Japan’s Luggage Delivery Services: How and When to Use Them

For many, a big part of traveling is having to drag your luggage around, but does it have to be this way? Not in the slightest! 

Meet Japan’s luggage delivery services. They're a staple Japan, which is why you don’t see too many locals carrying suitcases and other baggage on the subway or the streets.

So, allow me to introduce the many ways you can use a baggage delivery service in Japan or send luggage to to the Airport. I’ll walk you through the process and show you how to fill out the necessary forms, so let’s get to it. 

What Is a Baggage Delivery Service?

Essentially, a baggage delivery service takes your baggage to the airport, hotel, or home for you, so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Even the usually-dreaded trips to the airport are much less of a hassle, especially if you’re traveling alone with lots of suitcases, which are often accompanied by an additional backpack or purse.

And it’s not considered a “luxury” service, either. Baggage delivery services are more common than you’d think.

Many hotels and convenience stores in Japan offer services to take your luggage to the airport, your domestic destination, or your home, so you can only focus on getting yourself from point A to B, hands-free.

Why Use Baggage Delivery Services

A big reason to consider these services is the limited baggage space available on most trains in Japan. 

Oftentimes, you’ll see tourists with multiple huge suitcases trying to get on the Shinkansen (bullet train), only to find out there aren’t any overhead spaces or suitcase racks left. What happens is lots of chaos and stress, which you can totally prevent.

While there is luggage space on trains, usually at the end of every bullet train car, this space is only big enough to fit a few suitcases at most. As you can see, even the public transport system seemingly counts on luggage delivery services to function smoothly.

So, whether you’re away visiting one of the many onsens of Japan or the plentiful skiing resorts in the mountains, you’ll use these services constantly during your stay here.

Establishments That Provide Luggage Delivery Services

Throughout Japan, luggage delivery services are handled by either one of the well-known transport services: Yamato Transport and JAL ABC.

Yamato Transport

Yamato Transport’s Luggage Delivery Services, also known as Takkyubin Luggage Services, is the more popular of the two, and if you want to send your baggage through a convenience store, this is the company that’ll handle your delivery.

Suppose you’re staying at an Airbnb (see my post on Airbnb in Japan) or don’t have access to a hotel’s front desk. In that case, you can use Yamato Transfer’s luggage delivery service to have your baggage transferred to the nearest location of one of these convenience stores:

• Family Mart

• 7-Eleven

• Poplar

• Daily Yamazaki

• New Days

If you aren’t familiar with the area you’re in, you can also use the interactive map on the Yamamato Transport website to find the nearest registered convenience store.

JAL ABC 

Alternatively, you can also use JAL ABC for a “hands-free” trip and get your luggage delivered to the airport or your hotel. Although it’s less common, some hotels are registered with this service. 

You can find the counters of JAL ABC at the following airports:

• Narita International Airport (In Terminal 1 and 2)

• Haneda Airport (In Terminal 3)

• Kansai International Airport (In Terminal 1)

• Chubu International Airport (In Terminal 1, same desk as the Yamato Transport counter)

The Exception: Same-Day Luggage Delivery in Japan

Let’s start with the fastest luggage delivery option.

Same-day luggage delivery is only provided by Yamato Transport’s luggage delivery service.

However, whether you’re sending your luggage from a hotel’s front desk, a counter at a train station, or a convenience store, keep in mind that same-day delivery is only possible if you drop off your luggage before the reception deadline for hotels and airports that are within the same region. 

Still, even if you know your locations are within the same region, it’s best to confirm this with the company to make sure. Here’s the same-day delivery page of Yamato Transport’s website so you can check the locations that accept same-day delivery and ask whether your delivery will be made on the same day.

Step-By-Step: How To Use Baggage Delivery Services

Same-day delivery may be an exception rather than the rule, but even with normal delivery, your luggage will most likely be at your destination the next day if things go smoothly, or a couple of days at the latest.

You can use a luggage delivery service in two ways: either through a convenience store or at the front desk of your hotel registered with Yamato Transport or JAL ABC.

First, let’s go through the steps of sending your luggage through your hotel’s front desk.

Hotel Front Desk Luggage Delivery: Send Luggage To Narita Airport and More

If you’re staying at a hotel in Japan, sending your luggage to your destination is often as simple as walking down to your front desk. Most hotels in Japan are either registered with Yamato Transport or JAL ABC, and in either case, you’re in good hands.

To ship your luggage to your destination, simply ask the front desk for the luggage delivery service. They’ll give you a form to fill out, and you need to put down a clear destination address.

After the form is filled, you’ll need to pay the delivery fee (the steps are explained below), and that’s it! All you’re left to do is travel to your destination hands-free.

Convenience Store Luggage Delivery: Send Your Baggage Via 7-Eleven and More

While most hotels are registered with either one of the popular luggage delivery services, some smaller establishments may not offer this service. But even if you’re not staying in a hotel, you can still find a convenience store near you and have your luggage sent to your destination, hotel, or airport. 

Simply head over to the nearest convenience store that’s registered with Yamato Transport’s luggage delivery services. As a refresher, the stores that offer this service are 7-Eleven, Poplar, Family Mart, Daily Yamazaki, and New Days.

You can locate the store using the map on the official website. Once you get there, fill out the form or the waybill, pay the delivery fee, and you’re done! Expect your luggage to be delivered the next day (or in the next few days, in some cases) at your destination.

Filling Out The Waybill (With Examples)

Whether you send your luggage through the front desk of a hotel or a convenience store, you’ll be asked to fill out a form, which is the waybill. 

As the waybill is in Japanese, foreigners often have trouble filling it out, so here’s our cheat sheet to help you figure it out.

For the “To” or “The Recipient Information” Section:

1. 1. Postal Code

2. 2. Phone Number

3. 3. Address (Include hotel or building name and/or apartment number if applicable.) (For airport deliveries, include airport name, terminal, flight number, and departure time)

4. 4. Name of The Recipient

For the “From” or “The Sender Information” Section:

1. 5. Postal Code

2. 6. Phone Number

3. 7. Address

4. 8. Name of The Sender

For the “Desired Delivery Date and Time” Section:

1. 9. The date you want the package to be delivered (Month, Day)

2. 10. If you have no delivery time preference, circle (10) and check box (10a)

3. 11. If you have a delivery time preference, circle (11) and check the time range that you prefer (11a). (From top to bottom: 「午前中」anytime before noon, or select any 2-hour increment from between 14:00 to 21:00)

For the “Contents of The Package” Section:

1. 12. A detailed description of the package contents (i.e. clothing, snacks, travel luggage, etc.)

Keep in mind that for the final section (12), you have the option to indicate that the package should be handled with care by selecting “fragile”「ワレモノ」 or “perishables”  「なまもの」.

Concluding Words: How Much Does Luggage Transfer Cost In Japan?

As you can tell by the widespread availability, baggage delivery services in Japan aren’t at all a luxury. In fact, it can even be deemed as the norm, considering even public transport doesn’t provide sufficient luggage space for all passengers, and the travel culture is shaped around it.

This is why luggage delivery services in Japan are actually affordable. Let’s take a look.

In general, while Yamato Transport is the more widespread one, JAL ABC is slightly cheaper, so if you have the option and are on a budget, go with that one.

For JAL ABC, with a regular suitcase that’s no larger than 160 cm in all dimensions, you can expect to be charged around 2,100-2,500 JPY. Keep in mind that delivery from the airport to your hotel is a few bucks cheaper than sending your luggage from your hotel to the airport.

For Yamato Transport, for a suitcase smaller than 160 cm in all dimensions and no heavier than 25 kg, you’re looking at around 3,100 JPY in Kanto Region and 3,200 JPY in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto). Prices change according to region, but prices are expected to be on the higher side for delivery in less densely populated regions of Japan.

These are all estimates, so please refer to Yamato Transport’s or JAL ABC’s official websites for more accurate price information.

While this is it for this post, if you’re carrying more than a suitcase and are moving your home, check out my post on moving in Japan to learn all about the process and the cost.