Luggage Size For our tours, we recommend one medium-sized suitcase that is about 25 inches or smaller, and one backpack. The 25-inch suitcase is the ideal size because it fits in the overhead luggage compartment on the Shinkansen, and it's under the size restriction for large suitcases.

The best size luggage for Japan is a medium-sized "checked" bag (roughly 24 to 26 inches) or a high-capacity carry-on. Japan is a "public transit" society, and navigating busy Shinkansen stations or narrow subway escalators with massive, oversized suitcases is extremely difficult. Furthermore, as of 2026, the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines require mandatory reservations for "oversized baggage" (bags with a total dimension exceeding 160 cm). If you bring a very large bag without a reservation, you will be charged a 1,000-yen penalty and may be forced to leave the bag in a designated area. A medium bag fits easily into the standard overhead racks of bullet trains and is much easier to store in the small coin lockers found at almost every station. For the best experience, travelers are encouraged to use the Takkyubin (luggage delivery service) to send their bags between cities for a small fee, allowing you to travel "hands-free" on the trains.