Flyers to Tokyo with Japan Airlines, and Tokyo residents tired of the crowding caused by overtourism, can now benefit from a new service that delivers air passenger baggage direct to their accommodation, avoiding the need to lug suitcases onto the city’s public transport.
The flag carrier launched the service on 5 December and said in a press release it “aims to provide a seamless and stress-free travel experience by ensuring that tourists can enjoy their time in Tokyo without the burden of carrying heavy luggage.”
“More enjoyable and efficient”
The statement emphasised the enhanced “convenience and comfort of foreign visitors, contributing to a more enjoyable and efficient travel experience.” Underlying these words, a sense that commuting around the city will be more “enjoyable and efficient” not only for international guests but also the city’s own residents, who will no doubt hope to see a reduction in luggage on their commutes thanks to the new offer. The airline acknowledged that the move would “address social issues such as congestion in public transport and the shortage of storage lockers.”
Costing a reasonable 4,500 yen (€28) per item, the service is currently only open to foreign arrivals at Haneda Airport’s terminal three and can be used across 14 of the Japanese capital’s districts including Bunkyo, Chiyoda, Chuo, Edogawa, Koto, Meguro, Minato, Ota, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Sumida, Taito, and Toshima. Luggage will be delivered to flyers’ hotels the same day as they arrive, by 8pm or 10pm depending on their arrival time.
Air passengers must apply for the baggage delivery in advance via a barcode in arrivals and collect a baggage sticker from a machine before checking in their items at the JAL ABC desk. The baggage can only be delivered to hotels, not other accommodation.
Surge in tourism
Japan is seeing a surge in tourism thanks to its weak yen giving international visitors increased spending power. The government has set ambitious tourism targets, despite beating previous goals and a record 3.2 million tourists in July 2024, up 66 per cent year-on-year. This has caused some soul-searching about the impact of overtourism in various iconic sites, with tourist taxes at temples, hiking fees in place at Mount Fuji, and anger over the harassment of geisha in Kyoto.
Still, the initiatives to keep the tourists happy keep coming, but of course, Tokyo residents as well as foreign arrivals are welcome to use the new JAL same day luggage delivery service too.
