I heard of the "baggage service" in Tokyo but how does it work?

Question

I fly in to Tokyo for a month in just a couple weeks. I had read that they have different baggage service companies that pick up your bags from the airport and take them to the hotel for you, so you do not need to hassle with them. Likewise, when departing, the baggage company takes your bags from the hotel back to the airport for you.

My question was 1) is this something that everyone does or was I mis-informed, 2) do I need to plan for baggage service in advance, and 3) I am renting a serviced apartment and not a hotel, will this affect anything?

Thanks for the help, I do not want to loose my baggage unexpectedly while on the other side of the world.

Answer 1

As a business traveller if you have more luggage than you can handle on your own, you can use the luggage service to ship your luggage from the airport to your apartment.  In your case it could make your travel between the airport and the apartment less of a hassle if you have 2 large luggage bags.  You just need the address.  They will deliver it to the apartment the next day.  So I suggest to have a smaller bag with clothes and things you need for the day of arrival.  After you clear immigration, baggage claim and customs, you will walk out into the arrival waiting area.  In that area there are several desks that can arrange to have your luggage shipped.  

On your return leg of your trip you can ask the apartment staff to arrange for luggage service back to the airport.  In that case, they will need to have your luggage ready the day before your departure.  So again plan on a small bag and the things you need for 24 hours.  The takyuubin company will pick up your luggage and then you can claim it at the airport before you check in.  The company will give you a map where to pick up your luggage.

We use the baggage service because we are a family of four and all that luggage does not fit into the little Toyota Vitz we owned.  We would also use it to ship our skis and snowboards to and from the ski resorts since those things don't fit well in the shinkansens

Answer 2

That's what we call "takkyubin" or "takuhaibin" It's very reliable. You won't lose your baggage nearly 100%.

>when departing, the baggage company takes your bags from the hotel back to the airport for you.

You have to ask the company again if you want it.

1) is this something that everyone does or was I mis-informed,

Everyone uses takkyubin in Japan.

2) do I need to plan for baggage service in advance,

No, you can ask it anytime.

and 3) I am renting a serviced apartment and not a hotel, will this affect anything?

You have to stay at your apartment to receive it. You can set the date and time of delivery and you have to stay at that time. In case of hotel, there are always others who can receive it.

That's the difference.

Answer 3

I agree with everything the previous poster said. Just to add, when you land at Narita Airport, you can arrange to have your heavy suitcase/s sent on ahead if you like. It certainly saves humping them up and down train station stairs!

When you get into the arrivals hall, there is a counter dedicated to this service with signs in English. They'll be able to help you. Same thing as the previous poster said - you will need an address for them to deliver to and they will arrange a time for delivery. The nice thing about that is that they will be there when they say they will - very different to the UK where I'm from!