Ensure your luggage is suitable for Japanese travel, prepare one large suitcase and one day bag to hold essentials like travel documents, meds, toiletries, your phone and a change of clothes.
Optimize your travel experience by utilizing Japan's efficient overnight luggage shipping services known as "takkyubin". Simply provide your hotel's name at the airport or hotel, and the staff will handle paperwork and payment. Typically, your bag will reach your hotel the next day, allowing you to travel with only a day bag containing essentials.Takkyubin fees depend on weight, distance, and bag size. As a rough estimate, sending a regular suitcase from Tokyo to Kyoto costs around ¥2,000 (approximately less than US$20). For more information, you can read
this article. Please note that if you plan to use a shinkansen (bullet train), be aware that starting from May 20, 2020, JR Tokai, JR West, and JR Kyushu introduced a pre-reservation service for seats with space for oversized luggage. Failing to make an advance reservation incurs an additional ¥1,000 fee. For more information, you can refer to
the linked article.