How to Send Your Luggage to the Airport in Japan (Takkyubin Guide)

What takkyubin is

Japan has an excellent door-to-door parcel network, and travelers can use it for suitcases. People often call it 宅急便 (takkyūbin), which is actually Yamato Transport's brand name. The general term is 宅配便 (takuhaibin), meaning home delivery. You'll see both.

Sending bags ahead means you can ride crowded trains, climb station stairs and explore on your last day without dragging a suitcase. It's especially useful on bullet trains, where large bags may need a reserved space [VERIFY: current Shinkansen oversized baggage rules].

The main companies are Yamato Transport, ヤマト運輸 (Yamato Un'yu), Sagawa Express, 佐川急便 (Sagawa Kyūbin), and Japan Post, 日本郵便 (Nippon Yūbin). Major airports also have counters run by baggage delivery companies for arriving and departing travelers.

Hotel to airport, airport to hotel, hotel to hotel

Hotel to airport

1. Ask the front desk if they can send luggage. Many hotels keep courier forms behind the desk and hand bags to the driver for you.
2. Fill in the form with your name, phone number, flight date, flight number and the airport and terminal.
3. Pay at the desk, or when the courier collects, depending on the hotel.
4. Keep your copy of the slip. It has the tracking number, and you'll need it at the airport.

Airport to hotel

Arrival halls at major airports have baggage delivery counters. Tell staff the hotel name and address, and the date you're checking in. Let the hotel know a bag is coming in your name, especially if it may arrive before you do.

Hotel to hotel

Useful on longer trips: send your big suitcase from Tokyo to your hotel in Kyoto, and travel with a small bag. Put the guest name exactly as it appears on the booking, the check-in date, and the hotel's address and phone number on the form. Check with both hotels first. Most accept guest luggage, but some smaller ryokan and guesthouses prefer to be told in advance.

If you'd rather not handle the forms or the call to the hotel, our luggage delivery service arranges it for you in Japanese.

Timing and cut-offs

Timing is where most mistakes happen. Delivery is often the next day within the same region, but it can take two days or more between distant regions, such as Hokkaido or Okinawa and the main cities [VERIFY: typical delivery times by region].

• Airport deliveries: many services ask you to send bags two days before your flight, and some ask for more [VERIFY: current minimum lead time for airport delivery].
• Daily cut-off: hotels usually hand bags to the courier at a set time each day. Miss it, and your bag goes out tomorrow. Ask the front desk.
• Busy seasons: Golden Week, Obon in mid-August and New Year are busier, so allow extra time.
• Early flights: airport counters open at set hours. If your flight leaves very early, check the counter will be open when you arrive [VERIFY: counter opening hours by terminal].

If you're unsure, send it a day earlier than you think you need to. Most airport counters will hold a bag for a short time before your flight.

Sizes, packing and what not to send

Couriers price by size and weight. Size is usually the total of length, width and height, and most standard suitcases fit within the largest normal size [VERIFY: current size and weight limits]. Very large items, such as golf bags, skis and surfboards, often have their own services and prices.

Packing tips

• Lock your suitcase and put a name tag on the outside.
• Remove loose straps and old airline tags so they don't get caught or confuse staff.
• Wrap fragile items well. Ask about insurance, or the declared value limit, for anything valuable.
• Take a photo of the bag and the slip before you hand it over.

Keep these with you

• Your passport, tickets, wallet and phone.
• Medication you need before the bag arrives.
• Laptops, cameras, cash and jewelry. Many couriers limit valuables or won't cover them [VERIFY: restricted items and liability limits].
• Lithium batteries and power banks. These have airline rules of their own, and many couriers restrict them too.
• Anything flammable or pressurized, such as spray cans or lighter fluid.

Paying

Prices depend on the size of the bag, the distance and the company. You'll usually pay when you send, by cash or card depending on the location. Convenience stores and many hotels accept the major couriers' forms and payment.

Cash on arrival is sometimes possible for hotel-to-hotel deliveries, but don't count on it for airports. Paying upfront is simplest. Keep your receipt and your copy of the slip together.

Picking up at the airport

1. Find the counter for the courier you used. It's usually in the departures area, and the terminal is printed on your slip.
2. Show your slip, or the tracking number, and your passport.
3. Check the bag for damage before you leave the counter. It's much easier to report a problem there.
4. Head to airline check-in as usual.

If your bag isn't at the counter, ask staff to check the tracking number. It may still be on its way, at another counter, or at the other terminal. If a courier tried to deliver to a hotel or home while you were out, our guide to missed delivery slips in Japan explains how to rearrange it.

Other options for your last day

Sending bags isn't the only way to travel light. Depending on your plans, one of these may suit you better:

• Hotel storage: most hotels will hold bags after check-out for free, so you can explore and come back before heading to the airport.
• Coin lockers: コインロッカー (koin rokkā) are common in large stations. Big lockers for suitcases fill up early, especially on weekends, so arrive early or look for a staffed baggage room nearby.
• Station baggage services: some major stations have staffed counters that store bags, or deliver them to your hotel the same day [VERIFY: current same-day delivery services at major stations].
• Luggage storage apps: booking platforms let you store bags at shops and cafes near tourist areas, often with English menus.

Combining options works well. For example, send your big suitcase to the airport two days before your flight, then keep a small bag in a station locker on your final afternoon.