Can we have luggage sent ahead?
 

Hi,

I've seen a number of posts about how difficult it is to bring bags on the train. We are flying into Osaka and staying in Kyoto. Is there a way to have bags sent ahead from the airport to our hotel in Kyoto?

If so, how is it arranged?

We get in around 4:00 pm and the check in times are pretty close. I don;t want to get stranded.

Thanks

How much in the way of baggage will you have? How big are the suitcases and how many?

You can have them sent to the Kyoto hotel by going to one of the luggage counters in the airport and filling out a form. Your luggage should get to yoru hotel the next day or possibly the day after that, since you would be dropping them with the service so late in the day.

But you might not really need to do that unless you have a lot of large bags. On my last trip my daughter and I took rolling luggage (two 21 inch and one 26 inch) on the train in the non-reserved car without problems. We were able to store the luggage behind the last seat in the car.

Another option is to take the limo bus from Kansai (I assume it is Kansai and not the other airport in Osaka) to Kyoto. That way the limo bus driver puts your luggage on the bus for you and gets it off, and you don't have to deal w/it. I believe that bus drops off at Kyoto station and takes about an hr and 45 min.

What do you mean you don't want to get stranded? I don't understand that part. Do you mean left without a hotel rm. in Kyoto if you don't get there early? Do you have a reservation?

How much luggage are you talking about? If it's more than you can manage without a trolley, then I would send it. I would also, though, reconsider whether or not all the items packed were necessary.

It is easy to have your bags sent, but they won't arrive until the next day. You go to the "baggage delivery" counter and they will help you. You will need the name of the hotel, address and telephone number for the form. It is easiest to pay cash for the service, about ¥1500 - ¥2000 yen per bag.

However, just from the airport to a hotel, I would take the limousine bus if it stopped at my hotel. If not, I would take the train right from the airport to Kyoto station then take a taxi.

If you do not have a reservation for a hotel, there is a place right in the airport called TIC (Travel Information Center) that is really a travel agency. They would be able to help you get a room somewhere. But I don't recommend waiting until you arrive at Kansai Airport to book a room in Kyoto unless you really don't care where you stay.

the limousine bus also goes to Kyoto station where you can get a taxi to your hotel....it takes all the stress out of it. Sounds like what you need.

Aloha!

Does "check in times are pretty close" mean that you are planning to go to a Kyoto ryokan and the check-in time that the ryokan told you is not long after your 4PM arrival? From the good advice above, I suppos you have figured out that you probably won't get to your ryokan before 7PM, which is too late.

Thanks for your input. Sorry, I should have been more clear. We will have total of 2 bags,24"h x 18"w x 10 deep.

You've given me an idea. Since we'll be in Kyoto 1 day only, I can probably ship the bags to Nagoya we're we're headed. If we pack a single smaller bag for one day, we should be able to carry it easily and meet up with the rest in Nagoya.

We will have reservations at a Ryoan, but most have check in times within an hour or so of when we land. I was concerned about getting to the ryokan, but not be able to get in because we missed check in time. Do they generally work with you if that is an issue?

Thanks

KimJapan has it right: take the train from Kansai Airport to Kyoto station. The train (Haruka) is comfortable, and there is plenty of room to conveniently store your baggage.

You won't have any problem with bags that size. Not on the airport train and not on the shinkansen to Nagoya. You'd be able to manage those bags on any train in Japan, in fact. That size will fit in the overhead racks.

Where exactly are you planning to stay in Kyoto? When you make your reservation they will want to know your check-in time and at that point you will find out if they can work with your time. Maybe not.

You won't get stranded. It is not as though you make a reservation, show up at 7PM or 8PM and find the doors closed. They might just not take your reservation in the first place.

I see your other post listing several options. I don't know anything about them. But for the kind of place your budget can afford (25000 pp) you really want to get there at 4PM and you need to be on time so that you can enjoy the ryokan experience.

What is your itinerary after that? You land in Osaka, spend a night in a Kyoto ryokan, then go to Nagoya the next day? Flying on from there? There might be a better point in your itin where you could have all the time you need for your ryokan visit. You could just stay at a nice hotel the first night instead of rushing to a ryokan.