What is Hands-Free Travel?

In 2018 spring we went to Japan for a family holiday and experienced Hands-Free Travel.

It was comfortable and great. 

What is Hands-Free Travel? 

Literally, traveling without your luggage! 

How!? 

When we arrived at Kansai international airport early in the morning, we were quite tired after a 12 hour-long flight from Amsterdam…and we really did not want to carry our heavy suitcases on the train going to Osaka city. 

We realised we should use the luggage delivery service.

We sent the suitcases to our rental holiday apartment in Osaka centre, and selected the delivery time on end of day. At exactly the appointed delivery time, we received our suitcases!  

This really only can happen in Japan, you specify the preferred delivery time… and you receive it on that exact time!

How amazing! 

We just say: Welcome to Japan! 

However, the price is not as expensive as you would think, 1 big suitcase about 20kg delivery from Kansai airport to Osaka costs around 25 EUR. 

Actually, it is really common for Japanese to use this service. They made a word for it :手ぶら観光. It means travelling without luggage. 

It is not just limited to delivery from the airport, most major hotels can arrange luggage delivery between hotels too. And it is even possible between private addresses!

After that we (me, actually…) did big shopping in Osaka, our luggage was even heavier…

Therefore, we sent 1 suitcase with our(my) shopping to the last destination hotel in Tokyo. 

We made the Hands-Free Travel from Osaka to Nara, Takayama, Noto Peninsula, Kanazawa, and Tokyo. 

How relaxed it is to travel by public transport without big suitcases …

Do not worry if you do not speak Japanese, because Hands-Free travel service is improved in English since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

The details you could read from JNTO site.