Tokyo luggage forwarding (takkyubin): send your bags from the airport to your hotel

Tokyo's trains are fast, but they are not built for big suitcases: stairs, crowded platforms and tight ticket gates add up. Takkyubin, Japan's luggage forwarding service, lets you send bags to your hotel or the next city and travel with just a daypack. Here is how it works for tourists.

The short answer

Takkyubin is worth it if you have large or heavy bags, are changing hotels, or are heading on to Kyoto or Osaka. For a one-hotel stay with a carry-on, it is not needed. A suitcase within Tokyo is roughly 3,000 yen, and delivery is usually the next day.

How it works

• Drop off: At a delivery company counter in the airport arrivals hall, at your hotel front desk, or at many convenience stores.
• Fill in the slip: Your name, the hotel name and address, check-in date and a phone number. Staff or hotel reception can help.
• Delivery: Usually the next day, with time windows you can choose.
• Pick up: The hotel holds the bag until you check in.

Rough prices

These are rough guide prices from public guides, and rates vary by company, size and season, so confirm at the counter.

When forwarding makes sense

• Big suitcases and rush-hour trains. Skip the crowded Narita Express or Skyliner platforms with luggage.
• Changing hotels. Send bags to the next one while you sightsee.
• Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen. Send the bag ahead and keep a small overnight bag. See Tokyo to Kyoto: Shinkansen vs bus.
• Long layovers or late checkout. Forward bags to the departure airport on your last day.

Tips and limits

• Check the hotel first. Some smaller hotels and guesthouses cannot accept deliveries.
• Pack an overnight bag. Your forwarded bag may not arrive until the next day, so keep one night of essentials with you.
• Watch the cutoff. Next-day delivery usually needs a morning drop-off, and same-day is not guaranteed.
• Keep the tracking number. Photograph the slip.
• Don't ship valuables or restricted items. Carry passports, medication, electronics and cash yourself.

Getting from the airport

If you are not forwarding bags, compare your train options in Narita Express vs Skyliner vs limousine bus, or choose your airport with Haneda vs Narita.

Frequently asked questions

How much does luggage forwarding cost in Tokyo?

Prices depend on size, weight and distance. As a rough guide, a suitcase under about 25 kg within greater Tokyo is around 3,000 yen, and Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka is around 3,200 yen. Smaller parcels cost less. Check the current rate at the counter.

Can I send my suitcase from the airport to my hotel in Japan?

Yes. Several delivery companies have counters in the arrival halls at Tokyo's airports. You fill in a slip with your hotel details, and the bag is usually delivered the next day.

How long does takkyubin take?

Delivery is usually the next day within the Tokyo area, with time windows you can choose. Same-day delivery is sometimes possible for short distances if you drop off early, but it is not guaranteed, so don't plan on it.

Will my hotel accept forwarded luggage?

Most do, but check before you send it. Some smaller hotels and guesthouses can't accept deliveries, and the hotel normally holds the bag until your check-in date. Ask the front desk to confirm.

What do I need to write on the delivery slip?

Your name, the hotel name and address, your check-in date and a phone number. Keep a photo of the slip and the tracking number. Hotel staff can usually help you fill it in.

Can I use takkyubin between cities, like Tokyo to Kyoto?

Yes, and it is popular for Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka trips, especially if you are taking the Shinkansen, where big suitcases need space. Send the bag a day ahead and travel with a small overnight bag.

Related reading

The short version

Takkyubin sends your suitcase to your hotel or the next city, usually arriving the next day, for roughly 3,000 yen within Tokyo. Use it for big bags, hotel changes and Shinkansen trips. Check that your hotel accepts deliveries, and keep an overnight bag with you.