Japan travel - packing, access, accommodation & transport practicalities.
Following on from Part 1: The pros & cons of using carry on bags & the usefulness of larger luggage, I’ve thought about some of the aspects raised from my visits to this lovely country and share them, together with some planning tips, below...
(originally published in 2017 - not updated)
Travelling in Japan may involve domestic flights, using the incredible train network, buses, ferries and subway. Essentially, it is easy to navigate and full of opportunities to explore.
Although the mantra ‘pack light’ holds for any journey anywhere, Japan does have a few quirks that should be considered when planning your trip - being prepared will make life easier (especially if you aren’t quite as mobile or energetic as once before, like me) and your travel experience more enjoyable.
Transportation.
Airport buses and flight access.
International or domestic, you may find that you’ll be bussed from the gate to the plane to then climb a flight of steps onto the plane (or vice versa). In fact, when we flew from Fukuoka to Kochi Ryoma a few weeks ago I think we were treated to an airport wide tour at Fukuoka. The flight itself was only just over half an hour but I think the bus transfer took almost as long - I thought we’d reached our destination before we’d even boarded!
I digress.
Assistance at the gate and air-side is generally exceptional in Japan and, although you will only have cabin bags at this point, if you do need any assistance let the airline or staff know in advance (either when booking, checking in or when you see the staff appear at the gate as a last resort).
Airport terminal shuttle buses either stow luggage underneath or have a large floor area with few seats.
I digress.
Assistance at the gate and air-side is generally exceptional in Japan and, although you will only have cabin bags at this point, if you do need any assistance let the airline or staff know in advance (either when booking, checking in or when you see the staff appear at the gate as a last resort).
Airport terminal shuttle buses either stow luggage underneath or have a large floor area with few seats.
Escalators.
Airports and major stations seem to rely on escalators and walkways, although elevators can be found with a bit of detective work. Using escalators to reach your desired floor can lead to some hard work due to having to loop around each floor to reach the next one going up or down in addition to the need to quickly place and balance your cases on the moving treads.
Top tip: A four spinner wheeled case allows extra manoeuvrability where there is no other option and reduces the need to constantly lift. Airports do have trolleys available and some have assistance services - check the airport website for information.
General Access.
Prior to the Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympic games, there is an awful lot of renovation work being undertaken on stations to improve access. It’s a fact that access can be difficult though, with many stations or exits being reliant on navigating numerous flights of stairs. Lifts and escalators are available in some stations but can be very awkward to find. This issue is a real problem and has certainly caused me stress and discomfort. Add to the mix the need to carry large luggage and it becomes impossible.
Top tip: Prepare your exit strategy! Use google maps together with station maps provided on the rail or subway websites (Japanese version only usually) and the information provided on the excellent Japan Accessible Tourism website when planning your accommodation and routes.
Speed of movement.
Transportation doesn’t seem to hang around. In fact, everyone and everything seems to move fast in Japan (...or maybe it’s just that I move slowly these days?) Anyhow. Pause times at stations and bus stops etc are very short and you are expected to get on or off quickly. The smaller and lighter you travel, the easier and less stressful this will be.Trains.
As the faster trains on the network, Shinkansen and Limited Express trains are often modern, run amazingly efficiently and have great amenities. BUT don’t assume that there will be dedicated luggage space for large pieces similar to those available in the UK or elsewhere.
Top Tip: Compact, medium sized cases or smaller will fit on the parcel rack (watch the weight). Alternatively, legroom is usually large and allows for a small or medium case to be placed between your knees and the seat in front. Sometimes, the space behind the first/last seats on Shinkansen can provide room for baggage but can be well utilised, so you may find no room available when you get on or a mountain of bags to root through when you alight.
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| Typical interior of a shinkansen bullet train - the parcel shelves are the main storage option. |
Dedicated airport trains do have facilities though and, on my recent visit, I noted that some normal trains in Kyushu did too. On local trains, room is very limited and large luggage is difficult to stow, so send larger luggage forward and use small bags only (see ‘ Luggage Forwarding’ below).
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| Airline style lockers and luggage storage on the Fukuoka to Nagasaki Ltd Express Train. |
Subway.
Services are well utilised, especially at rush hour when those pictures of crammed trains and people being pushed on to the trains by guards in gloves really do become reality. It’s an experience for sure but, in my opinion, not a particularly pleasant one. You will unlikely be able to get on with luggage and will certainly be unpopular if you do. Plan ahead and find alternative means. Some economy and business hotels have shuttle bus services to main stations so these are a great option for accommodation.
Domestic Flights/Planes.
Top Tip: Check the baggage size and weight restrictions for the airline you’ll be using. Japanese airline baggage dimensions seem to be smaller than most UK and European operators.
Buses.
Be aware of buses. Not all buses running on popular routes have the facility to carry cases. As a very general rule of thumb, express buses and limousine buses (sounds fancy, but it’s really just a coach) have space underneath where your cases will be placed after being tagged. For example: on the route from Takayama to Shirakawa-go it is possible to travel using a reserved or unreserved seat bus. The buses with reserved seats are less frequent and can get booked up very rapidly. However, these are the only buses that have luggage space, so you’ll need to book if you intend to take anything other than small bags. The unreserved buses are local, town type buses and have no room for large cases. Town buses and trams have very limited room and if it’s busy, you may find yourself unable to board with much larger than a small cabin bag.
Practicalities
Coin lockers.
If you’re hopping on and off the train or bus to explore en route from A to B (or you do some shopping* and don’t want to carry it with you all day), you will not want to lug your luggage around, no matter how compact. Luckily, coin lockers abound and are safe and convenient. However, large lockers are very limited in quantity and size, with the largest being unlikely to take a medium case - they also get used up very quickly. The smaller the bags you have, the more opportunities you will have and the cheaper the cost will be.
* On our recent visit, I spotted these refrigerated lockers at a supermarket within a large shopping mall. What a brilliant idea!
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| Refrigerated & normal coin lockers at a Japanese supermarket |
Luggage forwarding.
Make use of the cost effective, efficient and safe luggage forwarding services widely available. A number of companies exist but the most prominent is Yamato Transport Co.Ltd. You will see their mother and baby cat logo everywhere. Services are becoming increasingly user-friendly for those who do not speak Japanese but your accommodation will be able to assist. You can even have your bags delivered to your airport ready to pick up and check in, but be sure to check how far in advance this needs to be arranged.
If travelling around, use your cabin bags to get by and have your luggage sent directly on to the hotel at your next major port of call (some hotels have very limited room to store bags, so check in advance that they will accept it for you; it’s such a widely used service, many accommodation websites specify in their FAQs.)
We’ve used this service a number of times now and had a really good experience with it. During our recent visit, we had our cases sent from Fukuoka to our hotel in Tokyo, where we would complete our stay after pootling about a bit for a week with various flights, buses and trains. Two medium cases around 11 kg each cost us about £12 in total and was worth every penny.
Top tips for luggage forwarding in Japan:
- Check with your hotel/accommodation that they can send/accept luggage.
- Not all services have next day delivery. Check how far in advance you will need to send to avoid disappointment at your destination.
- Be sure to write details of contents on the form - it may need to be sent via air freight and restrictions apply accordingly. Additionally, a prominent fragile tag will be attached if necessary.
- If sending to accommodation, clearly state the name used for the reservation and the check in date. A time for delivery can also be chosen.
- If sending to the airport, fill in the form using the comprehensive details noted on their website (Yamato), including the terminal, your flight number, departure date and time.
- If you’re sending more than one case, ask for a multiple items form. This can reduce the cost a little. There are some restrictions to using this option so is not always available.
Always have a plan B!
I’m not a shopping obsessed person, but I was concerned that we may not be able to accumulate too much (and definitely no flight restricted items) during our first week due to the compact room in our cabin bags, which we were using as we took domestic flights through Kyushu, Shikoku up to Tokyo.
I had a long list of 100 yen shop items that I wanted to look out for - don't judge me!! However, the excellent 100 yen shops also sell packaging materials and I realised that we could box up and send our purchases too if necessary. In the end, we fitted quite a bit extra into our excellent cabin bags and didn’t need to resort to this - but it was an option. No regrets were encountered and smugness restored!
I had a long list of 100 yen shop items that I wanted to look out for - don't judge me!! However, the excellent 100 yen shops also sell packaging materials and I realised that we could box up and send our purchases too if necessary. In the end, we fitted quite a bit extra into our excellent cabin bags and didn’t need to resort to this - but it was an option. No regrets were encountered and smugness restored!
Accommodation.
Tiny rooms.
It’s a fairly well known fact that space is limited in Japan. If you’re using budget hotels, especially in city areas, you’ll likely find the room tiny and just about large enough to get into bed (double beds are often pushed against the wall so you may find you have to crawl across the bed, which is neither sexy nor ideal with mobility issues - this should be a consideration when booking). It’s unlikely that there will be a wardrobe or drawer unit for clothes, so you will have to access your luggage frequently.
The problem is that there may be little room for larger luggage and certainly not for keeping it accessible; in this case, larger luggage will frustratingly have to be moved around the room to allow you basic access to bed, door and bathroom and the need to be lifted and opened and closed frequently to access clothes. (although Toyoko Inns do have beds that allow cases to be stored underneath) It’s worth double-checking the room size and size of bed before booking, especially if you need more accessibility. However, the smaller your luggage, the better experience you will have.
The problem is that there may be little room for larger luggage and certainly not for keeping it accessible; in this case, larger luggage will frustratingly have to be moved around the room to allow you basic access to bed, door and bathroom and the need to be lifted and opened and closed frequently to access clothes. (although Toyoko Inns do have beds that allow cases to be stored underneath) It’s worth double-checking the room size and size of bed before booking, especially if you need more accessibility. However, the smaller your luggage, the better experience you will have.
Tatami mats.
If you will be staying at a more traditional accommodation, such as a ryokan that has tatami matting on the floors, you will be unable to roll cases; this is to prevent damage and dirt transfer. Procedure varies, with some having staff that will carry cases across matting to your room for you (including steep flights of slippery wooden stairs in my experience) or those that will explain and leave you to your own devices to do the lifting and carrying.
And finally….
Buying it there - local luggage.
It can be tempting to travel light and pick up extra baggage locally if needed but my observation is that the price of bags in Japan is very high. I recommend taking a strong, fold up holdall and spare lock if you think it may be needed.
