Overlooked luggage-forwarding service will become easier to use this autumn, especially for tourists staying in private rentals like Airbnbs.

A ride on the Shinkansen is one of the most enjoyable ways to get around Japan, but the only downside is having to deal with your luggage during the journey. There does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel, though, as companies are now coming up with new services that allow travellers to send their suitcases to their destinations so they can travel hands-free in ways that are easier than ever before.

One of the newest services is “Luggage Express”, a luggage delivery service from JTB that uses the Tokaido Shinkansen to transport bags between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. First launched in November last year, Luggage Express remains relatively unknown compared to other more widely used road-based luggage forwarding services like Takkyubin, provided by Yamato Transport.

However, unlike Yamato and other truck-based providers, who generally offer next-day delivery between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Luggage Express has speed on its side. By using the Tokaido bullet train service, Luggage Express can get your bags there on the very same day, which remains rare for such a long-distance delivery route.

Same-day delivery makes luggage forwarding even more stress-free, as you don’t have to pack a change of clothes into a day bag while waiting for your luggage to arrive the next day. Plus, you don’t have to waste time frantically looking for an elevator to make your connection in Tokyo’s labyrinthine stations, only to give up and take the stairs.

Previously, using Luggage Express wasn’t entirely simple, as pickup and dropoff was only available at hotels, airports, and three train stations – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka – with a prior online booking. However, a new partnership announced this week is about to make it easier for foreign tourists to use – from September, Luggage Express will be integrated with Bounce, a global luggage-storage platform that has thousands of convenient locations in Japan.

By teaming up with Bounce, the same-day service opens up luggage-forwarding to a wider range of tourists, including those staying at private accommodation rentals like Airbnbs. Many luggage-forwarding services require a hotel address with a staffed check-in desk for delivery, so the new tie-up with Bounce lets people in vacation rentals forward their luggage to a nearby Bounce location for pickup and dropoff.

Travellers will be able to arrange delivery in multiple languages through the multilingual Bounce app by selecting their desired Bounce dropoff location, delivery date, destination and number of bags. Payment is also completed through the app, so for those using the Tokyo–Kyoto route, all you have to do is take your luggage to the dropoff point by 10 a.m. and it will be delivered to your selected hotel or Bounce branch from 6 p.m. that same day.

There are some caveats to using the service, however, with the main one being the cost. As it turns out, same-day delivery doesn’t come cheap, as the regular service (dropoff before 10 a.m. and pick-up/delivery from 8:00 p.m.) costs 13,200 yen (US$83). The express service (dropoff by 10 a.m. and pick-up/delivery from 6:00 p.m. or dropoff by 12 p.m. and pick-up/delivery from 8:00 p.m) costs 16,500 yen per item.

With the cost of a regular-season reserved-seat Nozomi Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto costing around 14,170 yen, the same-day delivery service does seem steep, but with Bounce taking care of the handoff and JTB looking after the delivery infrastructure and Shinkansen-based transport, the cost covers all the behind-the-scenes logistics to provide customers with one of the fastest delivery services in the country.

Like many other luggage-forwarding services, delivery is limited to eligible locations, so you’ll need to check the site for information on hotel requirements and Bounce stores, including opening hours.

If you’re travelling on a budget, Bounce can also help you out as it offers next day luggage delivery at a considerably lower price, sending your luggage for you via Yamato Transport. For Tokyo to Kyoto, for instance, you can send a large suitcase for around 4,900 yen, which is slightly higher than what you might pay for next-day delivery directly with Yamato Transport, which is generally around the 3,000 yen mark. While Yamato is a very reliable service, and arguably the most popular, it still runs largely on a Japan-style system, requiring handwritten Waybills and website navigation that can be daunting for first-timers.

The convenience in using Bounce lies in its multilingual, tourist-focused booking app, which allows you to make the reservation quickly and independently, with minimum fuss. Bounce handles the Waybills and logistics for you so all you have to do is drop your luggage off, giving you more time and energy for the journey.

▼ It also helps to reduce the burden on hotel staff, who can be seen looking harried and stressed out by various luggage-related ordeals below.

With more providers joining the luggage-forwarding scene, hands-free travel looks to be getting even easier in Japan, as companies find better ways to cater to the growing number of tourists who are now opting to stay at private rentals rather than conventional hotels. Now all we need is for this locker-based Shinkansen luggage-forwarding service to expand around Japan, so even more suitcases can enjoy their own journeys on the bullet train without getting in the way of their owners.

Related: Luggage Express, Bounce Luggage Delivery
Source: Press release
Featured image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Press release, Pakutaso (1, 2, 3)
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