[Japan] Hassle-free travel in Japan, utilizing the luggage check-in service

[Japan] Hassle-free travel in Japan, utilizing the luggage check-in service

On my 18-day's journey to Japan last summer, the itinerary spanned over ten prefectures, from Tokyo to the northernmost of Kanto, then going south to Shikoku, finally back to Tokyo, travelled over 2200 kilometres. It would be torture if someone need to drag that heavy luggage along with their journey.  It might be too exhausting even you drive your own car with them.

Fortunately, there is a thoughtful service in Japan that allows you to travel with peace of mind, even without leaving your home. Luggage delivery companies will timely transport your heavy luggage to the airport for temporary storage until you pick it up on your way back home. It's convenient and stress-free, eliminating worries about transportation issues due to excessive shopping.

Things to prepare before departure:

Plan your itinerary with convenient supply points to easily gather and send purchased items. 

1. A simple, point-to-point itinerary is the most relaxed.
2. If traveling long distances, it's advisable to prepare a small suitcase for short trips (large suitcases can leave at the hotel or send them to the airport and pick up before leaving Japan).
3. Check if the hotel offers luggage delivery services (not all hotels provide this service).

The route for this trip covering Kanto and Kansai is made much easier thanks to the luggage delivery service.

Luggage transportation planning used on this trip:
We travelled with 1 small suitcase + 2 large suitcases (empty). 

1. (Tokyo) Keep the luggage in hotel and pick up after 6 days. (We were unlucky and refused to store luggage by APA hotel staff.  Then we used the [Kuroneko Yamato] transportation service to send the luggage to the same hotel with a specified delivery date - which was 6 days after) 
2. (Aomori) Take the small suitcase to Aomori for 6 days.
3. (Tokyo) Travel back to Tokyo, gather all souvenirs, packed well and send suitcase #1 to Narita Airport for storage using [Airporter] service. 
4. (Osaka) Bring suitcase #2 (empty) along with us and continue the trip to Kansai.
5. (Osaka) Pack souvenirs bought in Osaka into suitcase #2 then send it to Narita Airport for storage using [Kuroneko Yamato] service.
6. (Shikoku) Continue our trip to Shikoku with the small suitcase. 
7. (Tokyo) Travel back to Tokyo by domestic flight, retrieve all luggage at the Narita Airport, bring them back home on the return flight.

Yamato Transport Service

宅急便（Yamato Transport）

Airport Luggage Transportation Service

Airporter

The service provided by Airporter is much simpler and able to track online

Luggage check-in service companies used this time:Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport)
Airporter

Advantages and disadvantages:

Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport): 

Advantages: Service points are distributed throughout Japan, and you can send to any location in Japan. However, it takes a bit of time, so it's best to reserve an extra 1 to 2 days. 

Disadvantages: 

1. (Regular service) Delivery is relatively slow, needs to be sent one to two days in advance, 
2. Hand-writing shipping forms only, filling of form is complicated not user-friendly.

Airporter: 

Advantages: 

1. Ensures same-day delivery, 
2. Can schedule collection online, 
3. Simple procedures, 
4. Can track luggage online. 

Disadvantages:

1. Not all hotels offer collection services,
2. Only accept scheduled luggage collection via online orders, there is no physical store.

Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport) luggage check-in fees are simple (slight price variance on weight/size/distance).

Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport) services can be found at major 7-11 or Family Mart convenience stores, and they operate 24 hours, making it very convenient.

Recommended service for tourists: Directly sending luggage to the airport using "Kuko Bin" (Designated airport delivery service)

During trip planning, it's recommended to book luggage check-in services in advance, as unexpected events can occur. In this case, the APA hotel unexpectedly refused luggage storage, leading to a quick decision to send the luggage through Kuroneko Yamato. Fortunately, the luggage arrived safely, showcasing the effectiveness of the service.

The mentioned incident may not be common, but for regular travellers, the most practical solution is to send luggage directly to the airport using "Kuko Bin" (Designated airport delivery service). After trying different ways of traveling in Japan, even with the most desirable self-driving, heavy luggage would always be the hindrance. To make the subsequent journey hassle-free, sending luggage to the airport can solve this problem effortlessly.

Points to note when sending luggage:

1. Control luggage weight to 30 kg or below.
2. Send luggage one to two days in advance to avoid delays due to logistics.
3. Pack luggage well before sending (remove prohibited items like lithium batteries) to avoid delays in boarding on the return journey.

How to fill up the luggage check-in form?

Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport) luggage check-in form

Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport) luggage check-in form example:

🟦 (Filled by sender):

• Sender's name (can be in English)
• Recipient's name (same as above, if the same person is receiving) (can be in English)
• Sender's contact phone number (international number)
• Number of items to be checked in

🟧 (Filled by sender, information needs to be found independently [refer to the following index]):

• Destination area code
• Destination contact phone number
• Destination address

🟪 (Filled by sender):

• (If needed) Specify extraction date
• (If needed) Specify extraction time

🟥 (Filled by sender):

• Contents of the checked-in items (can be in English)

🟩 (Filled by hotel/staff):

• Weight/volume of the checked-in items

Luggage sending process overview:

1. Obtain a luggage check-in form from hotel/convenience store staff.
2. Fill out the form with the sending location, time, and recipient information as specified in the form.
3. Hotel/convenience store staff will measure the size and weight of the luggage and charge the shipping fee accordingly.

Note:

※The shipping fee is calculated based on the recipient's address and the distance to the sending location, with slight variations in the fee, usually within the range of 1000-2500 yen.

※Price setting in this table is an average cost for Haneda Airport and within Tokyo.
※Size limitations and fees may vary depending on the service provider.

"Kuko Bin" (Designated airport delivery service) has room for improvement, particularly in providing commonly used airport addresses. Blank fields can be a significant challenge for many foreign visitors, especially those who don't understand Chinese characters.

"Kuko Bin" (Airporter) services cover the entire country of Japan, greatly improving the mobility of travelers, eliminating the inconvenience and hassle of carrying luggage to and from the airport. It's an indispensable tool for self-guided tours in Japan!

More useful information:

Locations and information for major airport Kuroneko Yamato service counters

Narita Airport Kuroneko Yamato

Narita Airport

Postal code: 282-0004 

Phone: 0476-33-5000 

Address: Narita Airport Terminal 2, 1-1 Furugome, Narita, Chiba Prefecture 282-0004, Japan

Haneda Airport Kuroneko Yamato

Haneda Airport

Postal code: 144-0041 

Phone: 0364-28-0669

Address (EN): Haneda Airport Terminal 3, 2 Chome−6−5, Hanedakuko, Ota City, 144-0041, Japan

Kansai Airport Kuroneko Yamato

Kansai Airport
Postal Code: 2144-0041
Phone: 0724-61-3123
Address (EN): Narita Airport Terminal 1, 1-1 Furugome, Narita, Chiba Prefecture 282-0004, Japan

Fees
Please refer to the Kuroneko Yamato website for fees. In addition to delivering to convenience stores on your own, you can also call Kuroneko customer service and have them send someone to pick up your items.

Weight/Fee Price List (Click here)

Prepare for Check-in in Advance 

Try to send your luggage one to two days before it arrives at the destination to ensure sufficient time for delivery and avoid delays. If time is insufficient, you can use the next-day delivery service with additional fees.



More Information:

Kuroneko Yamato (Yamato Transport) 

Website: https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/ytc/en/

Airporter 

Website: https://airporter.co.jp/


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