What to do with your luggage when traveling to remote islands? How to use courier services and coin lockers

• Table of Contents
• Where is Kozushima, Tokyo's remote island?
• It's GOOD to travel with light luggage!
• Tips for using it: Part 1: Use a home delivery service
• Tips for using coin lockers: Part 2
• Things to keep in mind when sending luggage
• A wonderful service from Vacation House FamiliA, a lodging on Kozushima !

Where is Kozushima, Tokyo's remote island?

Kozushima is one of the Izu Islands, an isolated island off the coast of Tokyo. It takes just 45 minutes by plane from Tokyo to reach the island, and it is hard to believe that it is in the same Tokyo metropolitan area. The island is rich in nature and has a unique historical and cultural heritage, and is full of attractive spots. We will introduce you to some useful services related to luggage when traveling to an isolated island by boat or plane instead of train or car.

Please see the article below for how to get to Kozushima.

It's GOOD to travel with light luggage!

When traveling, I want to reduce my luggage as much as possible! But it seems like there are a lot of things you need on a remote island...
There must be many travelers who are worried about this.

Furthermore, there may be restrictions on travel to remote islands.

Free baggage allowance for airplanes is 5kg.

The flight from Chofu is a small 19-seater plane, so the free checked baggage allowance is limited to 5 kg, including personal items.
Anything over that will cost 350 yen per kilo. Surfboards (in their cases), fishing rods (in their cases), coolers, bicycles in bike bags, and other large items will need to be checked in when making your reservation.

For high speed jet ferry, baggage fees apply for large items such as suitcases.

According to the Tokai Kisen official website, the following items require carry-on baggage. Please note that you cannot bring on board items whose total dimensions exceed 200 cm or whose total weight exceeds 30 kg, or bicycles that are not in a bicycle carrying bag.
- Items with the sum of the three sides exceeding 120cm or a total weight exceeding 20kg (if there are two items, the total combined. However, the sum of the three sides must be 200cm or less, and the total weight must be up to 30kg)

One way 1,200 yen

・Surfboards and bodyboards (longboards cannot be brought on the high speed jet ferry)

One way 1,200 yen/ticket

For Large passenger ship, luggage with a total length of 250cm or less and a total weight of 50kg or less can be checked in as oversized baggage. Anything larger than this must be sent in advance as a parcel service or cargo.

As such, it seems like a good idea to reduce your luggage as much as possible when traveling to remote islands.
But you'd like to know if there are other ways to travel besides reducing your luggage!

Here are some convenient ways to travel to remote islands.

Tips for using it: Part 1: Use a home delivery service

Send to/from the island

This is a recommended method for those who have a lot of luggage they need on the island, or for those who live in Japan.
For example, it is useful for storing large items on the island, such as diving equipment, marine gadgets, and equipment needed for stargazing.
You can arrange for parcels to be sent to Kozushima using the post office's Yu-Pack or Yamato Transport.
However, as we will explain later, this delivery method will take longer than regular delivery and you will not be able to specify a delivery time, so be sure to pack your items well in advance.

Of course, it is also possible to have souvenirs sent directly to your home from the island. If you have a lot of souvenirs, it is a good idea to send them home together with your luggage first.

Send to your next accommodation or airport

This is a convenient method for those traveling in Japan and is recommended for those who have relatively little luggage on the islands.
For example, you can take out the clothes you need for three nights on Kozushima and send the large suitcase to your accommodation or the airport after Kozushima. If you are on the mainland, it will arrive on the specified date, which is a great service in Japan! It is also convenient that you can have it delivered from the hotel front desk or a convenience store.

Tips for using coin lockers: Part 2

This is also a recommended method for those who are visiting Kozushima while traveling in Japan.
You can leave your large luggage in a coin locker at the Takeshiba Passenger Terminal or in the station, and head to Kozushima with only the things you need on the island. It seems that there are luggage storage services in Tokyo Station and other places, in addition to lockers.

However, even at large stations, you might expect the lockers to be crowded, but you might find that they are full and you can't store your luggage there... so be careful.

Things to keep in mind when sending luggage

Please allow plenty of time for your schedule.

Luggage to Kozushima is delivered by ship. Therefore, please note that delivery may be delayed depending on various conditions such as weather and the amount of cargo.

Make sure your luggage arrives the day before your accommodation, and prepare it well in advance. If you are sending it from the island to your next accommodation, it is better to do so only if you are staying at the accommodation for a while. Be careful not to have to move without receiving your luggage.

Do not put wet or spoiled items inside

As mentioned above, sometimes delivery times can take longer than expected, so please avoid sending items that will not last long or that contain wet swimsuits.

Can't do laundry every day?

If you plan to take only what you need on the island and leave the rest of your luggage on the mainland, it's a good idea to bring some extra clothes with you.
Many accommodations on Kozushima have washing machines, but there are no coin laundries, so you will generally have to hang your laundry outside or indoors. Depending on the weather, it may not dry as quickly as you'd like, so it's a good idea to bring a change of clothes. There are also no convenience stores or drugstores. Be sure to bring your regular medications and other essentials with you.

A wonderful service from Vacation House FamiliA, a lodging on Kozushima !

The two owners love traveling, so they offer a service that would be great if you wanted to reduce your luggage but still have a lot of essential items!

Travel towel

Since this is a place with both the sea and hot springs, towels are a necessity. If you prepare towels for the sea, the hot springs, and mountain climbing, they can end up taking up a lot of space.
Therefore, we have prepared a large towel that you can take to a hot spring or the beach. Now you don't have to worry about the towels adding to your luggage or not being able to dry!

These towels were originally towels used in the hotel but had become slightly stained or frayed, so they were upcycled and dyed individually using coffee husks.

Because we live in a place rich in nature, it is not only convenient, but also one of Familia's initiatives to use the same things for a long time and conserve resources.

Maring Goods, Stargazing Goods Rental

We also rent out items that are useful during the beach season, such as swim rings and pop-up tents, as well as tripods, which are essential for stargazing, binoculars that are convenient for observation, and heat-resistant mats.
Your room will also be equipped with a beach bag that you can take outside along with your towels.
You can also reduce the amount of luggage you bring by using these rental items.

Of course, you can receive parcels, and the post office is just a two-minute walk away, making it convenient for delivering souvenirs.

Can I rent something? What should I bring?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!

To make a reservation for Vacation House FamiliA, click here

Please also refer to this article for more information about Vacation House FamiliA.