On: Takkyu-bin: Luggage forwarding in Japan

[mitthrowaway2]

In Japan, the default assumption is that unless you're in a very rural area, everyone goes everywhere by public transit. Even if you're just heading to downtown Tokyo from Narita airport, the Skyliner will be faster and cheaper than a taxi. Furthermore, you probably aren't taking a taxi from one prefecture to the next.

[rjh29 → mitthrowaway2]

Yet I never see Japanese people with luggage on trains, whether that be an airport train or the subway. I'm pretty sure everyone takes a taxi or an airport bus when they have luggage.

[Morgawr → rjh29]

Nope, I see people with luggage on trains all the time, especially the Narita and Haneda train lines (obviously). Locals too.

[rjh29 → Morgawr]

It's far more common for foreigners to carry luggage on the trains in my experience. Especially on the subway.

[Morgawr → rjh29]

Wouldn't that be a biased view based on the fact that foreigners are the ones more likely to travel?

[rjh29 → Morgawr]

I did consider that, the other factor is Japanese people travel for smaller periods of time so maybe carry tiny suitcases instead of the (multiple) huge ones you see foreigners carry.

[mitthrowaway2 → rjh29]

Thus "the magical Japanese art of luggage forwarding."

[fomine3 → mitthrowaway2]

Not true unless you count Nagoya and below as very rural

[mitthrowaway2 → fomine3]

Nagoya is a bit more car-centric as it's Toyota's turf, but still very much transit-friendly.