Practical Travel

Japan Luggage Forwarding: How to Ship Your Bags Between Cities

By JAPN Published

Japan Luggage Forwarding: How to Ship Your Bags Between Cities

How Takkyubin Works

Yamato Transport (Kuroneko, the black cat logo), Sagawa Express, and Japan Post offer same-day or next-day luggage delivery between hotels, airports, and convenience stores. A typical suitcase ships for 1,500 to 2,500 yen depending on size and distance. Hotel front desks handle sending and receiving, or drop your bags at any convenience store or Yamato office with a completed shipping label (available in English from hotel staff). Delivery takes one day within the same region and two days for cross-country routes like Tokyo to Kyushu.

This service transforms travel logistics: ship your bags from your Tokyo hotel to your Kyoto hotel, then travel by train with only a day pack. Airports have luggage counters where you can ship bags to your hotel on arrival day or from your hotel to the airport on departure day, though airport deliveries require two-day advance shipping. The QR code system on the Yamato app tracks packages in real-time.

When to Use It

Luggage forwarding is especially valuable when taking the Shinkansen, where overhead racks fit only small bags and reserved oversized luggage spaces are limited and require advance booking. Moving between ryokan, where you want to arrive unencumbered, or combining a hiking trip between cities, makes forwarding worthwhile. The cost is comparable to a single taxi ride with luggage.

Airport Luggage Services

For airport-bound luggage, dedicated counters at major airports and some city locations accept bags two days before your departure flight and deliver them to the airport check-in area. This service costs 2,000 to 3,000 yen per bag and means you spend your last day exploring with just a day pack. On arrival day, shipping bags from the airport to your hotel is possible but delivery takes one to two days, so this works best if you have activities near the airport or another base for the first night. JAL ABC and Yamato both operate airport delivery counters at Narita and Haneda. Ski and golf equipment forwarding to resorts and courses is commonplace and costs 2,000 to 4,000 yen per item depending on size and distance.

Step-by-Step Process

At your hotel front desk, tell staff you want to send luggage by takkyubin. They provide a shipping label with fields for sender and receiver addresses in English. Write your destination hotel name and address, and hotel staff arrange pickup or take the bag to a nearby Yamato depot. Alternatively, any convenience store displaying the Yamato or Sagawa sign accepts packages. The tracking number allows real-time monitoring through the Yamato app. Size categories run from 60-size (smallest, up to 60 cm total dimensions) at around 1,000 yen to 160-size (up to 160 cm total) at around 2,500 yen. For airport-bound luggage, dedicated counters accept bags two days before departure and deliver them to the airport check-in area for 2,000 to 3,000 yen per bag, letting you explore your last day with just a day pack. Ski equipment, golf bags, and other sporting goods ship under special categories at 2,000 to 4,000 yen.

The reliability of the service approaches perfection: Yamato Transport reports a misdelivery rate of less than 0.01 percent. Insurance coverage is included up to 300,000 yen per package, with additional coverage available for declared higher values. The kuroneko (black cat) logo of Yamato, showing a mother cat carrying a kitten, has become one of Japan’s most recognized brand symbols since the company launched door-to-door delivery in 1976.

This content is for informational purposes only and reflects independent research. Details may change — verify current information before making travel plans.