I was surprised this luggage forwarding service in Japan hasn’t been blogged extensively as I had expected it to be.

So here’s a scenario: You touched down at Osaka Itami Airport and want to visit the nearby attractions (e.g. Ando Momofuku Instant Ramen museum) and maybe a mall before heading to check in your accommodation that night.

Your options are:

• A: Lug your luggage everywhere and pray that there are available coin lockers in the train stations you are heading to.
• B: Drop your luggage at your accommodation and skip the attractions or do a detour to head back to the attractions
• C: Have your luggage forwarded to your accommodation and back an overnight bag.

DING DING DING: You have chosen option C!

At first, I was wrought with all sorts of hesitation and questions: Is there insurance, what if they lost my luggage, what if my luggage is delayed? From what I gleaned online, there seems to be a natural reassurance in Japanese efficiency that your luggage forwarded will be secure and safe.

The process is really simple: Fill up a form (you can do it in English), pay your fee and wait for your luggage to arrive the next day.

There are multiple service providers. I used TaQBin on two occasions. Once, at the airport and second, at a convenience store. The only issue is probably, staff at convenience stores don’t speak much of English but you don’t need much of Japanese to forward a luggage too!

I had forwarded luggage of different sizes and the biggest sized luggage (probably 30-32 inch) cost 1340 Yen.

This is the form that you will fill in and I have labelled accordingly.

Things to take note of

1. Most convenience stores and airports offer luggage forwarding services and will have multiple vendor options. I used TaQBin on both occasions.
2. Luggage will only arrive next day and you can select stipulated delivery time slots (AM and PM). Remember to pack an overnight bag of essentials!
3. There is a tracking number that you can track via TaQBin’s website.