Hello all,
I’m not sure if my post belongs on this subreddit, but I am not sure where else to turn to. I originally posted this in r/JapanTravel using another acc but it got removed…
I (22F) am an exchange student living in Tokyo and was on a weekend trip with my family (they were visiting me in Japan) to Kyoto in the middle of April. We rented kimonos from a pretty famous kimono rental store in Kyoto. Since it was a weekend trip, my only luggage was my backpack. After we were all fitted into our kimonos, my sister wanted me to help her with her makeup. At that point, our belongings were already stored away, so I requested access to my backpack from an employee at the store. She showed me to the storage room and had me point out my backpack so they could retrieve it for me. As the room was filled with other customers’ bags, I wasn’t allowed to get my backpack on my own. I got my backpack and took out my makeup bag. When I was done with my sister’s makeup, the same employee offered to return my makeup bag for me. I gave her my makeup bag. However, it turns out that my makeup bag was never returned to my backpack. In fact, they had lost my makeup bag. We stayed at the store for 4 hours looking for the bag, but we couldn’t find it.
The unfortunate thing is that in my makeup bag, I had packed all of my makeup and toiletries. Included in my toiletries are my Orto K lenses (worth approximately 80,000 yen) and my night guard (worth approximately 50,000 yen). The store has said that they will reimburse me for my losses. However, after 30+ text messages and email exchanges with their employee, I have yet to receive any updates on the reimbursement.
While the store employee shouldn’t lose a customer’s item, I also know that it is my fault to hand over such valuable items to the employee. I have definitely learned my lesson. However, as a student, the loss of 130,000 yen is devastating to me. I have travel insurance from my school, but it doesn’t cover this.
Thus, my question is: Is there anything I can do about this situation? Is there a way I can get the store to reimburse me, or is this a lost cause? My friend suggested contacting the police, but I am not sure if I can do that in this situation.
Thank you for reading, any help would be appreciated.
5 comments
Expect lot of teeth sucking , shouganai and moushiwake gozaimasens. Check with nearby Koban if someone has returned your items.
It sounds like your belongings were stolen at a shop. Call the police. What are you waiting for? It has been a month already! I hope you have evidence.
Seems unlikely the employee would steal the item, likely they just put it in someone else’s bag. Sorry it’s not the best outcome but after a month the cops are not gonna spend any time on it. Also why wait a month to try and do something about it? also why are you talking with an employee and not the owner or management?
Wow, that’s pretty sloppy of them to lose that, in that way…
You screwed yourself waited so long. I’d be surprised if you get anything