SAKURA INSIDER

Practical

Luggage Forwarding in Japan

The single most underused piece of travel infrastructure in Japan: a courier network that moves your suitcase between hotels, usually overnight.

Daniel Okada10 March 20262 min read
Suitcases lined up at a Japanese hotel reception

How it works

  1. 01Ask at receptionMost hotels handle the paperwork for you; convenience stores and airport counters also accept bags.
  2. 02Allow a dayCity-to-city delivery is typically next-day. Remote destinations can take longer.
  3. 03Pack an overnight bagKeep a change of clothes and essentials with you for the night in between.

When to use it

  • Any leg where you change cities and want a sightseeing day in between.
  • Nights in a ryokan reached by mountain rail or bus.
  • The run to the airport at the end of the trip.

Read next

Related guides

Mount Fuji seen from a lakeside town in clear morning light
14 Days

Japan in 14 Days

Cities, mountains and a slower stretch in between. The trip most first-timers wish they had booked.

Read more
A shinkansen train at a platform
Transport

JR Pass & Trains in Japan

When a nationwide rail pass makes sense, and when point-to-point tickets are the better call.

Read more
A street in Japan at dusk with lanterns and passing pedestrians
Start here

The Japan Travel Guide

Everything a first-time visitor needs to decide, book and understand before flying to Japan.

Read more

The Sakura Insider Letter

Get Japan in your inbox.

New guides, smart itineraries, hidden gems and Japan travel deals — without the noise.

No spam. Just Japan.