🛄 Skip the Stress: The Ultimate Guide to Shipping Your Luggage in Japan (Takkyūbin 101)
Dragging a suitcase through Tokyo rush hour is a rite of passage you do NOT need to experience. Japan has a secret weapon that locals swear by: takkyūbin. The luggage-forwarding service that whisks your bags away and delivers them to your next stay like a tiny logistical miracle. Here’s how to use it, how much it costs, and why this single hack will upgrade your entire trip.
What Is Takkyūbin and Why Every Traveler Should Use it
Takkyūbin is Japan’s luggage-shipping service: fast, cheap, absurdly reliable, and hiding in plain sight everywhere you go. The main player is Yamato Transport, a.k.a. the black cat carrying her kitten — once you spot that logo, you’ll see it everywhere.
Here’s the deal: you hand over your suitcase, give them the name of your next hotel, and your bag shows up the next day like a well-behaved pet. No stress. No stairs. No fighting for overhead rack space at Shinjuku Station.
Why it’s a no-brainer:
It’s affordable. Most medium bags run $10–$25 USD depending on distance.
It’s hands-free freedom. Explore, shop, snack, vibe — without dragging your whole life behind you.
The trains hate luggage. Narrow aisles + rush hour + tourists with roller bags = chaos.
Hotels expect this. Front desks fill out the form for you. This is standard in Japan, not a weird request.
Once you ship your bags once, you’ll wonder why you ever suffered through a station with wheels.
Where to Find Takkyūbin And How to Ship Your Bag without overthinking it
Once you know the logo — the yellow-and-black cat carrying her baby — you’ll start seeing takkyūbin spots everywhere. Look for it at:
Airports (Haneda, Narita, Kansai, Chubu)
Convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson
Major train stations
Hotel lobbies
Dedicated Yamato counters
If you can buy a melon pan nearby, you can probably ship a suitcase. Here’s how the whole thing works:
1. Walk up to the counter
Just say: “Takkyūbin, one bag, hotel delivery.” They’ll take it from there.
2. Show your next hotel details
Have these ready:
Hotel name
Hotel phone number
Booking name
Check-in date
3. Pay the fee
Expect ¥1,500–¥3,000 for a standard suitcase. Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
4. Hand over the bag and go enjoy your day
Delivery timing is straightforward:
Same prefecture: same day or next morning
Cross-prefecture: usually next day
Rural areas: 1–2 days max
That’s it. No wrestling your suitcase through Shinjuku. No sweat. No regrets.
When You Should Definitely Use It Plus a few pro tips
Takkyūbin comes in handy when you’re:
Moving between cities like Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka
Switching from a hotel to an Airbnb
Dealing with an early checkout and a late check-in
Planning a heavy shopping day
Just wanting your hands (and spine) free
And a few tips to make it seamless:
Ship it the morning before you travel for guaranteed next-day arrival.
Keep a small backpack for essentials.
Yes, you can ship straight to the airport before your flight home — elite move.
Snap a photo of the shipping slip in case you misplace it.
The Bottom Line
Takkyūbin is one of those “why didn’t I know about this sooner?” services. Locals don’t drag bags across Tokyo, and you shouldn’t either. Once you try luggage shipping, you’ll never go back to stressful transfers or train-station acrobatics. It’s efficient, affordable, and the easiest travel win in Japan. Want the Full Tokyo + Kyoto Insider Guide? This post is just one piece of the puzzle. Our Full Queerdo’s Guide To Tokyo is coming soon — complete with neighborhood guides, restaurant picks, photo spots, exact itineraries, LGBTQ+ friendly recommendations, and all our unfiltered tips.
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