Luggage forwarding in Japan (takkyubin): Yamato and Sagawa prices 2026

By the Japan Travel Costs team. Every figure links to its source with the date we last checked it, and figures we cannot verify are left out. About us.

Last checked 2026-10-21

Japan has a habit that surprises many visitors: people send their luggage ahead. The service is called takkyubin, and it means you can ride the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto with a day bag while your suitcase travels separately to your next hotel. It is especially useful on trains with limited space for big cases, on routes with several changes, and on days when you want to sightsee between check-out and check-in.

The two big carriers visitors use are Yamato Transport (TA-Q-BIN, the black cat logo) and Sagawa Express. Here is what they charge, from their own published rates.

How sizes work

Both carriers price by size, which is the length plus width plus height of the bag in centimetres, and by weight. Yamato's TA-Q-BIN sizes include, for example, Size 100 (up to 100 cm and 10 kg), Size 120 (up to 120 cm and 15 kg) and Size 140 (up to 140 cm and 20 kg) (Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN sizes). A typical checked suitcase usually falls in the 120 to 160 range, but measure yours: three sides added together.

Yamato TA-Q-BIN: between cities

Yamato publishes a single rate table by region of departure and destination. A few useful examples from it, tax included, per bag (Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN rates table):

• Yamato takes ¥100 off per parcel when you drop it off yourself at a Yamato office, an agency or a convenience store.
• Kuroneko Members who drop off at a TA-Q-BIN Sales Office get an extra ¥50 off, under conditions on the page.

Source: Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN rates table. Delivery times depend on the route; check Yamato's rate and delivery time search before you rely on next-day arrival. Last checked 2026-10-22.

In practice, most visitors hand the bag to their hotel's front desk, which fills in the slip and arranges collection. Whether a hotel offers this, and any fee it adds, is up to the hotel, so ask at check-in.

Sagawa Hands-Free Travel: same day in Tokyo

Sagawa runs counters for visitors, including one at Tokyo Station's Nihonbashi exit. From that counter, its published same-day charges, tax included, per piece, are (Sagawa Express: Hands-Free Travel, Tokyo Service Center):

• Hotel delivery: drop off by 13:00, arrival from 16:00.
• Haneda: drop off by 11:00, arrival from 16:00. The price includes a ¥660 airport handling charge.
• Narita: arrival from 16:00. The price includes a ¥660 airport fee and a ¥550 same-day fee.
• Storage only: ¥1,000 a day up to 100 cm, ¥1,300 up to 140 cm, ¥1,500 up to 160 cm and ¥2,000 above that.

Source: Sagawa Express: Hands-Free Travel, Tokyo Service Center. Other Sagawa counters may have different deadlines. Last checked 2026-10-22.

When it is worth it

• Moving between cities by Shinkansen. A Size 140 suitcase from Tokyo to Kyoto on Yamato is ¥2,310 (¥2,210 if you drop it off yourself). Compare that with how much easier the train day becomes, especially with children.
• A night in Hakone or a ryokan. Many travellers send the big bag straight from Tokyo to their Kyoto hotel and carry only an overnight bag through Hakone. Our 12 day itinerary works well this way.
• The last day. If your flight leaves in the evening, sending bags to the airport the same morning frees up the day. Leave plenty of margin for the drop-off deadline.

Planning the timing

The main rule is that the bag usually travels slower than you. Same-day delivery exists within Tokyo and to its airports through counters like Sagawa's, but between cities you should expect it to take longer and plan for at least one night without the big bag. Pack an overnight kit in your day bag. For flights, give yourself enough time between arrival of the bag and check-in, and keep passports, medicine and valuables with you.

A few more practical points:

• Write the hotel's name, address and phone number exactly as the hotel gives them, plus your name and check-in date, so the hotel knows to hold it.
• Lithium batteries, such as power banks, should stay in your hand luggage; the carriers and airlines have rules on them.
• Yamato also offers an Airport TA-Q-BIN service for ANA international flights from Narita, Haneda and Kansai, which works differently from standard delivery; check the details on Yamato's site.

Example: a family's bags from Tokyo to Kyoto

Two Size 140 suitcases and one Size 120 bag from Tokyo to Kyoto with Yamato, dropped off at a Yamato office: (2 x ¥2,310) + ¥1,970 = ¥6,590, minus ¥100 per bag, which is ¥6,290 (US$40). Compare this with the hassle of three large cases on a busy Nozomi, and decide whether it is worth it for you. For the full family budget see Japan trip cost for a family of four.

Add forwarding to your plan in the trip budget calculator as a one-off cost.

Sources: Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN rates table; Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN sizes; Sagawa Express: Hands-Free Travel, Tokyo Service Center. Last checked 2026-10-22.

Yamato or Sagawa?

• Yamato is the easier choice between cities: its rate table covers every region, and you can drop parcels at its offices, agencies or convenience stores for ¥100 off (Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN rates table).
• Sagawa Hands-Free Travel is aimed at visitors in Tokyo, with storage and same-day delivery to hotels and the airports from counters such as Tokyo Station (Sagawa Express: Hands-Free Travel, Tokyo Service Center).

Both price by size and weight, so measure your bag first. A bag that is 1 cm over a size band costs the next band up.

Common questions

Can the hotel send it for me?

Often, but it is up to the hotel, not the carrier, so ask at the front desk when you check in.

Can I send a bag to a hotel before I arrive?

Yes, as long as the hotel agrees to hold it. Put your check-in date and name on the slip.

Is it insured?

Carriers have their own liability terms. Check them for valuable items, and keep valuables with you.

Prefer to book ahead? See luggage and travel services on Klook (affiliate link: the site owner may earn a commission at no extra cost to you). Prices there may differ from the official prices above.