Japan Luggage Delivery Guide

What it costs

Takkyubin is priced by size band, not weight. Bands are set by total dimensions — length plus width plus height — in steps: 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200. A typical 28–30 inch checked suitcase lands in the 140 or 160 band.

As listed in July 2026, a 140-size case runs roughly ¥2,200 within the Tokyo region and about ¥2,300 Tokyo to Kansai. A 160-size case is roughly ¥2,500 and ¥2,600 on the same routes. Hokkaido and Okinawa cost more and take longer. Treat these as the shape of the pricing rather than a quote: rates change and vary by carrier and route.

How long it takes

• City to city on the main island: next day is standard. Send at checkout, collect at the next hotel the following afternoon.
• Hokkaido, Okinawa and remote islands: add a day.
• Same-day exists but only on specific airport and city routes, with early cutoffs. It is not the default.
• Plan one clear night without the bag. This is the single most common mistake: sending a suitcase at 10am checkout and expecting it at 6pm the same evening.

Airport to hotel on arrival day

Delivery counters sit in the arrivals halls at Narita, Haneda and Kansai. Next-day delivery to a city hotel is the cheap default. Same-day is possible if you land early enough and your hotel is inside the covered zone.

As listed in July 2026, the same-day cutoffs are roughly: Haneda Terminal 3 until early afternoon, Narita Terminal 2 until early evening, both delivering to central Tokyo hotels by around 10pm. Kansai Airport counters run through the day for delivery to Osaka and Kyoto hotels. Same-day carries a premium over the standard next-day rate.

If you land in the evening, take the bag with you. There is no same-day option that will beat you to the hotel.

Size and weight limits

• Yamato takkyubin: up to 200cm total dimensions and 30kg per item.
• Airport services vary; some accept larger and heavier, Kansai is typically tighter at 160cm and 30kg.
• Over the limit, it ships as freight rather than takkyubin, at a different price and speed.
• Golf bags, skis and snowboards have their own dedicated services and are usually cheaper than treating them as oversized luggage.

What the hotel needs to know

• Can they receive luggage before check-in, and from how many days ahead?
• What name, reservation number and arrival date should go on the label?
• Are there front desk hours that limit when the parcel can be accepted?
• Can the front desk also arrange the onward send to your next hotel or the airport?

What to keep with you

Do not send items you may need immediately: passport, medication, valuables, chargers, a change of clothes, and anything needed for check-in or the next morning.

Checked against Yamato Transport and airport operator English pages in July 2026. Prices, cutoff times and coverage zones change, so confirm on the operator page for your route before sending.

Sample message to confirm luggage delivery

Before sending luggage to a hotel, confirm that the property can receive it, what name should be written on the label, and whether there are date or storage limits.

Hello,
I have a reservation at your property and would like to confirm your luggage delivery policy.

Could you please tell me:
- Can you receive my luggage before check-in?
- What name, reservation number, and arrival date should I write on the delivery label?
- Is there any limit on how early the luggage can arrive?
- Can the front desk also help send luggage to my next hotel?

Thank you.

予約済みです。
荷物配送について確認したいです。

以下について教えていただけますか？
・チェックイン前に荷物を受け取っていただくことは可能ですか？
・配送伝票には、氏名、予約番号、到着日など何を書けばよいですか？
・荷物が到着してよい日は何日前からですか？
・次のホテルへの発送手配もフロントで可能ですか？

よろしくお願いいたします。