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Luggage Forwarding in Japan: Sending Suitcases to Hotels and Airports

How takkyubin luggage delivery works in Japan: airport counters, hotel-to-hotel shipping, how many days ahead to send, size limits and same-day delivery.

By TravelSafe JapanPublished September 24, 20266 min read5 official sources
To the airport
2+ days
Before your flight (Yamato)
Size limit
200 cm / 30 kg
Yamato TA-Q-BIN
Hotel to hotel
1 day ahead
Arrive before check-in day
Same-day
Some routes
e.g. Haneda → Tokyo 23 wards

Keep your passport, medication and chargers with you: valuables, fragile items and liquids are generally not accepted.

Quick answer

How Luggage Forwarding Works in Japan

You hand your suitcase to a delivery service (takkyubin) at the airport, your hotel desk or a convenience store, and it arrives at your next hotel or the airport. For airport delivery with Yamato, send it at least two days before your flight. Typical limits: 160–200 cm and 25–30 kg.

Where to Send From

According to JNTO:

  • Narita, Haneda and Kansai International airports have delivery counters that send bags to your hotel
  • Most major hotels can arrange delivery to your next hotel
  • Look for the Hands-Free Travel logo, which marks certified counters
  • Services include delivery on a chosen date and time, tracking and compensation for damage or loss
Fees depend on the airport, destination and bag size; ask at the counter.

Size, Weight and What You Cannot Send

JNTO gives typical limits of 160 cm in total, 25–30 kg and contents worth under ¥300,000. Yamato’s standard TA-Q-BIN takes parcels up to 200 cm, 30 kg and 170 cm on the longest side.

Valuables, fragile items, fresh food, liquids and dangerous goods are generally not accepted. Keep your passport, medication and chargers with you.

Sending Luggage to the Airport

With Yamato’s Airport TA-Q-BIN, drop off your luggage at least two days before departure (three days in some areas). It is delivered to the airport by the day before your flight. The limit is 200 cm and 30 kg. You can send from convenience stores, Yamato offices, TA-Q-BIN agents or delivery lockers.

Hotel to Hotel

This works only if the hotel partners with Yamato and accepts bags at the front desk. Yamato asks that luggage arrive at least one day before your stay — for example by January 31 for a February 1 check-in. Staying in an apartment without a front desk? Send from 7-Eleven, FamilyMart or a Yamato office instead.

Same-Day Delivery

Yamato’s same-day delivery connects some airports and stations with hotels, for example Haneda Airport to Tokyo’s 23 wards or Kyoto Station to hotels in Kyoto city. It is only available to some destinations from some offices, and cut-off times vary.

Keeping the suitcase? Check the Shinkansen luggage rules — large bags need a reserved seat on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

Frequently asked questions

How many days before my flight should I send luggage to the airport?

With Yamato Airport TA-Q-BIN, at least two days before departure, or three days in some areas. It arrives at the airport by the day before your flight.

Can I send luggage from one hotel to another in Japan?

Yes, if the hotel partners with Yamato and accepts bags at the front desk. Send it so it arrives at least one day before your stay.

What is the size limit for luggage forwarding in Japan?

JNTO gives typical limits of 160 cm and 25–30 kg. Yamato’s standard TA-Q-BIN accepts up to 200 cm, 30 kg and 170 cm on the longest side.

Sources

  1. JNTO — Luggage delivery and storage
  2. Yamato Transport — Airport TA-Q-BIN
  3. Yamato Transport — Same-day Delivery
  4. Yamato Transport FAQ — Hotel-to-hotel delivery
  5. Yamato Transport — TA-Q-BIN size and payment

Sources checked: September 24, 2026

Researched and fact-checked by the TravelSafe Japan team against the sources above. AI tools helped with drafting; every rule, number and date was checked by an editor. General information, not legal or medical advice. Spotted an error? Tell us · How we verify