Carrying luggage while traveling in japan
Luggage in train, bus Luggage delivery service Temporary luggage storage
Rules and etiquette for bringing luggage onto trains and buses
After entering Japan, you will need to travel by train or bus with your luggage.
Just like on airplanes, there are restrictions on the luggage you can bring on trains and buses.
Since there is a limit to the number of items you can bring, if you have more than that, you will need to consider other means of transport.
And, before traveling to Japan, make sure you know the dimensions of the carry-on bags and suitcases you plan to bring.
Recently, there has been an increase in foreign tourists, and there have been cases where their large luggage has caused inconvenience to other passengers on trains.
It is considered good manners to make sure your luggage is placed in such a way that it does not inconvenience others on the train.
Railway
The size and weight limits for luggage allowed on trains are as follows.
- Total of length, width, and height: 250 cm or less
- Length: 2 meters or less
- Weight: 30 kg or less
- Up to 2 items
Shinkansen, JR limited express
Luggage rack in Shinkansen train
Shinkansen and JR limited-express trains have overhead luggage racks above the seats.
You can place luggage on this shelf as long as the total of its three dimensions is 160 cm or less.
That's about the same size as the carry-on luggage allowed on a plane.
Large items with a total length of all three sides between 160 cm and 250 cm should be placed in the luggage compartment near the deck at the end of the vehicle.
But, advance reservations are required to use this large luggage storage area on the Shinkansen.
You must purchase a reserved-seat ticket that entitles you to use the large luggage storage area.
Please be aware that if you bring oversized luggage onto the Shinkansen without realizing it, you will be charged a fee.
Local train, Subway
Place your luggage so that it doesn't get in the way
There are luggage racks above the seats on local trains and subways, but they can only hold small items.
So, you’ll just have to put your carry-on bags and suitcases on the floor next to you.
The trains are usually crowded, and there are often many standing passengers.
It stops frequently at stations, and there is a constant flow of passengers getting on and off.
Therefore, it is considered good manners not to place your large items in the middle of the aisle or near the entrance, as this obstructs the movement of other passengers.
Bus
Luggage compartment in express bus
The size and weight limits for luggage allowed on trains are as follows.
- Total of length, width, and height: 100 cm or less
- Weight: 10 kg or less
- Only one items
The bus is small and has a narrow interior.
For this reason, you cannot use this service if you have a lot of luggage.
In Kyoto, city buses are the primary mode of transportation for sightseeing.
You should leave large luggage at your hotel or a luggage storage facility and take the bus with just a light bag.
Express bus
In Japan, there are many express bus routes connecting major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka with numerous regional cities located at a distance.
In particular, since there are very few overnight trains, overnight express buses are a key means of travel within Japan.
Express buses have a luggage compartment under the vehicle, and as a general rule, each passenger is allowed to bring only one large piece of luggage.
Luggage size restrictions vary by bus, so it’s best to check in advance if you plan to take the bus.
Luggage delivery service
For foreign tourists, there are services available to transport or temporarily store luggage during their trip to Japan.
These services are marketed under the Japanese term “tebura” which means “hands-free”.
Post office
You can take your luggage to the post office and have it sent to your hotel as a parcel.
The parcel service is named as "Yu-Pack".
There is a post office at each international airport, so you can send your luggage there before your return flight and pick it up before boarding.
Your luggage will arrive at the destination the next day or the day after.
Luggage transfer service by delivery companies
Yamato Transport and Sagawa Express are major delivery companies in Japan.
They offer luggage transfer services for tourists.
You take your luggage to the branch office.
You take your luggage to the company's branch office and have it delivered to your hotel or the branch office at the airport.
Your luggage will arrive at the destination the next day or the day after.
If the destination hotel or airport is nearby, there is also a service that will deliver it there on the same day.
Tebura-kun
Tebura-kun is a service that transports luggage between the affiliated hotels, vacation rentals, and the affiliated counters in airports and major train stations.
At the hotel, you can drop off and pick up your luggage at the front desk.
But, the luggage drop-off and pick-up locations are limited to those partnered with this system.
All requests and payments are handled online only.
Airporter
Airporter is a delivery service specifically for transporting luggage between airports and hotels in nearby tourist cities.
Reservations can be made online until 11 PM the day before, and packages are generally delivered on the same day.
Currently, delivery service is only available in the following areas.
- Central Tokyo ↔ Narita, Haneda Airports, Tokyo station
- Central Osaka, Kyoto ↔ Kansai Airports
- Naha city (Okinawa) ↔ Naha Airports
- Central Sapporo ↔ Shin-Chitose Airports
- Above Tokyo area ↔ Above Osaka & Kyoto area
Temporary luggage storage
You can have your extra large luggage temporarily stored and then explore the area with just a small bag or backpack.
The following temporary storage services are available.
Coin locker
Storage locker is called Coin locker in Japanese, so the display is also like that.
Coin lockers are mainly installed inside major train stations, airports, and bus terminals.
You insert coins, pull out a key from the box, and close the box.
100 yen coins are needed, and you need to carry your keys with you so you don't lose them.
The newer types are all operated via touch panel, and instead of a key, a receipt with a PIN or QR code printed on it is issued.
To open it, you will need to enter the PIN code on the receipt or scan the QR code.
Payment is mainly by cash or transportation IC card.
(Transportation IC cards are prepaid cards used for railway travel in major cities.)
The number of storage lockers that accept credit cards is currently increasing.
ecbo cloak
ecbo cloak is a service that allows you to temporarily store your luggage in vacant spaces at various partner stores throughout town.
There are various types of shops that will look after your luggage, but convenience stores, cafes, and hair salons are common.
You can use your smartphone to find a store where you want to leave your luggages and make a reservation for a specific date and time.
Payment is by credit card.
You go to the store at the specified date and time to drop off my luggage.
The store clerk take a photo of your luggages with your smartphone.
To pick up your luggage, simply show the photo in the smartphone.
Bounce
Bounce is a luggage storage service that operates globally and is available in many cities in Japan.
You search for a place to leave your luggage using your smartphone, and register the date, time, and the items you want to leave.
Show your reservation screen (QR code) to the store staff (or locker staff) to leave your luggage.
To pick up your luggage, simply show your reservation screen.
Luggage storage service by delivery companies
Yamato Transport and Sagawa Express are major delivery companies in Japan.
There is also a service that allows you to temporarily store your luggage at the branch office.