How to use COIN LOCKERS in Japan 🛅🧳🔑

[@isaactristan6427]

Lockers are great after a long day of shopping and you just want to relax at a coffee shop before heading back to the hotel. Never had trouble finding an empty one.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It helps to be able to put your bags somewhere, when so many places are so small!

[@saulschlapik6818]

I've found these lockers useful for stopovers between base cities: i.e, Nagoya between Tokyo & Osaka or Hiroshima between Osaka & Fukuoka. Once when I was in Toyama, all the lockers in the JR station were taken and a woman took me to the regional railway station next door and found one for me. Another reason why Japan is so wonderful. However, there were a couple of places in Europe (both good sized cities) that had no left luggage facilities and I had to lug my stuff around the whole time.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that's so nice of her to help out! There are so many convenient things like this in Japan that I miss when I'm in other countries!

[@areasevenpro]

Coin lockers were very convenient during my trip across Japan last year, except for one week, when they were off-limits nationwide due to the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. Because of that, I had my suitcase sent from Osaka to Tokyo via takkyubin while I spent the day at the Black Thunder factory in Toyohashi.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah someone else mentioned lockers being closed during the summit! How was the Black Thunder factory?

[@areasevenpro]

@@cakeswithfacesThe Black Thunder factory is a once in a lifetime experience. It's a bit of a challenge to get there, as it's a 30-minute walk from the nearest train station and the only other means of transportation is by taxi, which is tricky on its own. Once you get there, you'll see every regular or limited edition flavor available. In addition, they have the 1,000 yen challenge, where you are given a plastic bag and you have 10 minutes to stuff as many Black Thunder bars as you can. I was able to get 43 bars in a bag, which came out to just 23 yen per bar.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@areasevenpro That sounds fun! Black Thunder's delicious - so chocolatey!

[@jodysandberg8605]

Thank you!!! I needed this information for when we go to Osaka and can not leave our bags at the hotel until 1pm.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Most hotels will look after your bags in the lobby or luggage room before you check in and after you check out.

[@bh0666]

Brilliant, could have done with this last year, using lockers was fun, but on return, finding one in a station proved a hike and a half.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It can be hit and miss! 😅 May the locker gods be with you!

[@tomasso911]

I used it only once, whilst in Kyoto and it worked really seamlessly with Suica 👍

[@cakeswithfaces]

Such a smooth system!

[@cycler2462]

Wow! Very detailed explanation. I’ve been finding a video that guides well on coin lockers of where to find and how to use them. This is so helpful because my flight out of Japan is on the evening and i like to explore Tokyo more in the morning without dragging my luggage with me. Thank u for this ☺️

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much, so glad it helps! Usually on my last day I'll leave my luggage with my hotel after checking out. But lockers can be more convenient if you won't be going back past your hotel later in the day.

[@kc3302]

Great info as always Amy! I don't think all lockers allow overnight storage so I'd suggest people check the locker to make sure they do before leaving their bags overnight. Major train stations sometimes have temporary luggage rooms on weekends or other busy times. I noticed a couple last year, one was at Tokyo Station. Similar prices to using lockers but they have limited hours, 8am-8pm or so. Yamato Transport (the ones that do the luggage delivery to hotels/airports) do luggage storage too.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, always a good idea to check the rules of the lockers or luggage room, because they're not the same everywhere!

[@MrKarto2287]

Finally a video that shows how to actually get the key and use the touch screen. So much other videos skip this surprisingly. The only question I got now is do you have to hold down the lever till there is that clicking noise or a quick push is enough?

[@cakeswithfaces]

When you pull down the lever, hold it for a moment - the light will flash and it'll tell you on the screen that it's done. You can feel/hear when it's locked too. ☺️

[@90293Mike]

Lockers are also great if you want to stash your luggage while you visit something for a few hours. For instance, I am traveling between Fukuoka and Osaka but I want to stop in Hiroshima and visit Miyajima for a few hours.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes - perfect situation for lockers! So you don't have to carry your bags around with you all day.

[@RedAndtheBlackRocker]

I pulled into Kanazawa station a couple of weeks ago and just wanted to stroll around and get some food before finding my hotel. I found some lockers in the station but my umbrella wouldn't fit. A Japanese guy could tell I was having trouble and through some basic hand gestures and broken English, he suggested I just put in on top of the lockers, that it would be OK. Oh yeah! This is Japan! So of course an hour later when I came back it was gone haha. I even found the station security guys and they said no umbrellas were found. I can't believe someone actually took my umbrella in Japan 😂

[@cakeswithfaces]

I have heard that when it comes to umbrellas in Japan, it can be a bit of a free for all! You can leave your wallet on a table in a cafe when you go to the bathroom, but umbrellas left outside shops are a kind of shared system!

[@SkateRatYuki]

Coin lockers were so helpful during my travels in Japan. 😭💕

[@cakeswithfaces]

There are so many convenient, useful things in Japan! :-)

[@zoeb6778]

Thank you for all the great tips! l will be in Japan in May for the first time and knowing this information beforehand, will help with everything else that is new and unfamiliar.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much! I remember when I first went to Japan, I was so excited but also had so many questions, so that's why I do what I do! ☺️✨

[@dwarfagp]

When we were in Tokyo Station in 2019, the lockers were down stairs, and they had people that took your bags, and put them in the locker, and gave you a ticket. It was VERY busy, and could imagine it would be chaos if people did their own lockers. It was a bit like a baggage storage system, but with lockers 😀

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that's interesting! Glad they got it working smoothly in a busy station!

[@dwarfagp]

@@cakeswithfaces Tokyo station is organised chaos at the best of times !🤣

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@dwarfagp I remember once, my friend was visiting Japan at the same time and we arranged to meet at a restaurant there. Big mistake, it's way too much of a maze for that!! 😅

[@Jjrmtv]

this is such great and detailed information... thank you so much!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks, glad it helps! :-)

[@khortman]

Thank you so much for this! Puts my mind at ease and for some reason I didn't even think about the fact I'd be carrying a key around (for some machines; love the ones that don't require it!)! I'm planning on using the lockers twice during my upcoming trip because I'm planning some 1- or 2-day-trips from Tokyo and switching hotels, which is easier (and cheaper) to manage with station lockers (since I'll pick them up on Day 2 or Day 3 of the locker storage, so within the 3-day limit) rather than the more expensive luggage delivery back and forth.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes that'll work out better than luggage forwarding (especially as your luggage would arrive next day or within 2 days). There are more IC card lockers than the older type that takes keys, so you should be all good!

[@marek2656]

Thank you for this detailed video!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Hope it helps! Have a great time in Japan!

[@rilkeanheart]

i've noticed that extremely busy hubs like shinjuku and shibuya stations have tons of coin lockers everywhere, and that they're all occupied, seemingly whenever i pass through. anecdotal information, yes, but beware and don't assume you can stash your luggage in very crowded areas of tokyo!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, I've been caught out in Shibuya too. Availability seems to be better in the morning than the evening, or pop into a less popular station nearby to use the lockers there.

[@MissiBoo]

Very informative Amy, thank you ❤🫶🛅

[@cakeswithfaces]

Not the most exciting topic, but I hope it's useful! :-)

[@MissiBoo]

@@cakeswithfaces you did an excellent job Amy 🫶

[@whatshappening17]

Oh this is so exciting! We were lucky enough to use them whilst at Tokyo Disney so I'm happy you can showcase how convenient you are. Also since you mentioned the black cat, are we going to be perhaps seeing a luggage delivery video in the near future?? I'm going next week to Japan so I'll have to let you know how I fare with it but I'm excited for new Japan videos!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, I've filmed a video about Takkyubin too! It won't be out in time for your trip, but feel free to ask if you have any questions about it. Have a wonderful trip!

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Hi Amy. Interesting video on coin lockers, great to know. We just got back from Tokyo. Your book was very useful when planning places to visit on our trip. We visited more than 30 places and attractions during or stay. We're going to visit Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo in May and will use your Japan Guide Book a lot. We will travel with Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo station, we're looking forward to travel with the NOZOMI Shinkansen.

[@cakeswithfaces]

That sounds fantastic! What were your favourites from your trip?

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

@@cakeswithfaces I liked Asakusa Senjo-ji shrine a lot, very crowded but still a great place to visit. Harajuku back alleys were way cool, found a great restaurant only a short way to the side of Takeshita street. Straight out of Harajuku station there is a narrow alley that leads to the middle of Takeshita street. We liked Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. We stayed in Ariake and went to Odaiba a few times, the area around Statue of Liberty were great. teamLab Planets in Shin-Toyosu were an experience for life. Shibuya Scramble Square area were great, we visited Scramble Square skyscraper and Shibuya SKY, Shibuya 109, Sakura Stage Illuminations at night, Mega Don Quijote. We went to Akihabara and visited a game arcade, my wife got hooked on a crab game LOL. We visited @Home Cafe Main, a cute maid cafe, also a place I will remember for life. There are too many to list. We've made the reservations for our flight in May, also bought tickets with Nozomi Shinkansen, green car, reserved seat as we have large suitcases just like you two. We will continue to study your book, it's packed with great info, thank you Amy for the work you put down making the Japan Travel Guidebook 🙂 Best regards, from Jan-Ove Pedersen, Norway.

[@weebmerchdestroyedwallet-k1283]

Informative as always! If possible please can you do a video about how to make a booking in Japan? Like getting a ticket to the studio Ghibli museum or making a reservation at a Pokémon cafe? Thank you! 😊

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much! It varies by place, but I'd start by checking the details on the official site for each place - and both of those you need to be ready to book the second they go on sale, because bookings are highly sought-after! All the details are in my kawaii Tokyo guide: cakeswithfaces.co.uk/product/guide-to-kawaii-tokyo/

[@NyooooKaraoke]

I fell here after seeing the heartwarming song "Coin locker baby"..

[@cakeswithfaces]

Well I guess it's related in a way...!

[@largesmallworld]

Use coin lockers all the time & as a fan of Steins;Gate I had to use the same coin locker to store my ibn5100. That locker remained the same price to use.

[@cakeswithfaces]

What a fantastic deal! 😝

[@amysquie]

Thanks Amy, very useful! I don't know if you've ever covered this, but as people tend to go to Japan for a couple of weeks, what do you do about laundry? Do they have launderettes or cheap hotel laundry services? Do you do laundry while you're out there or just take enough clothes and maybe buy some out there?! Thanks!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Many hotels offer laundry services. There are even one or two hotels that have a washing machine in your room if you want to do lots of washing! And there are launderettes, but with the language barrier it's probably easier to use your hotel's laundry. For me, I can only ever take 2 weeks off for travelling so I just take enough clothes with me and pack as light as possible.

[@jali_cat]

Would using an IC card on your phone work for these lockers, or will only physical cards work for payment? Love your videos!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks! 🎶 Yes, mobile IC cards should work everywhere that standard IC cards do, so you can use them for lockers.

[@shaunasm90]

Really helpful thanks :)

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much!

[@RoldanSalalila-bl5ox]

Hi good day...what if I will store my luggage for 5 days? Is it possible...Thanks

[@cakeswithfaces]

That would be too long for a locker. I've never looked into that myself, but I'd check luggage storage offices and counters. I did notice while staying at the Hotel Gracery in Tokyo last week they had a sign saying they could store your luggage for up to 4 months if you're staying with them at the start and end of that period.

[@jbaezhernandez]

I will arrive to tokyo station a sunday in October. Do you at 7 am will be difficult to find an empty locker? Thanks for the information :)

[@cakeswithfaces]

I'm not sure, but I'd think that earlier in the day there'd be more empty lockers, before they get filled up during the day. Tokyo Station's huge, so there will be multiple banks of lockers around - so if you don't find one at the first bank, keep searching. I've always found that hotels will look after your luggage free of charge before you check-in too.

[@JillBudgie]

can you choose how many days you can rent the locker?

[@cakeswithfaces]

Most are up to 3 days, but check the rules at the particular locker bank because some are less. If you leave it too long, your stuff will be taken out by staff. But the rules will be displayed, so if it's a regular 3 day locker rule, you can choose how long. The price displayed is for each day (usually roughly midnight to midnight is one day).

[@AlanVByrnes]

So price is 500 yen or more? And how long can you use them for? 🙂🙂🙂

[@cakeswithfaces]

The price is 500 yen, or more, and depends on the size of the locker. Usually you can use them for up to 3 days, and pay the price for each day, but sometimes the rules are different at each place.

[@Andy_001_]

What happens if you exceed the time limit? Do you just need to pay extra to open it? Or are the contents taken away?...😨

[@cakeswithfaces]

The rules may be slightly different at each place, but in general, if it's 3 days you just pay extra, and if it's more than that the contents are taken and stored elsewhere, then after a certain time they're disposed of.

[@dendypradana78]

Hi, stupid question from me, if I drop my luggage at 03:00 pm in 11-May-2024, and will take it out in the night of 13-May-2024. How many days is it? 2 or 3? 😢

[@cakeswithfaces]

Depending on the rules of the locker, the first day ends at 2am on the 12th, so it'd be 3 days. If you're leaving it overnight, I'd always check the rules just to make sure it'll be ok as different lockers might be emptied at different times.

[@iapplethis]

Id buy your book if it had an ebook :/ Its cute, but Im backpacking and cant be carrying a book around. Actually isnt the point to have it on hand for reference while traveling? Who will cary a book on top of luggage. Or is it just a souvenir to read before leaving for Japan.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's physical book only, sorry! There are some pages that you can fill in with your travel details and to record what you did, so it works best as a printed book - plus it has nice red page edges. :-) (Aside from any issues with digital file-sharing - I know I'm probably just being over-cautious but...). I'm sorry that's not ideal for backpacking. Have a wonderful trip to Japan!

[@sharewithme8856]

How many hours i can let me luggage there?

[@cakeswithfaces]

Usually up to 3 days, but the price shown is for 1 day (midnight to midnight, or 2am to 2am). If you're leaving things overnight, always check the rules at that bank of lockers because it's not always the same everywhere!

[@sharewithme8856]

Do you know where i can find used phones and laptop with good prices

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@sharewithme8856 I've never looked into that myself, but I'd guess somewhere in Akihabara, as that's known as Electric Town. "Hard Off" is a chain of stores selling secondhand hardware at great prices so that might be worth a look.

[@sharewithme8856]

Thanks alot

[@TheScratchingKiwi]

Reassuring to know coin-operated lockers still exist. I would like to see how payment other than a IC card works; you know, just in case they run out again.

[@cakeswithfaces]

The process is similar to paying with an IC card, but you insert coins at the point where you would tap the card, and you get a QR code on the receipt as your 'key' to open the locker again.

[@melgordon2490]

What size is your yellow suitcase in cm?

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's a Large size suitcase (just within the limits of what you can take on the shinkansen without being oversized): Height: 76cm, Width: 50cm, Depth: 32cm

[@melgordon2490]

@cakeswithfaces which would you recommend hard shell or soft shell and what size? Travelling from Australia end of October for 10 days. Staying in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@melgordon2490 I used to have soft shell, and got these hard shell ones because I liked the colour. The main benefit is they have four wheels (the old ones had 2) and it's so much easier to wheel them around. We have a large suitcase each, that we've used for 14 and 10 day trips. You could get away with medium if you're not taking bulky winter clothes, but you'll probably also want space for souvenirs and shopping! We used to have one medium, one large and that was fine too.

[@あいうえお-o6s1f]

You need to be careful when international conferences such as G-7 are held. ⚠ For security reasons, you may not be able to use coin lockers at stations and other places. 😓 I once ended up walking around town with heavy luggage. 😂

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah I wouldn't have thought of that! Thanks for the tip.

[@roldansalalila6544]

HOW MANY DAYS IS ALLOWED TO STORE LUGGAGE?

[@cakeswithfaces]

Usually it's up to 3 days (the day you put it in counts as day 1, then it's midnight to midnight). But some vary, so check the details on the locker you're using - they'll be displayed like the ones shown in the video.

[@corikra1392]

If you need coins, most of the time, if the lockers use coins you will find a change machine nearby.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes that's a good tip. Games arcades always have change machines too 😝

[@AlanVByrnes]

🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

[@cakeswithfaces]

🙌🙌🙌

[@jeffholt9437]

Bloody Hell - so WHERE can you leave that corpse then???!!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

And they said Japan was all about convenience...

[@jeffholt9437]

@@cakeswithfaces 😂

[@AlanVByrnes]

Another very interesting and super helpful video Amy, I’m checking out these out and going to use very useful for storing some important things while you go about your day or what you need to do, 🦾🦾🦾

[@cakeswithfaces]

They're very convenient, especially if you've been shopping!