10 Yamato Transport Tips For Unbelievably Easy Travel In Japan

You have to take advantage of luggage delivery in Japan when you visit.

Luggage delivery services, like Yamato Transport, will send your suitcase to your next destination.

That means you never actually travel with your luggage, so you can pack (and buy!) as much as you want in Japan!

But as a tourist in Japan, sending your luggage can be a stressful and confusing experience.

So here’s my comprehensive guide of what I learned when luggage forwarding in Japan using Yamato Transport.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Luggage Forwarding In Japan With Yamato Transport

Yamato Transport is the main shipping company in Japan. I consider it to be like the UPS or FedEx of Japan. But it’s even better.

It’s very common not only to ship packaged products, but also personal belongings in suitcases directly to your next accommodation. So it was never a surprise when I showed up with my large suitcase and carry-on luggage to send to a hotel.

On top of that, you can give them an actual delivery date and it will arrive ON THAT DATE! I’m not just talking one to two-day shipping – which is quite vague.

Needless to say, when you’re traveling in Japan, you should be sending your luggage with Yamato Transport to your next destination instead of traveling with it.

You might also be interested in…

My digital and printable packing guide on Etsy. Filled with packing planning prompts for your next trip!

traveling-in-japan-airport-welcome-to-japan

Why Use Luggage Delivery In Japan

Sending your luggage to your next destination makes traveling in Japan hassle free. It’s hands down the best way to travel in Japan, and I wish every country offered this service!

You don’t have to deal with carrying a suitcase to and from taxis, on buses, subways, or through train stations, etc. You can even send it to your hotel right when you land in Japan, straight from the airport!

Forwarding your luggage means that you can pack as much as you want because you don’t have to worry about the weight and size of your luggage.

And you never have to worry about injuring yourself trying to carry or drag heavy bags throughout the country.

P.S. That also means you can buy as much as you want while you’re there…. see my recommendations for souvenirs in Japan here…

suitcases-waiting-to-be-loaded-on-bus-in-japan-airport — *Suitcases waiting to be loaded on the bus in Japan*

Why You Might Not Want To Use Luggage Delivery In Japan?

I will not lie, it was more than a little bit worrisome leaving our luggage behind in a foreign country. Especially the first time I dropped it off, I genuinely thought it would be the last time I saw my belongings.

You’re trusting a random company in a foreign country, where English is not commonly spoken, to get your belongings back to you in one piece, and on time.

So the biggest reason against sending your luggage in Japan is that you’re risking being in Japan without anything. You’ll have to buy an entirely new wardrobe and replace all the lost items while traveling.

But I think there are things you can do to lessen this stressful experience for yourself, and safeguard against the worst case scenario as much as possible (i.e. if they lose your luggage in Japan).

Psst! Interested in knowing some popular Japan things to do that you should actually avoid (and what to do instead!? Read my post here!

luggage-forwarding-suitcases-at-the-airport

Top 10 Tips For Yamato Luggage Delivery In Japan

Here are a few tips to make sending your luggage in Japan a bit more stress free.

1. Finding The Right Yamato Transport For You

Luggage delivery in Japan is so popular that you won’t have any issues finding a place to send your luggage.

But what I didn’t know before is that there are actually three options to send your luggage with Yamato Transport.

First, you can find a Yamato Transport depot (what I did). But you can also send it from a participating 7-Eleven, or even directly from your hotel!

It’s very common to see the Yamato truck everywhere in Japan!

The Best: At Your Hotel In Japan

The best place to send your luggage is actually at your hotel in Japan.

Of course, not all hotels offer this, but if they do, it’s definitely the easiest option as you really don’t have to bring your luggage anywhere.

The hotel will provide the forms for you to fill out and someone from Yamato Transport will come by to pick it up.

Hotel staff might also be easier to communicate with in English as opposed to the Yamato Transport staff (this was my experience anyway).

Ask your hotel in advance if they offer this service so, you can prepare and have your luggage ready for the specific pick up time.

luggage-delivery-bags-waiting-at-hotel-in-japan — *Bags waiting at the hotel*

At A Yamato Transport Depot

We always brought our luggage directly to a Yamato Transport depot, but that was simply because we didn’t know we could have left it at our hotel…

Yamato Transport depots are easy to find, just search for them on Google Maps.

And they’re probably no farther than a 15 minute walk away! But keep in mind that a 15 minute walk with luggage is a lot longer than you’d think… especially in the summer when it’s 40 degrees… read my tips for visiting Japan in the summer!

At A Participating 7-Eleven

We later found out that there are some 7-Elevens that offer Yamato Transport drop offs as well.

This is a good option if your hotel doesn’t offer pick up service, and you aren’t near any depots.

There are also so many 7-Elevens in Japan that there might even be one that’s closer than a Yamato Transport.

The catch is that not every 7-Eleven offers this service. If it does, there will be a Yamato Transport logo in the window of the 7-Eleven.

Instead of wandering through Japan, ask your hotel, they might know which ones in the area offer this service.

2. Expect To Translate… A Lot!

English is not as common as you might think in Japan. It’s important to remember that Yamato Transport isn’t only set up for foreign tourists to ship their luggage.

So depending on where you are in Japan, you might have an easier or harder time trying to communicate in English.

It will be easier to communicate in more touristy areas, but you should still be prepared to use Google Translate (download the app on Android or iPhone).

Plan the ultimate vacation

My digital travel planner template has everything you need to plan your vacation: research templates, travel planner itinerary, travel budget templates…etc. . You can print it out or use it digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Tips For Sending Your Luggage

3. Have The Employee Fill Out The Form For You

I shipped my luggage with Yamato Transport twice and had completely different experiences each time.

The first time, I filled out the delivery address… in English of course, with Latin characters, as I can’t write in Japanese.

The problem?

yamato-transport-label-on-suitcase-luggage-delivery-japan

Most likely anyone reading the label, English will not be their first language. And Japanese addresses are different when written with Latin characters vs. Japanese.

Needless to say, I was so stressed the ENTIRE time wondering if I had filled it out properly and if anyone would even understand it.

So, the second time we sent our luggage in Japan, the Yamato employee filled out the address… in Japanese, which makes A LOT more sense!

I would recommend looking up the Japanese address in advance so you can give it to the employee to fill out for you.

It might take a bit more effort to find the address in Japanese. We were able to get the Japanese address for our hotels on our booking confirmation. You can also ask the hotel in advance to send it if you can’t find it online.

4. Put Your E-mail Address For Your Return Address

On the shipping label, you also have to fill out the return address. As a tourist traveling in Japan, this is a bit of an issue.

For example, my permanent address is in Canada not Japan, which doesn’t really work as a return address.

So instead, you’ll want to put your e-mail address! This way, they can contact you if anything happens with the shipment.

P.S. The first time we shipped it they told us to put our previous hotel address… but that wouldn’t help us at all if it were to be shipped back there… so don’t do that!

5. Always Pack Any Necessities With You

I would treat sending your luggage as if you were checking your bag on a plane. Keep any personal items and necessities with you at all times.

I’m talking toiletries, an extra set of clothes and underwear. Obviously, if you’re taking any medications, be sure to keep those with you as well.

I brought extra packable duffel bags (like this one on Amazon) for my partner and I to use when we shipped our bags.

6. How To Travel In Japan: Take Advantage Of Delayed Arrival Dates

Sometimes you aren’t able to have your luggage delivered the same day you ship it, unless you’re willing to pay extra. But I know this is also often the case if you ship your luggage when you arrive at the airport in Japan as well.

Arrival dates are usually two to three days after you ship it. Instead of waiting for your luggage to arrive, take advantage and travel without any luggage throughout Japan for a few days.

For example, I shipped our luggage from Tokyo to arrive in Kyoto TWO DAYS later. But instead of going straight to Kyoto, I took advantage of not having to lug my large suitcase with me. So I traveled in a duffel bag and went further to both Shibu Onsen and Kanazawa for one night each before getting to Kyoto.

When we got to Kyoto, our luggage was already there waiting for us!

suitcases-and-duffel-bags-in-japan — *Suitcases were waiting for us in Tokyo while we travelled in lighter duffel bags*

7. Yamato Transport May Be Closed On Weekends

You might have to work around weekend closures when luggage forwarding in Japan. Double check opening hours when you’re planning your itinerary.

This shouldn’t be too much of an issue, but your luggage may have to be delivered a day earlier or later.

If someone is able to accept your luggage for you, you’ll probably want it to arrive earlier rather than later. If you’re shipping it to a hotel, just make sure to ask in advance and let them know your luggage will be there before your check-in date.

But, if it has to arrive a day later, be ready to pack more in your overnight bags.

8. Sending Your Luggage Directly To Your Hotel In Japan

As a tourist, I imagine you are most often staying at hotels in Japan, as I did, and you will be shipping your luggage directly to your hotel in Japan.

Before you do, here are some tips I followed before I shipped my bags to my next hotel.

Always Check With The Hotel That They Will Accept It In Advance

Before shipping your luggage to your hotel in Japan, you should always confirm that they will accept it first!

Sometimes it will say on their website, as it is a very common request in Japan, and you don’t have to do anything. But if it doesn’t, you should always reach out to your hotel and ask.

yamato-truck-delivering-luggage-in-japan

We shipped our luggage to Rinn Gion Yasaka in Kyoto and Mistui Gardens in Tokyo. Both hotels accepted the luggage and offer Yamato pick up directly from the hotel.

Hotels In Japan

You can book Rinn Gion Yasaka in Kyoto on Booking.com here.

And you can book the Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier on Booking.com here.

Confirm The Dates With The Hotel

Rinn Gion Yasaka Hotel in Kyoto also asked that we let them know when we shipped our luggage and what the arrival date would be.

I think this is a good habit to get into when shipping your luggage in Japan so your hotel knows that they should expect it and when. This is especially important if it may be arriving a day before you, as was the case when we shipped our luggage back to Tokyo.

Put The Reservation Name On The Shipping Label

The shipping label will also need a name for the delivery, meaning who it’s being shipped to.

If you’re shipping your luggage to a hotel, you might not be there when your luggage arrives so it will go to the front desk.

I thought that I would simply put the name of the hotel as the recipient. But instead you should put your name. And more importantly, the name that the hotel reservation is under.

Both my partner and I booked hotels in Japan so we always had to double check what name was on the reservation.

yamato-transport-empty-shipping-label-in-japan — *Standard shipping label*

Tips For Payment – Luggage Delivery Japan

This is what you can expect when paying for luggage delivery in Japan.

9. Cost Is By SIZE Not By WEIGHT

I was shocked that the price for luggage delivery in Japan was by the size of the items and NOT by the weight.

In North America as least, whenever you ship anything it’s always by weight.

So you can stuff it as much as you want because the weight won’t factor into the cost!

Example of pricing: we shipped a 25″ suitcase and 21″ carryon luggage from Kyoto to Tokyo and it cost ¥ 4,200.

Plan the ultimate vacation

10. Payment Is With Cash Or IC Card (No Credit!)

Make sure you have cash on you when using Yamato Transport in Japan.

I don’t know if this is still the case at hotels or at 7-Elevens as they are equipped for credit cards.

But if you bring your luggage to a Yamato Transport depot you will have to pay with cash or a Japanese IC Card (like Pasmo or Suica).

Worst Case Scenario… What To Do If They Lose Your Luggage

If you arrive at your destination and your luggage is nowhere to be found, then Yamato Transport does have foreign language support in both English and Chinese.

There’s both an e-mail and a toll free phone number to contact them if any issues should arise.