Takkyubin (宅急便) — Luggage Forwarding
Yamato Transport’s door-to-door delivery service. You drop a bag off, it arrives at your next destination the following day. One of the most useful Japan-specific logistics tools — especially for carry-on-only travel with Shinkansen transitions.
The black cat logo (黒猫ヤマト) is on every corner. Service is reliable, bags arrive on time.
What It Costs
| Bag size | Typical cost (within Japan) |
|---|---|
| Small (60 size — up to 60cm total dimensions) | ¥1,000–1,400 |
| Medium (80 size — typical carry-on bag) | ¥1,200–1,700 |
| Large (100 size — large rolling suitcase) | ¥1,500–2,100 |
| Extra large (120 size) | ¥1,700–2,500 |
Prices vary slightly by distance. Osaka → Tokyo is a longer route; expect the upper end of each range.
How to Send a Bag
Option A — Convenience store drop-off (easiest)
- Go to FamilyMart or 7-Eleven with your bag
- Ask for a takkyubin form (宅急便の送り状) — staff will hand you one
- Fill in: your name/phone, the destination address, and your accommodation check-in date as the delivery date
- Pay at the register; keep the receipt (has tracking number)
- Done
Option B — Your accommodation arranges pickup
Ask your host (Osaka House, Tokyo House) to arrange Yamato pickup. They’ll bring a form to you. Common in Japanese accommodations.
The bag won’t be there when you arrive at the destination the same day — it arrives the following day. Account for this when packing.
Timing Rules
| Send by | Delivery |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Next day AM (typically 8–12 PM) |
| Evening | 2 days out (safer for same-size window) |
Always send at least 1 day before you need it. For the Osaka → Tokyo transition, send bags on April 13 (the day before departure).
Specific Scenarios for This Trip
Osaka → Tokyo (April 14)
The main use case. Shinkansen is comfortable and Green Car has overhead storage — but forwarding bags lets you travel completely hands-free.
How:
- April 13 (evening after dinner): drop bags at the nearest FamilyMart/7-Eleven near Osaka House
- Destination: Tokyo House address (東京都豊島区池袋本町４丁目４９−４)
- Request delivery for April 14, afternoon (the host should be available to receive)
- Travel April 14 with just a day bag
Confirm with Tokyo House host that they can receive bags before you’ve checked in — most hosts in Japan do this without issue.
Tokyo → HND Airport (April 19 / April 20)
Send bags from Tokyo House to the airport the evening before your flight.
- Service: Yamato Airport Delivery (空港宅配便) — specifically for airport destinations
- Drop off: April 19 evening at nearby FamilyMart/7-Eleven
- Destination: HND International Terminal, in your name, for April 20 pickup
- At HND: go to the Yamato service counter in the arrivals/departures area, show ID, collect bags before check-in
- Cost: ¥2,000–2,500 per large bag
This lets you travel from Tokyo House to HND on the monorail without wrestling large bags.
What You Can and Can’t Send
OK to send:
- Clothing, shoes, toiletries, personal items
- Checked-style luggage, rolling bags, backpacks
Do not send:
- Cash, passports, important documents, valuables — keep these with you
- Fragile electronics without protective packaging
- Anything you need access to that day
Tracking
Keep the receipt. The tracking number lets you see delivery status on yamato-hd.co.jp (has English version).