Traveling with heavy suitcases or bags while navigating unfamiliar places can be quite challenging. Especially when arriving at the airport, carrying bulky luggage to your hotel or destination and moving around in a new land can be quite a hassle. That's why in this article, we introduce the luggage delivery service "JAPAN Hands-Free Travel," which transports your luggage from the airport to your hotel! By using this service, you can start sightseeing immediately after arriving in Japan, without the burden of your luggage. Make the most of your time and enjoy your sightseeing to the fullest!
What is JAPAN Hands-Free Travel?
It’s a "hands-free travel" service that allows you to have your luggage delivered or safely stored at places like airports, train stations, hotels, and department stores. This service eliminates the inconvenience for foreign visitors of carrying large bags on public transport, allowing them to travel freely without any luggage. Various delivery companies offer a range of services to promote "JAPAN Hands-Free Travel." Look for the logo above at reception counters in public transportation facilities, stores, and other establishments to find where this service is available. Make sure to look for it.
What are the benefits of JAPAN Hands-Free Travel?
1) Stress-Free and Efficient Use of Time
If you want to go sightseeing on the day you arrive in Japan, having luggage like suitcases can be a hassle, as you would need to find a coin locker at your destination to store your bags before starting your sightseeing. This takes time and effort. However, if you find a delivery company that offers "same-day delivery" and have your luggage sent from the airport to your accommodation, you can make the most of your time.
2) Safe and Secure Travel
Especially if you have small children, carrying luggage can force you to let go of your child's hand, which can be dangerous. There might also be situations during transfers where there are no escalators or elevators conveniently located, and you might have to use stairs, increasing the risk of injury. There’s also the possibility of theft if you take your eyes off your luggage for a moment. In an unfamiliar place, you definitely want to avoid these kinds of troubles.
How to Use JAPAN Hands-Free Travel
Using the service is simple. Here’s how it works:
If you want to have your luggage delivered:
If you haven’t made a reservation in advance, first look for a shop with the "Hands-Free Travel Common Logo Mark." Then, fill out the delivery form at the counter and drop off your luggage (if you’ve completed the application online through a reservation, you won’t need to fill out the form). Many of the counters are foreign visitor-friendly, with multilingual support, same-day delivery, scheduled delivery, and compensation for damage or loss, provided by many delivery companies with detailed services.
Delivery Time for Luggage
The time it takes for your luggage to arrive depends on when you complete the procedure and drop off your luggage, but same-day delivery and scheduled delivery may be available. While your luggage is being delivered, you could also consider taking only the essentials with you and extending your trip for an overnight stay.
If You Want to Store Your Luggage:
If you want to explore a tourist spot hands-free after arriving with your luggage, look for coin lockers or temporary luggage storage services.
Most major train stations and tourist spots have coin lockers. However, depending on the time and day, they may all be in use. Also, be aware that only certain major terminal stations and airports have extra-large coin lockers that can accommodate large suitcases.
This is where the "temporary luggage storage" service comes in handy. Although limited to certain tourist areas in major cities, these services will store your luggage at dedicated counters. They can often accommodate sizes that won’t fit in coin lockers, and unlike lockers, you can usually access your luggage multiple times for free at some counters. Just be sure to retrieve your luggage within the counter's operating hours.
Next, we’ll introduce four delivery companies.
Fees and Expected Delivery Date for Luggage Delivery from Narita International Airport to Accommodation in Tokyo's 23 Wards
| Delivery Company | Price | Delivery Days | Online Reservation in Advance | Remarks |
| YAMATO TRANSPORT | From 840 yen | Same day or next day | Not required | For a Suitcase with a Total of 120 cm for All Three Dimensions (Size 120): 1,750 yen |
| JAL ABC | From 1,950 yen | From the same day to the next day (or the day after next) | Airport to hotel: Not required Hotel to airport: Possible | For 120 size (total of length, width, and height) *For Haneda Airport to Tokyo city accommodation *①*② |
| Airporter | From 1,650 yen | Same day or next day | Possible | For 120 size (total of length, width, and height) *For hotels in Tokyo to Narita Airport/Tokyo, hotels in Tokyo to other hotels in Tokyo |
| LuggAgent | From 54.43 dollars | From the same day | Possible | For 180cm in circumference, 32 kg *For Haneda Airport to hotels in Tokyo |
※①Varies depending on the time the luggage is shipped at the airport.
※②Same-day delivery may be suspended during peak seasons. Please check with the counter staff for details.
YAMATO TRANSPORT Luggage Delivery Service
Yamato Group, a company with a long history and the leading market share in Japan's delivery industry, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. With the desire to help customers "enjoy their trips more comfortably, even without luggage," they offer services such as luggage storage and same-day delivery from the airport to accommodations. The luggage size limit is a total of 200 cm (height + width + depth), with a weight limit of 30 kg (one side must be 170 cm or less; for items that cannot be turned upside down, the limit is 100 cm per side).
■Narita International Airport: Same-day delivery of luggage to the Kanto region
If you drop off your luggage at the teansport counter at Narita International Airport by 10:30 a.m. (9:50 a.m. for Terminal 3), it will be delivered to your specified location in Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, or Yamanashi prefectures after 6:00 p.m. on the same day.
■Haneda Airport: Same-day delivery of luggage to accommodations within the 23 wards of Tokyo
If you drop off your luggage at the Takkyubin counter at Haneda Airport by 11:00 a.m., it will be delivered to your accommodation within the 23 wards of Tokyo after 6:00 p.m. on the same day.
Service Providing Airports (Partial)
| Same-Day Luggage Delivery | Temporary Luggage Storage | Luggage Shipping | |
| Sendai International Airport | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
| Narita International Airport | 〇 | ✕ | 〇 |
| Haneda Airport | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
| Chubu International Airport (Centrair) | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
| Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport) | ✕ | 〇 | 〇 |
| Fukuoka Airport | ✕ | ✕ | 〇 |
| Aso Kumamoto Airport | 〇 | ✕ | 〇 |
List of courier counters at airports
- Japanese version：https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/ytc/customer/send/services/airport/list.html
- English version：https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/ytc/en/send/services/airport/list.html
- Chinese version (Simplified)：https://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/ytc/scn/send/services/airport/list.html
JAL ABC Delivery Service
This service, provided by a subsidiary of Japan Airlines (JAL), offers luggage delivery from airports to hotels in almost all prefectures of Japan, as well as from hotels to airports. In addition to luggage delivery, they also offer luggage storage services at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai International Airport, and Chubu Centrair International Airport.
The maximum luggage size is up to 240 cm in total dimensions (height, width, and depth) and up to 50 kg in weight. (For Kansai International Airport, the limit is 160 cm in size and 30 kg in weight.) Golf bags and ski/snowboard equipment are also accepted.
- Reservation site is here (available in Japanese and English)
※A reservation is required when delivering to the airport, but no reservation is needed when sending luggage from the airport—simply apply directly at the counter.
Airports in Japan Offering Some Services:
- Narita International Airport
- 1st Floor International Arrival Lobby and 4th Floor International Departure Lobby of Terminal 1
- 1st Floor International Arrival Lobby and 3rd Floor International Departure Lobby of Terminal 2
- Haneda Airport
- Basement 1st Floor and 1st Floor Domestic Arrival Lobby of Terminal 1
- 2nd Floor International Arrival Lobby and 3rd Floor International Departure Lobby of Terminal 2
- 2nd Floor International Arrival Lobby and 3rd Floor International Departure Lobby of Terminal 3
- Kansai International Airport
- 1st Floor International Arrival Floor and 4th Floor International Departure Floor of Terminal 1
- Chubu Centrair International Airport
- 2nd Floor Arrival Lobby and 3rd Floor Departure Lobby of Terminal 1
Airporter's Luggage Delivery Service
Airporter offers same-day luggage delivery services between airports and accommodations, available in cities like Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Okinawa (as of July 2024). All reservations and payments can be made online. For example, if you want to send your luggage from a hotel to Haneda Airport, you must complete the online reservation by 11:00 p.m. the day before and leave your luggage at the hotel front desk by 9:00 a.m. on the day of use. You can then collect your luggage at Haneda Airport after 4:00 p.m. on the same day.
Delivery between hotels is also possible, and a free temporary storage service for up to 7 days is available. If you plan to visit another area for a few days, you can temporarily store your heavy luggage and have it sent to your next accommodation, so you can retrieve it when you return to your next hotel or the airport. This service is particularly convenient for families and those traveling with children.
Luggage with a total size of up to 180 cm (sum of three dimensions) can be delivered, and reservations can be made up to six months in advance. Customer support is also available via email, phone, LINE, and WeChat.
*The delivery service from the airport to hotels is scheduled to resume in summer 2024. Please check the official website for the latest information.
- Reservation site URL: https://airporter.co.jp/ (Available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese)
Airports in Japan Offering Some Services:
- Narita International Airport
- Terminal 1 & Terminal 2
- Haneda Airport
- Terminal 1, Terminal 2 & Terminal 3
- Kansai International Airport
- Terminal 1
- Naha Airport
- 2F Departure Floor inside YUINICHI STREET (Before U Go Counter)
LuggAgent's Luggage Delivery Service
LuggAgent offers same-day luggage delivery services in over 200 cities worldwide, including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. Their services include "Airport to Hotel," "Hotel to Hotel," and "Hotel to Airport" delivery.
When delivering from the airport to a hotel, you can specify the delivery time to be 2 hours after the international flight's arrival time or 1 hour after the domestic flight's arrival time. A driver will wait at a designated meeting point at the airport to collect your luggage directly. Information about the meeting point and other details will be provided via email.
The luggage weight limit is 32 kg, and the total length and width must not exceed 180 cm. If the weight or size exceeds these limits, an additional fee of 15 USD per item will be charged. LuggAgent also provides same-day hotel delivery services between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto.
- Reservation site URL: https://luggagent.com/ (Available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Japanese)
Airports in Japan Offering Some Services:
- Narita International Airport
- Haneda Airport
- Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)
- Chubu Centrair International Airport
- Fukuoka Airport
- New Chitose Airport
※Without a counter set up, after making an online reservation, the driver who delivers the luggage on the day will directly receive the luggage at the airport
Enjoy Sightseeing Without Luggage Using Delivery Services from Japanese Hotels, Convenience Stores, and Stations!
In addition to airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport delivery services, you can conveniently send your luggage from your current destination to your next hotel or have souvenirs purchased at sightseeing spots directly shipped to your accommodation. You can use the post office, delivery company offices, or convenience stores. For example, Yu-Pack services are available at Lawson, Ministop, Seicomart, and Lawson Store 100. Yamato Transport services are available at Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart, and Sagawa Express services are available at Lawson and Ministop.
Even if you are not staying at a hotel, some hotels and sightseeing spots may accept luggage for shipping. For example, Sagawa Express has service counters at famous tourist spots like Asakusa Kaminarimon Service Center and Tokyo Midtown Yaesu.
How to Fill Out the Shipping Label When Using Delivery Services in Japan
Here's how to fill out the shipping label, using Yamato Transport's label as an example. Note that with services like Airporter, you may not need to fill out a paper slip since everything can be done online.
- "Recipient Information": Enter the postal code, address, name, and phone number of the delivery destination. If it's a hotel, include the hotel's address and phone number. Be sure to notify the hotel in advance.
- "Sender Information": Enter the postal code, address, name, and phone number of the sender (yourself).
- "Preferred Delivery Date and Time": Specify the desired delivery date and time. If you have no specific time in mind, check the "No Preference" box.
- "Contents (Fragile / Perishable)" field: Describe the contents of your luggage (e.g., clothing) in detail.
*If sending luggage to a golf course or ski resort, or if sending luggage to the airport counter for a flight, circle the appropriate option.
*Cool Delivery: Frozen = below -15°C, Refrigerated = below -10°C.
How to Track Your Delivery: Just Enter the Tracking Number!
Tracking services allow you to check the delivery status of your luggage to see where it is and when it will arrive. Enter the tracking number on the delivery company's website to check the status.
For Yamato Transport, use the "Inquiry Tracking Number" located at the top right of the shipping label. Enter this number into the "Tracking Number Search" field on the "Parcel Inquiry System" to check the current progress of your luggage.
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