Dragging a suitcase through Japanese train stations is miserable. Staircases without escalators, packed platforms, narrow train aisles, and the walk from the station to your hotel in a city you have never been to. Every veteran Japan traveler learns the same lesson: do not carry your luggage between cities. Ship it.
Takkyubin (literally "home delivery") is Japan's door-to-door parcel service. Yamato Transport (the one with the black cat logo, also called Kuroneko Yamato) is the most widely used, but Sagawa Express and Japan Post's Yu-Pack also offer the same service. The system is fast, cheap, and remarkably reliable.
How it works
Step 1: Ask your hotel front desk. Almost every hotel, ryokan, and guesthouse in Japan can arrange takkyubin shipping. Tell them where your next hotel is and when you want the bag to arrive.
Step 2: Fill out the shipping slip. The hotel staff will usually help you with this. You need the destination hotel name, address, and phone number. Write your name and your next hotel's name clearly. The hotel typically has the slips and packing tape on hand.
Step 3: Pay. Cash at the time of shipping. Around ¥2,000–3,000 per standard suitcase for same-island routes (e.g., Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka to Hiroshima).
Step 4: Travel light. Take a day bag with your essentials (one change of clothes, toiletries, chargers) and leave the suitcase at your current hotel. Go sightsee, take the train to your next city, check in, and your bag is waiting for you.
Cost
| Route Example | Standard Suitcase | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo → Kyoto | ¥2,000–2,700 | Next day |
| Kyoto → Hiroshima | ¥1,900–2,500 | Next day |
| Osaka → Tokyo | ¥2,000–2,700 | Next day |
| Tokyo → Sapporo | ¥2,500–3,500 | 2 days |
| Osaka → Okinawa | ¥3,000–4,000 | 2–3 days |
Prices depend on bag size (measured in total centimeters: length + width + height) and distance. A standard 60–80cm suitcase on a Honshu route is almost always under ¥3,000.
When to use it
Between cities on a multi-stop trip. The classic use case. Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka to Hiroshima. Ship your bag each time and travel with just a backpack.
Day trips from a hub. Staying in Osaka but doing a day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima? Ship your bag from your Osaka hotel to your next hotel in Takayama. Do the day trip with nothing but your day bag, then take the train to Takayama and your suitcase is already there.
Airport on your last day. Ship your bag to the airport the day before your flight. Yamato has dedicated counters at Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports. Drop off at your hotel in the morning, sightsee all day with just your backpack, pick up your bag at the airport before your flight. This costs around ¥2,000–3,000 and is one of the best last-day moves you can make.
Important details
Send the day before. Standard delivery is next-day for most Honshu routes. If you need same-day delivery, ask about the express option (costs more and is not always available). For Hokkaido and Okinawa, send two days before.
Hotels, not private residences. Takkyubin works best hotel-to-hotel. Some services will not ship to private Airbnb addresses. Confirm with your accommodation that they can receive packages.
Pack essentials separately. Your bag will be gone for a day. Pack a change of clothes, medication, toiletries, and chargers in your day bag. Everything else goes in the suitcase.
Size limit. Yamato accepts bags up to 200cm total dimensions and 30kg. A standard checked-luggage suitcase fits easily. Oversized or extremely heavy bags may need special handling.
Insurance is included. Yamato includes basic insurance (up to ¥300,000) in the standard shipping price. Lost bags are extremely rare. In years of service, Yamato's loss rate is essentially zero.
Where to ship from besides hotels
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) accept Yamato shipments. You can also drop bags at Yamato service centers, which are found in most train stations. The airport counters (Narita Terminal 1 and 2, Haneda Terminal 3, Kansai Terminal 1) handle both incoming and outgoing shipments.
The bottom line
Spending ¥2,000 to not drag a suitcase through Kyoto Station at rush hour is the best money you will spend in Japan. On a multi-city trip, budget ¥6,000–10,000 total for luggage forwarding across all your stops. That is a small price for traveling light every day.