Travel Guide
Airport tips, city guides and everything about getting your luggage where it needs to be.
Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka: 4 Ways to Send Your Luggage Hotel to Hotel the Same Day
When you move hotels from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, you have four options for your luggage: take it on the Shinkansen yourself (bags of 161–250 cm need an oversi…
Changing Hotels in Japan: How to Plan Your Luggage on a Multi-City Itinerary
When you are changing hotels in Japan, the easiest plan is to send your big luggage separately and travel with just a day bag. Yamato's Takkyubin usually arrive…
Landing at Narita or Haneda and Heading Straight to Kyoto or Osaka: Trains, Flights and What to Do with Your Luggage
To get from Narita or Haneda to Kyoto or Osaka on the day you land, take an airport train to the Tokaido Shinkansen. From Narita, the N'EX reaches Tokyo Station…
Tokyo to Hakone or Lake Kawaguchiko with Luggage: Romancecar, Fuji Excursion and Hotel-to-Ryokan Delivery
To get from Tokyo to Hakone or Lake Kawaguchiko with luggage, you have three options. Carry it yourself on the Odakyu Romancecar (about 80 minutes from Shinjuku…
Hakone or Kawaguchiko to Kyoto or Osaka: Getting to the Shinkansen Without Hauling Your Suitcase
To get from Hakone to Kyoto, most travellers take the Hakone Tozan train from Hakone-Yumoto to Odawara (about 15 minutes) and change to a Tokaido Shinkansen Hik…
Where to Store or Send Luggage in Japan: How to Use Hands-Free Travel (Tebura Kanko) in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
To use hands-free travel in Japan, you store your luggage or send it ahead at one of five places: station coin lockers, staffed station counters, your hotel's f…
Things to Do Near Kansai Airport: Rinku Town, Rinku Premium Outlets and Izumisano
The best thing to do near Kansai Airport is Rinku Town in Izumisano, right across the water. Take the Nankai Airport Line or the JR Kansai Airport Line from Kan…
Tokyo Disney to Universal Studios Japan: Getting Between the Two Parks with Kids and Luggage
The usual way from Tokyo Disney Resort to Universal Studios Japan is the JR Keiyo Line from Maihama to Tokyo Station (about 15 minutes), the Tokaido Shinkansen…
Things to Do Near Narita Airport: Naritasan Shinshoji and Omotesando on Arrival or Departure Day
The best thing to do near Narita Airport is Naritasan Shinshoji temple and its Omotesando street. Take the Keisei Main Line from the airport to Keisei-Narita (a…
Shinkansen Oversized Baggage Reservation: Do You Need One? 2026 Rules
Whether you need a Shinkansen oversized baggage reservation depends on your bag's size and the line. On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen,…
Narita and Haneda Luggage Delivery to Your Tokyo Hotel: Same-Day Options vs N'EX and Limousine Bus
For Narita and Haneda luggage delivery to a Tokyo hotel you have three options. Carry your bags yourself on the Narita Express (Narita Airport to Shinjuku ¥3,33…
Same-Day Luggage Delivery vs Yamato TA-Q-BIN: Which Should Tourists Use?
Sending luggage with Yamato TA-Q-BIN (Kuroneko Yamato's takkyubin) in Japan usually means next-day delivery, and about 2 days to farther regions such as Hokkaid…
Kansai Airport to Osaka Hotels with Luggage: Rapi:t, Haruka, Bus or Same-Day Delivery to Namba, Umeda and USJ
The fastest way from Kansai Airport to Namba is the Nankai Rapi:t (as little as 34 minutes; ¥1,410 for a regular seat with Nankai's digital ticket). For Umeda,…
Kansai Airport to Kyoto Hotel with Luggage: Haruka, Limousine Bus or Same-Day Delivery
Getting from Kansai Airport to Kyoto with luggage comes down to three options: the JR Haruka limited express to Kyoto Station (about 80 minutes; ¥3,060 non-rese…
Where to Leave Your Luggage After Hotel Checkout in Japan
After checkout in Japan, the easiest place to leave your luggage is the hotel front desk: most hotels hold bags for guests free of charge on checkout day, and y…
Coin Lockers vs Luggage Storage Apps vs Luggage Delivery in Japan: Which Should You Use?
In Japan you have three ways to deal with luggage between check-out and your next stop. Station coin lockers are the most convenient: large lockers cost about ¥…
Hokkaido Ski Luggage Delivery 2026–27: How to Send Ski Gear to Niseko (LuggAgent vs Yamato)
For Hokkaido ski luggage delivery you have two main options. Yamato's Ski Takkyubin charges per item at the 180-size rate (cover extra) and is usually cheaper i…
Central Japan Ski Luggage Delivery 2026–27: Sending Gear to Hakuba, Echigo-Yuzawa and Karuizawa (LuggAgent vs Yamato)
The most common way to handle ski luggage delivery in central Japan is Yamato's Ski Takkyubin: it charges per item, skis must go in a Yamato protective cover bo…
Kyoto Cherry Blossom 2027 Guide: When to Go, Philosopher's Path, Ninna-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and Getting Around
The best time for Kyoto cherry blossom viewing is usually late March to early April. Japan Meteorological Agency records give Kyoto's normal flowering date (Som…
Best Ski Resorts in Japan and Snow Festivals 2026–27: Niseko, Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba Lift Prices, Sapporo Snow Festival Dates
The best ski resorts in Japan for most visitors are Niseko in Hokkaido and Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba Valley in Nagano. For 2026–27, a Niseko All Mountain 1-day pa…
Universal Studios Japan Guide 2026: Ticket Prices, Express Pass, Super Nintendo World and Getting There
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is in Konohana Ward, Osaka: take the train from JR Osaka Station to Universal City Station (about 15 minutes) and walk about 5 min…
Tokyo Disneyland Christmas 2026: Dates, Parades, Food and Tickets
Tokyo Disneyland Christmas 2026 ("Disney Christmas") runs from November 11 to December 25, 2026. The park's daytime parade, "Toys Wondrous Christmas!", lasts ab…
Tokyo DisneySea Christmas 2026: Dates, Harbor Show, Food and Tickets
Tokyo DisneySea Christmas 2026 ("Disney Christmas") runs from November 11 to December 25, 2026. The harbor show "Disney Christmas Greeting" plays twice a day on…
Best Sushi in Tokyo: Toyosu Market, Conveyor-Belt Sushi and Ginza Omakase, with Prices and Booking Tips
The best sushi in Tokyo comes in three price bands. Conveyor-belt sushi starts at about ¥115 a plate. Restaurants inside Toyosu Market cost about ¥2,000–8,000 a…
Kyoto Autumn Leaves 2026: Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera Forecast, Plus Tokyo's Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue
The best time to see Kyoto autumn leaves is usually mid-November to early December. The Japan Weather Association's tenki.jp forecast of October 1, 2026 expects…
Japan Kimono Experience Guide: Asakusa Kimono Rental Prices, Kyoto Tea Ceremony and Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri 2027
The most popular place for a Japan kimono experience is Asakusa in Tokyo: at Asakusa Aiwafuku, for example, the student plan starts at ¥3,300 and the couple pla…
Day Trips from Tokyo: Kamakura & Enoshima, Yokohama and Kawagoe Transport and Sightseeing Guide
The most popular day trips from Tokyo are Kamakura & Enoshima, Yokohama and Kawagoe, all within an hour by train. From Tokyo Station, the JR Yokosuka Line reach…
Best Ramen in Tokyo: 8 Top Shops for Shoyu, Miso, Shio and Tonkotsu
The best ramen in Tokyo falls into four broth types: shoyu (soy sauce), Tokyo's signature style (Jun Teuchi Daruma, Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta); miso (Santora,…
Outlets Near Tokyo 2026: Gotemba, Karuizawa and Kisarazu — Access, Opening Hours and the New Tax Refund System
The most popular outlets near Tokyo are Gotemba Premium Outlets, Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza and Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu. Gotemba has 290 stores and vie…
Tokyo Shopping Guide 2026: Ginza, Harajuku, Shinjuku and Shibuya, Plus Japan's New Tax Refund Rules
The four best areas for shopping in Tokyo are Ginza (luxury brands, department stores and the UNIQLO and MUJI flagships), Harajuku (Takeshita Street and Omotesa…
Mt Fuji Travel Guide 2026: Getting to Kawaguchiko, Top Sights, Climbing Rules and Where to Stay
For a Mt Fuji trip from Tokyo, the easiest route is a highway bus or the "Fuji Excursion" limited express from Shinjuku to Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko), about 2…
Things to Do in Kyoto and What to Buy: 5 Must-See Sights (Fees and Access) and 5 Classic Souvenirs
The top things to do in Kyoto are Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera and Hanamikoji in Gion. Fushimi Inari and the Bamboo Grove are fre…
Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Guide 2026: Entry, Premier Access, Access and Hotels
Fantasy Springs is Tokyo DisneySea's eighth themed port. It opened on June 6, 2024, is themed to Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan, and has four attractions. Since…
Tokyo to Kyoto Shinkansen Guide 2026: Fares, JR Pass and Luggage Rules
The fastest Tokyo to Kyoto Shinkansen is the Nozomi: about 2 hours 15 minutes and ¥14,170 for a reserved seat in regular season (¥13,320 non-reserved). The Hika…
Tokyo to Osaka 2026: Shinkansen vs Night Bus vs Flight, and How to Use the JR Pass
The best way from Tokyo to Osaka for most travellers is the Shinkansen: the Nozomi takes about 2 hours 30 minutes, and a regular-season reserved seat from Tokyo…