Arriving in a new city with a large suitcase is one of travel's least pleasant experiences. In Nara, where the principal pleasures involve walking through parks, exploring narrow Naramachi lanes, and navigating temple precincts with stone steps and gravel paths, luggage is not merely inconvenient — it is an active impediment to the experience you came for. Japan offers two elegant solutions to this problem: coin lockers for short-term storage and takkyubin for luggage forwarding between cities.
Understanding both systems before you arrive eliminates the single most annoying logistical challenge of multi-city Japan travel.
Takkyubin: Luggage Forwarding
**The Service**
Takkyubin (宅急便) is Japan's luggage delivery service — and it may be the single most useful travel innovation in the country. For approximately ¥2,000–¥3,000 per bag, you can send your luggage from one hotel to the next, arriving before you do. You travel between cities with only a day bag, free to explore immediately upon arrival.
**How It Works**
1. **At your hotel in the departing city** (e.g., Kyoto): Ask reception to arrange takkyubin pickup. Fill out the delivery slip (staff will help). 2. **Specify the destination**: Your next hotel's name and address. 3. **Pay**: ¥1,500–¥3,000 per bag depending on size and distance. Cash or sometimes credit card. 4. **Travel light**: Your bags arrive at your next hotel the following day (same-day delivery available on some routes for additional cost). 5. **At your hotel in the arriving city** (e.g., Nara): Your bags are waiting at reception when you check in.
**Timing**
- **Standard delivery**: Next-day arrival if sent before the morning cutoff (typically 10:00–11:00am). This means sending bags on the morning of departure and picking them up the following afternoon at your next hotel. - **Planning**: If you are moving from Kyoto to Nara, send bags from your Kyoto hotel in the morning, travel to Nara with only a day bag, explore Nara all afternoon, check into your Nara hotel in the evening, and find your bags already there.
**Practical Details**
- **Providers**: Yamato Transport (Kuroneko/Black Cat) and Sagawa Express are the major carriers. Hotels work with one or both. - **Bag types**: Standard suitcases, large backpacks, ski equipment, golf clubs — virtually any luggage can be sent. - **Reliability**: Takkyubin is extraordinarily reliable. Delays are rare. Damage is almost unheard of. - **International shipping**: Takkyubin can also send bags to airports for international departure — useful on your last day when you want to explore without luggage.
Coin Lockers
**For Day Visitors and Short Storage**
If you are day-tripping to Nara or need to store luggage for a few hours, coin lockers are available:
**Kintetsu Nara Station**: Lockers available inside the station and at the street-level exit. Sizes range from small (backpack) to large (suitcase). - Small: ¥300–¥400 - Medium: ¥500–¥600 - Large: ¥600–¥800
**JR Nara Station**: Lockers available inside the station building. - Similar pricing to Kintetsu
**Tourist Information Centre**: The centre near Kintetsu Nara Station may offer luggage storage or can direct you to available lockers.
**Limitations**
- **Availability**: Large lockers fill quickly, particularly on weekends and during peak season. Arrive early for the best selection. - **Duration**: Most lockers are 24-hour rental. Retrieving luggage after midnight may require a new payment. - **Size**: Very large suitcases may not fit standard lockers. The largest available size accommodates most medium-to-large suitcases. - **Payment**: Most lockers accept coins (¥100 coins) and increasingly IC cards (Suica, ICOCA).
**Alternative: Luggage Storage Services**
Some shops and services near the stations offer luggage storage for a flat fee. These can accommodate oversized bags that do not fit in lockers. Ask at the tourist information centre for current options.
Strategy for Multi-City Travel
**Kyoto → Nara**
**Best approach**: Send bags via takkyubin from your Kyoto hotel on the morning of your last Kyoto day. Travel to Nara by afternoon with a day bag. Bags arrive at your Nara hotel the same evening or next morning.
**Alternative**: Carry bags on the 35-minute Kintetsu Express from Kyoto to Nara. Use the escalators and elevators at both stations. Walk or taxi to your accommodation. This is manageable but less pleasant than travelling light.
**Nara → Osaka**
**Best approach**: Same system — send bags ahead to your Osaka hotel. Travel with a day bag on the 40-minute train.
**Day Trip to Nara (No Overnight)**
**Approach**: Use coin lockers at Kintetsu or JR Nara Station. Store bags upon arrival, explore all day, retrieve bags before your return train. Arrive early for the best locker availability.
Packing Tips for Nara
- **Comfortable walking shoes**: Essential. You will walk 8–12 km per day on varied surfaces. - **Light layers**: Temple interiors can be cool; outdoor walking generates warmth. Layering adapts to both. - **Small day bag**: A bag that holds water, camera, umbrella, and a light layer is all you need during the day. - **Minimal luggage**: Nara rewards packing light. Traditional accommodation involves unpacking in a single room — efficiency is appreciated.
Properties in Naramachi like Kanoya can arrange takkyubin pickup and delivery, advise on locker locations, and assist with the logistics of multi-city luggage management.
Frequently Asked Questions
**How much does takkyubin cost?**
¥1,500–¥3,000 per bag for standard delivery between Kansai cities. Price depends on bag size and distance.
**Can I send bags to my hotel before I check in?**
Yes. The hotel will store them until you arrive. Specify your check-in date on the delivery slip.
**Are there enough coin lockers at Kintetsu Nara Station?**
Usually, but large lockers fill quickly on busy days. Arrive before 10:00am for the best availability, or use takkyubin instead.
**Is takkyubin available from ryokan and small hotels?**
Yes. Virtually all accommodation in Japan, regardless of size, can arrange takkyubin service.
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*Suggested internal link anchors: "transport" → Nara transport guide; "Kyoto to Nara" → Kansai itinerary guide; "walking" → walking routes guide*
*Featured snippet answer: "Takkyubin luggage forwarding (¥1,500–¥3,000/bag) sends your bags between hotels — ask your hotel reception to arrange it. Bags arrive next day. Coin lockers at Kintetsu Nara Station: ¥300–¥800 depending on size. Best strategy: send bags ahead via takkyubin and travel between cities with only a day bag. All Nara accommodation can arrange the service."*