logo
Japan Railway, logistics firms launch more luggage service options for tourists

Japan Railway, logistics firms launch more luggage service options for tourists

The Star17-06-2025
TOKYO: More railway and logistics companies are offering luggage storage services in Japan.
As this allows foreign visitors to go sightseeing and shopping without having to carry heavy bags around with them, this is expected to boost demand and alleviate congestion caused by bulky luggage taking up space on trains and at tourist spots.
In May, transit system Tokyo Metro introduced the Tokyo Metlocker Plus service at Oshiage station, which is directly connected to the Tokyo Skytree, in the city's Sumida ward.
The service stores luggage in lockers and delivers it to hotels by 7pm the same day if it is received by 2pm.
The subway company plans to set up Metlockers at 20 stations by the end of 2025.
'The service not only improves convenience for tourists, but also helps reduce congestion on trains,' a Tokyo Metro spokesperson said.
East Japan Railway and Seibu Railway have been offering similar services with their coin lockers since September 2024.
Also in May 2025, delivery company Yamato Transport started a service that allows foreign visitors to drop off their souvenirs and luggage at about 40,000 locations in Japan, including convenience stores, and receive them at their homes overseas.
The service makes use of smartphones to simplify tasks such as writing addresses and handles the Customs procedures on the visitors' behalf.
It is currently available for addresses in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, with plans to expand to Taiwan and elsewhere in the future.
Preventing trouble
With less luggage, tourists may want to shop more, while luggage-free travel would help alleviate congestion in tourist areas and on trains.
Central Japan Railway, real estate company Mitsui Fudosan and transport company Sagawa Express have jointly launched a same-day delivery service of bags for guests staying at Mitsui hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, making use of vacant space on Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains.
The service is expected to prevent issues such as overhead racks filled up by large pieces of luggage, or reserved storage space being used by people who have not reserved the space.
At the ongoing 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, large luggage items are prohibited. Luggage storage services alleviate congestion, with storage fees varying according to location, from ¥10,000 (S$89) per item near the expo entrance to ¥1,000 at the nearby terminal station.
Expanding range of activities
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry's Kinki District Transport Bureau and others conducted an experiment in Kyoto in autumn 2023 and found that more than 90 per cent of the travellers who used temporary baggage storage at Japan Rail's Kyoto station said their range of activities expanded.
A record 36,869,900 foreigners visited Japan in 2024, up 47.1 per cent year on year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation's estimated figures.
The government has set a target of 60 million visitors by 2030.
'Luggage-free tourism not only reduces the burden on travellers but also offers significant benefits to local residents, such as alleviating congestion,' said Tomomi Nagai, chief analyst for Toray Corporate Business Research and specialist in the tourism industry.
'There is still considerable room for developing new services, and more companies may seek to stand out themselves from their competitors in the future.' - The Japan News/ANN
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Agency accuses Miti of snubbing talks, takes legal route over Osaka Expo design dispute
Agency accuses Miti of snubbing talks, takes legal route over Osaka Expo design dispute

Malay Mail

time18-07-2025

  • Malay Mail

Agency accuses Miti of snubbing talks, takes legal route over Osaka Expo design dispute

KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — A direct marketing company has reportedly issued a letter of demand to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) after previously alleging that the latter had used its designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan without permission. Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that Current Media Group Sdn Bhd's (CMG) is seeking formal recognition of its contributions to the project, and the legal move was made after all informal avenues for dialogue were exhausted after Miti was given 'ample time to act in good faith'. 'Should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law,' it reportedly said. 'CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms,' it added. In April, Miti said it was investigating claims made on social media alleging that it had used a creative agency's concept for the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka without credit or payment. The ministry said it has taken note of the allegations, which have been widely shared online following a viral Instagram post by Fey Ilyas. The ministry did not name the individual or agency involved, but the viral post by Fey Ilyas — shared under the handle @feyilyas — accused the government of using the agency's concept, theme, narrative and architectural direction for the Malaysia Pavilion, without credit or compensation. In the post, Fey said the team had 'helped secure approvals, brought in world-class partners, and shaped the foundation' of Malaysia's presence at the global expo. He also claimed the agency was told to stay quiet or risk losing future opportunities. FMT reported that despite Miti's response, CMG said it had not received any requests for documents, interviews, or clarification from the ministry.

Miti issued LoD over alleged plagiarism of expo designs
Miti issued LoD over alleged plagiarism of expo designs

Free Malaysia Today

time18-07-2025

  • Free Malaysia Today

Miti issued LoD over alleged plagiarism of expo designs

Current Media Group founder Fey Ilyas took to social media in April to accuse the ministry of using his company's designs for the expo without payment or credit. (Expo 2025 pic) PETALING JAYA : A direct marketing company has issued the investment, trade and industry ministry (Miti) a letter of demand seeking compensation for use of the firm's designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan. Current Media Group (CMG) is also demanding acknowledgement of its contributions. In a statement, CMG said it decided to issue an LoD to the ministry yesterday after exhausting all informal avenues for dialogue and giving Miti 'ample time to act in good faith'. 'Should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law,' it said. On April 25, CMG founder Fey Ilyas took to social media to accuse Miti of using his company's designs for the expo without payment or credit. Fey claimed that his company was engaged by the ministry in 2022 to develop the concept, theme, and architectural direction of the Malaysian pavilion. He said a proposal was presented to key stakeholders, including the minister, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, and the company was repeatedly assured that it would be formally appointed for the project. However, it was told in January 2023 that the appointment would not proceed and that the ministry wanted to open a tender. Fey claimed that his company was given the runaround for two years when it tried to get acknowledgement and fair compensation for its work. He said his company was also advised to stay silent about the alleged appropriation to prevent jeopardising future opportunities. Miti subsequently said that it was conducting an internal investigation, and that it took the allegation seriously. It said it would take legal action 'if and when necessary'. However, CMG said it had not received a single request for documents, interviews, or clarification since Miti's statement, nor had the ministry provided a substantive update on the status of its inquiry. 'CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms,' it said.

Far East Hospitality Strengthens its Presence in Japan with Two New Hotels in Osaka
Far East Hospitality Strengthens its Presence in Japan with Two New Hotels in Osaka

Malay Mail

time15-07-2025

  • Malay Mail

Far East Hospitality Strengthens its Presence in Japan with Two New Hotels in Osaka

Group enters Osaka with two Far East Village Hotels in Namba South and Honmachi districts, reinforcing its commitment to double its footprint to 2000 rooms in Japan. [1] Japan National Tourism Organisation, [2] [3] American Express, SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 July 2025 - Far East Hospitality has announced its continued expansion in Japan with the introduction of the Far East Village brand in Osaka. The openings of Far East Village Hotel Osaka, Namba South, and Far East Village Hotel Osaka, Honmachi, represent a significant milestone in the Group's growth strategy – to double its footprint to 2,000 rooms within the next five years across Japan's key gateway cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka."Far East Hospitality's expansion into Osaka is a pivotal step towards our five-year goal of expanding to 2,000 rooms in Japan. We are focused on strengthening the Far East Village brand in the country's key cities, particularly those with vibrant business and leisure appeal. We're excited to embrace the richness of Japan's culture and bring our 'Live Like a Local' philosophy to life, inviting travellers to engage meaningfully with what Japan has to offer. To fulfil this, we're pleased to partner Anglo Capital Group as they expand into Osaka. With our combined expertise and commitment to authentic hospitality, we look forward to delivering memorable guest experiences and unlocking full potential of these properties," said Mr. Mark Rohner, Chief Operating Officer of Far East Hospitality."Our entry into the Osaka market through the acquisition of two centrally located hotels and our partnership with Far East Hospitality for their management marks an exciting milestone in the continued growth of our hotel portfolio. Osaka's dynamic tourism landscape and strategic location make it an ideal addition to our expanding presence in Japan. We look forward to working with Far East Hospitality to deliver exceptional guest experiences and further strengthen our footprint in key locations across Japan," said Benjamin Cho, Principal of Anglo Fortune Capital East Hospitality made its entry into Japan in July 2020 with the opening of Far East Village Hotel Tokyo Ariake, followed by Far East Village Hotel Yokohama in June 2021. Despite global travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the Group maintained expansion momentum, opening its third property in 2023, Far East Village Hotel Tokyo Asakusa. With these two new Osaka hotels, Far East Hospitality is now operating five hotels in five years since its entry into milestone openings reaffirm the Group's commitment to delivering purpose-driven, culturally grounded hospitality while expanding its regional presence in a competitive and high-potential tourism sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and recovery since the pandemic. In Tokyo alone, international visitor arrivals between January and October 2023 were approximately 12 times higher, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by over 34%. The rebound continued into 2024, with Japan welcoming a record-breaking 36.9 million international visitors, a 47.1% increase from strong performance has fuelled Far East Hospitality's optimism to scale in Japan, where rising inbound demand and evolving traveller preferences of personalised, authentic, and meaningful experiences when choosing travel destinationsalign closely with the Group's for both leisure and business travellers, Far East Village Hotel Osaka, Namba South is a 77-room hotel located in the vibrant Oku-Namba neighbourhood, just south of Osaka's bustling Namba district. Within walking distance of key attractions like Namba Yasaka Shrine and Dotonbori, the hotel's proximity to Daikokucho and Namba Stations also provides seamless access to the wider Kansai East Village Hotel Osaka, Honmachi has 165 rooms, and serves as an ideal gateway to Osaka's blend of modernity and rich cultural heritage. Situated in the central business district of Chuo-ku, just steps from the iconic Osaka Castle, the hotel offers easy access to popular landmarks such as Osaka-jo Park and the historic Minami East Hospitality offers distinct experiences through personalised service that sets it apart in its category. By fostering a culture of genuine care, attention to detail, and using positive feedback to empower staff, guests are ensured that every stay is thoughtful and memorable. The Village brand's signature 'Live Like a Local' philosophy encourages guests to immerse themselves into each destination's cultural fabric, whether through everyday interactions with neighbourhood shops and eateries or specially curated can explore Osaka with its signature Village Passport, an exclusive and curated insider guide featuring local tips on attractions, dining and exciting experiences around the area. These locally rooted touchpoints create meaningful stays that reflect the character of each learn more about Far East Village Hotel Osaka, Namba South or Far East Village Hotel Osaka, Honmachi, please visit: resolution images are available here Hashtag: #FarEastHospitality The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Village Hotels & Residences The Village brand by Far East Hospitality reveals the unique charm and colourful personality of the locale in which each Village property is situated. Manifesting the ideals of 'Eat, Play, and Explore like a local', Village plays the role of a guide encouraging guests to embark on adventures through Singapore's vibrant precincts to discover what truly means to 'Live like a Local'. This provides guests with a refreshing and exciting experience no matter the location of the property they choose to visit. Whether guests are looking for authentic culinary delights or hunting for cultural gems, there's something for everyone staying at Village. For more information, please visit: About Far East Hospitality Far East Hospitality Holdings Pte Ltd (Far East Hospitality) is an international hospitality owner and operator with a diverse portfolio of 10 unique and complementary brands of hotels, serviced residences and apartment hotels, including Oasia, Quincy, Rendezvous, Village, Far East Collection, A by Adina, Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Travelodge Hotels and Collection by TFE Hotels. Far East Hospitality owns more than 10 hospitality assets and operates a combined portfolio of more than 17,000 rooms under its management across over 100 hotels and serviced residences in 10 countries – Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Switzerland, with more in its development pipeline. In 2024, the group ranked amongst the top 100 hotel companies by HotelsMag. Far East Hospitality is a 70-30 joint venture formed in 2013 between Far East Orchard Limited (a listed company under Far East Organization) and The Straits Trading Company Limited. In the same year, Far East Hospitality, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Far East Hospitality Investments (Australia) Pte Ltd, completed a 50-50 joint venture with Australia's Toga Group to form Toga Far East Hotels (TFE Hotels). For more information, visit

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store