How to Ship Your Luggage Across Japan

During our recent trip, we were traveling with 6 suitcases for 2 months. Instead of hauling all that gear on a 2-night side trip to Yokohama, we shipped 5 of the bags directly to the airport and kept only one with us. We picked them all up at the terminal 48 hours later right before our flight home.

On another leg, we shipped our bags from Tokyo to Kyoto, flew to Taiwan for 4 days with just a carry-on, and arrived at our Kyoto hotel to find our luggage already waiting in our room. It is absolute magic.

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How to Send Luggage in Japan

Find 1 of 3 locations:

• The Airport: Look for the "Luggage Delivery" counters in the arrivals hall.

• Your Hotel: Simply ask the front desk; they will provide the forms and handle the pickup.

• Convenience Stores: Almost every 7-Eleven and FamilyMart can send your luggage.

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How to Fill Out the Form

Ask for a "Yamato Waybill form".

1. To (Recipient): Write the name of your destination hotel OR the airport flight info ( Flight Number, Departure Time, and Terminal (e.g., Narita Terminal 1).)

2. From (Sender): Your current hotel address and phone number.

3. Contents: We just write "Travel Luggage."

4. Desired Delivery Date: Write the date you want the bags to arrive.
   
   
   
   This is an example of how to fill out the form to the airport if I were leaving for a flight on 1/29. I would have shipped this out on 1/26 so it would arrive by 1/28.
   
   Cost: Expect to pay between 1,500 to 3,500 yen ($10–$30 USD) per bag depending on size and distance.

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Key Things to Note

• The 48-Hour Airport Rule: If you are shipping to the airport, you must send your bags at least two days before your flight. 

• Airport counter Service Times: Verify Airport Luggage Shipment counter open hours if are flying at off-peak times (very early or very late).
  
  

• The 7-Day Hold: This is the best-kept secret! The shipping company can hold your luggage for up to 7 days at their facility before delivering it to your next destination at no extra cost. This is perfect if you’re doing a 3-4 day "side trip" to a different city or country.

• Next-Day Delivery: For most city-to-city routes (like Tokyo to Osaka), if you drop it off by 10:00 AM, it will usually arrive the next day, but allot an extra buffer day!

• Essentials bag: Always keep one "overnight" bag with your pajamas, toiletries, and a change of clothes, as your main bags will be in transit overnight.