Visiting Japan - 5 Services To Help You Travel Lighter And More Easily

Though you'd like to enjoy your trip to Japan, if you're burdened with lots of luggage, it's really hard to move from place to place. Even walking around looking for an elevator in a station can be difficult. While in transit, you can be confronted with even bigger challenges.

Currently in Japan, there are services that allow you to enjoy a hassle-free trip even when you have lots of heavy luggage. Please find the service that best serves your own travel needs and give it a try.

1. Ubiquitous Coin Lockers

In large train stations, coin lockers can be found everywhere.

The size of the lockers range from small to large, and the prices vary accordingly. Lockers are essentially divided into three types: key-type lockers, password-type lockers, and special card-type lockers.

Lockers can also be found outside near stations, and their price tends to be cheaper than lockers inside the station. So if the lockers in the station are all in use, then try using one outside the station.

Also, when looking for an open coin locker or checking something regarding the locker you're currently using, you can look it up using the latest technology so it's very convenient.

2. Move Easily Around Town by Taxi

At one time, Japanese taxi fares were either the number one or number two most expensive in the world. However, to help greater numbers of people use taxis more easily, from January of 2017 the minimum fare for a taxi ranges from 380 yen to 410 yen in the greater Tokyo area.

In cases where your hotel or sightseeing spot is some distance from the nearest station, it's probably wise to consider the taxi as a viable method of transportation.

3. Sagawa Express and Yamato Transport -
They'll Look After Your Luggage as You Enjoy Your Trip!

Sagawa Express and Yamato Transport, two of Japan's main transport companies, have announced a service that allows people to travel light without their heavy luggage.

This service offers temporary luggage storage, luggage delivery to hotels and airports, and so on.

Though the number of locations offering these services is still rather limited, they tend to be centered around large train stations and major sightseeing spots.
In Tokyo, locations can be found at Tokyo Station, Asakusa, and Shinjuku, so for further information please check their official homepages below.

For the Sagawa Express official homepage please click here.

For the Yamato Transport official homepage please click here.

4. Use Airporter for Late Hotel Check-Outs

Picture courtesy of Airporter

After checking out from your hotel and asking the front staff to temporarily look after your bags, haven't you ever thought that making a special trip all the way back to pick up your bags again is somewhat of a nuisance?

Airporter offers a service whereby staff will come to your hotel or to the nearest station and pick up your luggage, and then deliver it to the airport on the same day.

Travelers can pick up their luggage at the airport before they check-in, and all the necessary procedures can be done via the internet.

Prices depend on the size of baggage (500-3,500 yen), and the luggage pickup point (Narita Airport: 300 yen per suitcase, hotel: 3,000 yen per trip).

For the Airporter official homepage please click here (Japanese).

5. ecbo cloak - Luggage Storage in All Parts of Town

Picture courtesy of ecbo cloak

ecbo cloak offers services in Tokyo and the Kansai region, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Okinawa, and other areas as well.

Shops participating with ecbo cloak will offer to look after your luggage and other belongings. These include cafes, kimono rental shops, sports centers, and so on just to name a few.

Prices are about the same as coin locker rentals, and payment is made ahead of time or on the same day when you make a reservation over the internet. Currently, service is available at post offices, and also inside and outside the ticket gates in Tokyo Station.

For the ecbo cloak official homepage please click here.

In Closing

I had no idea there were so many different ways to have my luggage looked after!

Prices vary considerably, so I think it's a good idea to first consider your own personal situation such as how many suitcases you have, and then select the service that can best serve your needs.

Your shoulders will be relieved of a heavy burden, and now free of luggage, you'll be able to enjoy your travels even more!

*This article, originally written in traditional Chinese, was translated and edited into Japanese, then subsequently translated into English.