Sending your suitcases (takkyūbin)

How it works

In Japan you can travel without carrying your suitcase: a courier takes it to your next lodging or to the airport.

• 宅急便 (takkyūbin) is the door-to-door parcel service of ヤマト運輸 (Yamato Transport). Travellers use it to send a suitcase from one hotel to the next, or to the airport. 宅急便takkyūbin Open the source 1
• Its logo is a black cat, which is why it is often called クロネコヤマト (kuroneko Yamato, “Yamato black cat”). Open the source 17
• The general word for this kind of service is 宅配便 (takuhaibin). Two other carriers offer it: 佐川急便 (Sagawa) and the Japanese post, with ゆうパック (yū-pakku). Open the source 8
• Do You travel hands free: no suitcase on station stairs, in a crowd or on the Shinkansen. Open the source 33
• The “Hands-Free Travel” logo (手ぶら観光, tebura kankō) marks an approved counter that sends or stores visitors' luggage. 手ぶら観光tebura kankō Open the source 32

Large suitcases on the Shinkansen

On some lines a large suitcase needs a special reserved seat. Sending it ahead avoids the whole question.

• Careful On the Tōkaidō, Sanyō, Kyūshū and Nishi-Kyūshū Shinkansen, a suitcase over 160 cm (the three sides added up) needs a special reserved seat. Its name is 特大荷物スペースつき座席 (tokudai nimotsu supēsu tsuki zaseki). It is a seat in the last row of certain cars: the suitcase goes in the space behind that seat. 特大荷物スペースつき座席tokudai nimotsu supēsu tsuki zaseki Open the source 4
• The seat costs the same as an ordinary reserved seat. Book it at a ticket office, at a machine or online. Open the source 4
• Careful A large suitcase is not allowed in a non-reserved car: you need the special seat in a reserved car. Open the source 4
• Do not Without a reservation you are charged ¥1,000. A suitcase over 250 cm is refused on board. Open the source 4
• No reservation is needed for sports equipment, musical instruments, wheelchairs and pushchairs, whatever their size, within the 250 cm limit. Open the source 4
• Example: a suitcase of 80 × 55 × 32 cm comes to 167 cm. So it needs that seat, or a takkyūbin shipment. Open the source 4
• General JR rule: at most 2 pieces of luggage, each up to 250 cm (2 m long at most) and 30 kg. Open the source 5

Where to drop off your suitcase

Three easy places: your hotel's front desk, a Yamato office, or a konbini (convenience store, コンビニ).

• Do At your hotel's front desk, if it works with Yamato: just ask. No booking, you fill in the waybill on the spot. Open the source 18
• Do At a Yamato office, 営業所 (eigyōsho). It takes the largest parcels: up to 200 cm and 30 kg. Opening hours differ from office to office. Office finder, in Japanese only: locations.kuronekoyamato.co.jp 営業所eigyōsho Open the source 1
• For Yamato, Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart konbini take parcels up to 160 cm and 25 kg. Above that, go to a Yamato office. Open the source 7
• No refrigerated shipment from a konbini. Open the source 6
• ゆうパック (yū-pakku), the post: up to 170 cm and 25 kg, and ¥120 off if you drop the parcel off yourself. Lawson, Ministop and Seicomart konbini accept it. ゆうパックyū-pakku Open the source 8
• Sagawa, with 飛脚宅配便 (hikyaku takuhaibin): up to 160 cm and 30 kg, dropped off at a Sagawa office or agent. 飛脚宅配便hikyaku takuhaibin Open the source 9
• Do With Yamato, bringing the parcel yourself to an office, a konbini or an agent takes ¥100 off per parcel. Open the source 1

Receiving: hotel or lodging with no front desk

A hotel receives the suitcase for you. An Airbnb or a flat often cannot: have it held at a Yamato office instead.

• Hotel: the front desk keeps the suitcase. Yamato advises having it arrive at least one day before you do. Open the source 18
• Do First ask the hotel whether it accepts parcels arriving before your stay. Open the source 18
• Do On the waybill, write the exact booking name and your arrival date, to help the front desk. Open the source 17
• Lodging with no front desk: have the suitcase held at a Yamato office. The service is called 営業所受け取りサービス (eigyōsho uketori). People often say 営業所止め (eigyōsho-dome). You choose it when sending, and it takes ¥60 off. 営業所受け取りサービスeigyōsho uketori sābisu Open the source 10
• A variant, 営業所止置きサービス (eigyōsho tomeoki), can be asked for before or even after sending, from the tracking page, but with no discount. 営業所止置きサービスeigyōsho tomeoki sābisu Open the source 11
• Do In the お届け先 box, write the postcode, address and name of the office, its 6-digit code, then the name and phone number of whoever will collect the suitcase. You will find all of it in Yamato's office finder. お届け先otodokesaki Open the source 35
• Careful Drop this parcel off at a Yamato office, not at a konbini: Yamato states that the service is not available for a shipment sent from a konbini. Open the source 34
• Careful The office keeps the parcel for 7 days, counting the day it arrives. No extension: after that it goes back to the sender, and the price paid is not refunded. Open the source 12
• Careful To collect it, bring photo ID and the waybill number (送り状番号). The service page lists the passport, the FAQ does not: have it confirmed when you send the parcel. 送り状番号okurijō bangō Open the source 14
• You may be asked for a Japanese seal (印鑑, inkan): a handwritten signature is accepted. 印鑑inkan Open the source 13
• Careful Put the parcel in the name of whoever will collect it. Otherwise you have to bring their ID, a copy is enough, and their seal or signature. Open the source 10
• Do Before going, check the tracking: “ご来店予定（保管中）” means the parcel can be handed over right away. Open the source 15
• Do Go during the office's opening hours: they differ from office to office. Open the source 16

Filling in the waybill (送り状)

The 送り状 (okurijō) waybill is available at offices, konbini and agents. To pay when sending, take the 発払い (motobarai) form.

1. Write in Japanese or in block Latin letters, with a ballpoint pen, pressing hard: the waybill has several carbon sheets. Cross a mistake out with two lines, then write the right information next to it. No correction tape. Open the source 19
2. Do お届け先 (otodokesaki), the recipient: postcode, phone number, address and name, hotel or Yamato office. お届け先otodokesaki Open the source 21
3. Do ご依頼主 (go-irainushi), the sender, meaning you: postcode, phone number, address and name. If you have no address in Japan, ask at the counter what to write. ご依頼主go-irainushi Open the source 21
4. Careful 品名 (hinmei), the contents: be precise, for example “Tシャツ、ズボン、靴下”. A vague word such as 雑貨 (sundries) can block or delay the shipment. 品名hinmei Open the source 20
5. If the contents are fragile, mark ワレモノ (waremono) next to the 品名 box. ワレモノwaremono Open the source 21
6. お届け希望日 (otodoke kibōbi), the requested date: the day the suitcase should arrive. お届け希望日otodoke kibōbi Open the source 21
7. ご希望時間帯 (go-kibō jikantai), the time slot: 午前中 (morning), 2 – 4 p.m., 4 – 6 p.m., 6 – 8 p.m. or 7 – 9 p.m. No preference: 指定無し (shitei nashi). ご希望時間帯go-kibō jikantai Open the source 1
8. For the airport, tick 空港 (kūkō) in the ゴルフ・スキー・空港 box. 空港kūkō Open the source 21
9. Do Keep the copy handed back to you and photograph it: the 12-digit tracking number is at the top right of the waybill. Open the source 29

Measuring your suitcase

The price depends on size, weight and distance.

• A parcel's size = length + width + height. At Yamato it runs from size 60 to size 200. Open the source 2
• Each size has a maximum weight: 100 = 10 kg, 120 = 15 kg, 140 = 20 kg, 160 = 25 kg, 180 and 200 = 30 kg. Open the source 2
• Careful Both centimetres and weight are checked: the larger of the two sizes is the one that counts. Open the source 2
• Example: a suitcase of 75 × 50 × 30 cm comes to 155 cm. It counts as size 160 up to 25 kg, size 180 beyond that. Open the source 2
• Do not Yamato's maximum: 200 cm and 30 kg. Above that the parcel is refused. Open the source 2

Yamato prices (cash, tax included)

Two routes to give you an idea. Rates in force since 1 October 2025.

Delivery times

• Count on 1 or 2 days: the suitcase arrives the day after sending, or the day after that, depending on the destination. Open the source 23
• Do To find the earliest possible date, use Yamato's tool “料金とお届け予定日を調べる” with the sending and receiving postcodes. Open the source 23
• You can set the arrival date, from the day after sending up to 7 days later, at no extra cost. Open the source 22
• Careful Ask at the counter until what time a shipment leaves the same day: it varies from place to place. Open the source 17

Sending your suitcase to the airport

Handy for the last day: the suitcase waits for you at the airport.

1. The service is called 空港宅急便 (kūkō takkyūbin). You must be flying out of that airport on the day you collect the suitcase. 空港宅急便kūkō takkyūbin Open the source 24
2. Do not No 空港宅急便 for a flight to the United States, Honolulu included. Open the source 23
3. Careful Drop the suitcase off at least 2 days before departure, 3 days from some regions, and before the counter's cut-off time. Open the source 23
4. Count on ¥660 of airport fees on top of the normal price. Open the source 23
5. The suitcase reaches the airport the day before departure. On the day of the flight, collect it at the counter, then check it in as usual. Open the source 24
6. Do Bring the waybill copy you were handed (ご依頼主控, go-irainushi hikae): the suitcase is given back in exchange for it. ご依頼主控go-irainushi hikae Open the source 23
7. Haneda: collection counter on level 2F of terminal 3, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Narita: 4F at terminal 1, 3F at terminal 2, 1F at terminal 3. Kansai: 4F at terminal 1. Locations and hours can change: check Yamato's official counter list before you leave. Open the source 26
8. Do Keep your passport, medicines and clothes for the last two days with you. Open the source 25

What cannot be sent

• Do not Cash, cheques and securities (現金、小切手、有価証券). Open the source 27
• Do not Bank cards and documents that are hard to replace, such as a passport. Open the source 27
• Do not A parcel worth more than ¥300,000. Open the source 27
• Do not Fireworks, gas cylinders, kerosene, thinners and other flammable goods. Open the source 27
• Do not Firearms and swords (銃砲刀剣, jūhō tōken). 銃砲刀剣jūhō tōken Open the source 27
• Careful Lithium battery devices: since early 2026, Yamato no longer carries them by air for private customers. On air routes they therefore arrive later. Routes concerned: to and from Okinawa, and between Hokkaidō and the west of the country (Okayama, Matsuyama, Fukuoka). Open the source 28
• Do Keep your phone, power bank, laptop and valuables with you. Open the source 28
• Do If you do send a device, write it in 品名, for example “デジタルカメラ（バッテリーあり）”. Open the source 20

Tips

• Do Keep one or two nights of clothes in a small bag: the suitcase takes 1 or 2 days. Open the source 23
• Do Track the parcel in English at track.kuronekoyamato.co.jp with the 12-digit number. Open the source 29
• Yamato customer service in English: 0120-67-9625, free, or 03-6834-7503, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day. Open the source 30
• Payment: cash, credit card, electronic money or QR code. At a konbini, with a handwritten waybill, Suica and PASMO are accepted too. What is accepted varies with the shop and the shipping method: keep some cash on you. Open the source 31
• Several suitcases to the same address, sent together: ¥100 off per parcel (複数口減額). Open the source 1
• Do For a parcel held at an office, note the office's name, address, code and opening hours in your phone. Open the source 17

Useful phrases at the counter

Show the Japanese sentence if needed.

• I would like to send this suitcase by takkyūbin. このスーツケースを宅急便で送りたいです。Kono sūtsukēsu o takkyūbin de okuritai desu.Show full screen
• A waybill, please. 送り状をください。Okurijō o kudasai.Show full screen
• I would like it held at a Yamato office. ヤマトの営業所止めでお願いします。Yamato no eigyōsho-dome de onegai shimasu.Show full screen
• When will it arrive? いつ届きますか。Itsu todokimasu ka.Show full screen
• Until what time can I send something today? 今日の発送は何時までですか。Kyō no hassō wa nan-ji made desu ka.Show full screen
• I would like to send it to the airport. I leave the day after tomorrow. 空港に送りたいです。出発は明後日です。Kūkō ni okuritai desu. Shuppatsu wa asatte desu.Show full screen
• I have come to collect a parcel. Here is the waybill number. 荷物を受け取りに来ました。これが送り状番号です。Nimotsu o uketori ni kimashita. Kore ga okurijō bangō desu.Show full screen
• Is a passport enough as photo ID? 本人確認はパスポートでいいですか。Honnin kakunin wa pasupōto de ii desu ka.Show full screen
• I have no seal. Is a signature all right? 印鑑がないので、サインでもいいですか。Inkan ga nai node, sain demo ii desu ka.Show full screen
• Can I pay by card? カードで払えますか。Kādo de haraemasu ka.Show full screen