Hello! Hoping to get some assistance with the luggage services while in Japan.
From early to mid October I will be travelling to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka before beginning the Kumano Kodo trail from Kii-Tanabe to Kii-Katsuura, after which I will be heading back to Tokyo. I would like to bring my luggage to Kyoto and Osaka, but obviously cannot hike with it. So I am wondering what my best options might be in terms of luggage delivery or luggage storage.
Kumano Travel (travel agency who booked our accommodations) has told us that we can ship our bags from Tanabe to our last accommodation in Nachisan via the TA-Q-BIN service at a local station/mart. However they have told us to check with the accommodation in advance to ensure they will allow us to send it there and to expect it. The issue is we have no contact information for that accommodation…
They also noted that this is not a daily shuttle service, and would arrive “the next day or after at your destination”. (Which makes me nervous)
Question 1: Does anyone have experience shipping their luggage this way during the Kumano Kodo hikes? Did your luggage arrive in time?
Question 2: In the event we are not able to send it to the accommodation, is there a way to send our luggage to our final destination in Kii-Katsuura and have it held there for a few days?
Question 3: The other options is to store it in Osaka for a few nights then train back there to pick it up and head to Tokyo from there. This would add an extra hour on to our travel day, but is doable if it is going to save us a hassle. Where is the best secure place for storing large luggage for 4 days/ 3 nights?
The hike itinerary is as follows, for reference:
Osaka > bus to Kii Tanabe > bus to Hongu and stay overnight > hike to Ukegawa > hike to Nachisan > bus to Kii-Tanabe > train back to Tokyo
I’m an anxious traveller and this bit has been stressing me out the most. I will be reaching back out to Kumano Travel, however they often take awhile to respond. I would love to hear from people who have done the trail and how they managed their baggage!
2 comments
If you don’t need the luggage at all during those few days, you could just ship them to your hotel in Tokyo. You can specify delivery on the day of your arrival in Tokyo.
1. Takkyubin service is very reliable. For city-city they generally promise next day delivery and it may be an extra day for rural areas which is probably why they gave you that estimate..
2. Yes, you can specify a delivery date up to seven days in the future for free. So you could ship from Osaka to Kii-Katsuura/Tokyo for example.
3. Storage fees for 4 days will exceed the shipment cost (which comes with free ‘storage’ for 7 days given the option to specify delayed delivery). In this case, simply ship from Osaka to Tokyo.
> Osaka > bus to Kii Tanabe > bus to Hongu and stay overnight > hike to Ukegawa > hike to Nachisan > bus to Kii-Tanabe > train back to Tokyo
Unsolicited comment: If your hike all fits within 5 days (which it sounds like it might), possibly cheaper to get the Ise-Kumano-Wakayama pass so you can take the train down to Shingu -> bus to Hongu -> bus from Nachisan to Kii-Katsuura -> train back to Osaka?