels and handles. Most medium and large suitcases are 140 or 160 size; the weight class also counts, and the larger one applies.
Is there same-day delivery to Narita? Yamato says it does not offer same-day delivery to Narita. Send your bag to Narita at least two days before with Airport TA-Q-BIN, or book JAL ABC’s pickup service in advance.
Can I send luggage to Tokyo Disney Resort hotels? Yes. JAL ABC delivers between Haneda Terminal 1 and Tokyo Bay hotels in Maihama and Shin-Urayasu the same day for ¥1,800, and Yamato’s same-day service from Haneda covers the Urayasu area.
Can I send my bag from Kyoto to Haneda? Yes, by standard delivery; Yamato advises shipping two days before your flight. Same-day delivery to Haneda is only available from listed Tokyo offices.
Is it safe to send my suitcase? Delivery companies give you a tracking number on the slip, and Yamato insures each parcel up to ¥300,000. Keep valuables, documents and batteries with you, and allow a margin for weather delays.
What if I change hotels every night? Send the big bag ahead to where you will stay two or more nights, and travel with a small bag in between. Coin lockers and storage shops cover the gaps.
Can I leave my bags at Haneda for the day? Yes. The Keikyu × ecbo counter at the Terminal 3 station stores bags for the day from 7:00 to 23:00, with no overnight storage. It is handy for a long layover or a last day in Tokyo before an evening flight.
Can I send a large suitcase from a convenience store? Usually yes, with a ¥100 drop-off discount, but some convenience stores cannot accept parcels of size 180 or larger. For very large bags, use a Yamato office or your hotel’s front desk.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Narita and Haneda to Tokyo
- Shinkansen guide
- Tokyo to Kyoto
- Best hotels in Tokyo
- Where to stay in Kyoto
- Suica vs PASMO
Sources: Yamato Transport (TA-Q-BIN, rates, Airport TA-Q-BIN, same-day Haneda service, prohibited items, notices); JAL ABC; Keikyu (ecbo counter releases, March and August 2026); Narita Airport (Sagawa counters); Travel Voice (Sagawa services); MUFG and Sagawa release; JTB and JR Central (LUGGAGE EXPRESS); Kyoto City (pikuraku PORTER); Kyoto City Tourism Association; Japan Post (Yu-Pack rate revision); Tokyu (coin lockers); ecbo; JR Central (oversized baggage); Japan Tourism Agency (Hands-Free Travel) (checked October 2026). Prices change; if you spot something out of date, please let us know.
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