Traveling by shinkansen is a fun experience, zipping through the cities while eating your bento box you purchased at the station.
but the luggage
But the not so fun experience is the hauling your big ass luggage through a maze of big train stations part. The most popular Tokaido Shinkansen has no luggage hold for your check- suitcase so keeping the luggage in front of you or behind you is the default mode of travel. There are couple things you can do to avoid this.
Options for NOT carrying luggage
Shipping makes it easy
Shipping luggage is a popular option in Japan. I used the service every time I’m traveling from airport to my destination or one city to another city by train, and I’m always pleased with the service in Japan. I know I’m spending extra $ every time I use the service but I really dislike carrying check-in luggage at busy train stations, and I get to explore the city soon after arriving.
You can deliver luggage to/ from airport, hotel or shipping office so it’s a flexible option. Better yet most hotels can arrange shipment for you. Here is a list of major shipping companies in Japan:
The tourism organization has a consolidated list shipping office locations.
Flying
The other option is to fly. Even though you technically have to carry luggage to the airport, you will be free from luggage once you check your bags.
The airlines have to compete with trains on many routes so fares on those routes generally are kept low. The best thing about taking a domestic flight with ANA, JAL or Skymark is that neither airline charges for checked bags, better yet, all JAL and ANA domestic flights offer free Wi-Fi on board. This is something many Shinkansens are lacking. I’ve used Japan domestic flights many times, I think I’ve flown more than taking Shinkansens. If you use miles, domestic flights in Japan stretch your miles so much more. I think I should post about redeeming miles on a Japan domestic flight.
Good thing is that most major Airports have bus services that connect to the surrounding city centers. Some buses from Haneda (HND), Narita (NRT), Nagoya (NGO) and Kansai (KIX) stop at major hotels.
Long Distance Bus
Again this is same as flying, you do not have to place luggage in front of you since your baggage is stored under the bus. There are multiple routes connecting cities throughout Japan. Some flagship routes are equipped with suite seats with angle lie-flat beds like on older business class seats (by law bus seats cannot be fully flat).
Car Rental
I have love and hate relationship with driving in Japan. I hate driving in Japan because there are so many stop lights and they stay red unnecessarily long; since it is an aging nation everyone seems to drive so so so slow. But I love driving in Japan because of the view, it is fun driving once you are out of city roads and you do not have to carry luggage around.
There are many modes of travel that don’t require you to tow your big luggage around. These options above may cost extra but I think it’s worth it if convenience is the key to your trip. I’m not advocating to avoid traveling on Shinkansens or other trains but I personally dislike having to carry luggage at a crowded train station at any time.