Nagoya, planned around your family
You keep passing Nagoya on the bullet train and wonder if it deserves a night.
Choosing your region
Central Japan with big suitcases
Your route has trains, buses and mountain towns, and the suitcases are the part you worry about.
On a central Japan route, send the big suitcases ahead and carry a small bag. Most major hotels can arrange delivery between hotels, which turns heavy transfers into light ones. This page shows how, and which legs matter most.
What are the luggage options?
You have three. Each fits a different situation.
- Forwarding: most major hotels can arrange delivery between hotels, and a designated convenience store can accept bags if you are not at a large hotel 1.
- Coin lockers: they cost between 300 and 600 yen depending on size, and can fill quickly in busy places 2.
- Carrying: only for short, simple legs.
Read sending luggage between hotels and coin lockers versus station storage. Our takkyubin definition explains the forwarding service.
What does forwarding not accept?
Carriers have size and weight limits and do not accept valuables, fragile items, fresh products or liquids 1. Keep passports, medicine and valuables in your small bag. Ask the hotel for the cutoff time.
Which legs are hardest?
The hardest legs are the bus legs and mountain towns. The Nagoya to Takayama train takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes and has reserved seats 3, and then the express bus to Shirakawa-go takes about 50 minutes 4. Space on a bus is tighter than on a train.
At RM 2.603 per 100 yen on 19 October 2026, a 600 yen locker is about RM 16 2 5. Our bus versus train days guide lists the legs.
How do you pack for the loop?
Pack one small bag per person for the loop, and forward the rest. Our packing light for multi-city Japan guide has a list. Elders and children should carry only what they can handle alone.
What should Malaysian families remember?
Winter coats are bulky, so forward them or wear them. Keep a change of clothes for children in the small bag. See our Nagoya page for the starting base.
If your central Japan route has big suitcases, send us your stops and the number of bags. We plan forwarding, lockers and a small-bag rule so the transfers stay easy.
Keep planning
Shirakawa-go, planned without the rush
You want the snowy thatched-roof village from the photos without a tiring day of buses.
Takayama, planned around your group
You have heard about the old wooden streets and want to know if it is worth the journey.
Sending luggage between hotels: what to check
You are tired of dragging suitcases across cities and want to know if sending them ahead is safe.
Takkyubin, Japan's luggage forwarding
You dread dragging suitcases through stations, and wonder if someone can carry them ahead.
Coin lockers or staffed luggage storage
You have a big suitcase, a few free hours before check-in and no idea where to leave it.
Questions travellers ask
Should I send my suitcases ahead in central Japan?
Yes, on a multi-stop route. Most major hotels can arrange delivery between hotels, subject to size and weight limits. Send the big cases to your next base and carry a small overnight bag on the train and bus. Ask the hotel for the cutoff time.
Are coin lockers a good solution?
For a few hours, yes. Lockers cost between 300 and 600 yen depending on size and can fill quickly in busy places. Use them for a day trip or a short gap, not as a plan for a whole route.
Which legs are hardest with luggage?
Bus legs and mountain towns, such as Takayama to Shirakawa-go, where space is tight and steps are common. The train from Nagoya to Takayama has reserved seats,. Forward the big cases, and carry only what you need for the night.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- JNTO, Luggage storageaccessed 2026-10-20
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Luggage storageaccessed 2026-10-20
- JR Central, Hida-Takayamaaccessed 2026-10-20
- Shirakawa-go Tourist Association, Accessaccessed 2026-10-20
- Bank Negara Malaysia exchange rates (JPY)accessed 2026-10-20
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