Simplify Travel in Japan with Takuhaibin Luggage-forwarding Services: A Comprehensive Guide

Japan is well known for its next-level infrastructure and efficient services. Trains run on time, hospitality workers appear to anticipate your needs, and everything just seems to work seamlessly. It all makes traveling within Japan a much easier and more pleasurable experience. Takuhaibin (luggage forwarding/delivery) services are the epitome of that. This reliable service allows you to explore Japan without navigating crowded trains while dragging bulky suitcases or desperately searching for public storage space.

Though we may aspire to be the type of tourist who travels light, sometimes a large suitcase is unavoidable, and when you’re venturing as far as Japan, you likely have substantial luggage in tow.
Of course, traveling with your luggage by your side throughout your journey is possible. Most taxis have ample room for cases, and drivers will help you load and unload your case from the trunk without expecting a tip for the trouble.

If you travel by train (outside of peak commuting hours), it’s easy enough to take the metro with your suitcases, and most stations have elevators you can utilize. When traveling from city to city by shinkansen (bullet train), it’s worth noting that, although there is room for three or four suitcases behind the last row of seats in each car, you’ll need to buy a special ticket in advance from a JR ticket office or the JR online booking service to utilize these spaces in reserved cars. If you’re traveling in an unreserved car, you can use the spaces freely, but you have to hope that nobody else got there first.

If that all sounds too anxiety-inducing, takuhaibin allows you to avoid the hassle of carrying your case at all.

Locals traveling on trains with minimal baggage are utilizing a secret: they ship their larger bags ahead to their destination using a takuhaibin luggage-forwarding service. One of the most famous of these is Yamato Transport, though there are plenty of other reputable companies offering the same service. These services — renowned for their speed, reliability, and affordability — ensure prompt and safe overnight delivery to most locations across Japan. More remote locations, such as Hokkaido and Okinawa, may take up to two days.

There are several convenient places from which you can organize luggage-forwarding services: airports, major train stations, convenience stores, and hotels. When you first touch down in Japan, you’ll find a takuhaibin counter located in the arrivals hall, meaning you can offload your cases almost as soon as you’ve grabbed them from the baggage carousel. The next time you’ll be reunited is the next day when it is delivered directly to your hotel room.

Staff at these airport counters typically speak some English, so the process should be straightforward. They will require you to complete some paperwork, including your hotel address. You’ll pay the fee and drop your luggage off at the counter, leaving you unencumbered by your suitcases and ready to explore Japan. When your cases arrive the following day, you’ll need to present your luggage receipt upon arrival.

If you plan to utilize takuhaibin services, then it’s worth packing your bags strategically to ensure you have all the essentials you need until your suitcase arrives: travel documents, toiletries, a change of clothes, and medications.

Luggage-forwarding services can be used throughout your trip, not just at the start and end. If you change hotels during your trip, such as hopping between cities, you can organize takuhaibin to facilitate seamless hotel-to-hotel luggage delivery. Simply hand your luggage to your hotel’s front desk, and they will manage the paperwork, ensuring your bag reaches the designated destination by the following day.

Even if you’re not staying at a hotel, you can utilize this service by sending your luggage from convenience stores in Japan. Similarly, you can receive your bags at a convenience store. The store’s staff can help you fill out the paperwork, but it’s a good idea to pick a quieter time of day and come fully prepared with the required address to help avoid a queue.

If you’re flying between domestic destinations or leaving Japan to go home, you can forward your bags to your departure terminal at the airport. It’s worth noting that while these services are extremely efficient, if you’re prone to travel anxiety, then allow more time than usual for the service. You may also want to arrive at the airport earlier if your bags are delivered to the wrong terminal. Build a little cushion time into your itinerary to ensure everything runs smoothly.

*Note: Not all hotels and convenience stores offer takuhaibin services, so it may be better to check beforehand

If you’re looking for a place to store your stuff while you explore, coin lockers of various sizes are available at most airports and train stations throughout Japan. These lockers allow you to store your belongings for the day for around 300–700 JPY, though few of these lockers will be large enough to accommodate suitcases.

However, if you want to offload your bags while you explore an area for the day, they are a great short-term option.

Selecting between takuhaibin and lockers depends on the duration of storage needed and the accommodation type. Lockers suit short-term storage, whereas forwarding may be more practical for longer stays, especially in hotels or with considerable luggage.