Abandoned Suitcases Surge At Narita, Kansai, And Chubu Airports: Exploring The Growing Challenge For Japan’s Tourism Sector

Published on September 23, 2025

The rising number of abandoned suitcases astatine airports and hotels successful Japan is becoming a concerning issue. According to reports, respective airports, including Narita and Kansai, person witnessed a important summation successful unclaimed luggage, chiefly near down by tourists. This rumor has emerged arsenic a caller situation for some nan tourism manufacture and nan authorities successful complaint of managing nationalist spaces. While nan reasons down this inclination vary, including rising baggage fees and suitcase upgrades, nan unintended consequences for section businesses and airports are real. In this article, we research nan causes of this phenomenon, its effect connected Japan’s tourism sector, and nan solutions being implemented to reside nan increasing issue.

The Growing Issue of Abandoned Luggage successful Japan

Since nan extremity of nan COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has knowledgeable a surge successful abandoned suitcases recovered successful awesome airports and hotels crossed nan country. Airports specified arsenic Narita, Kansai, and Chubu person each reported increases successful nan number of left-behind bags. For example, Kansai Airport recorded complete 800 abandoned suitcases successful nan past fiscal year, while Narita Airport reported astir double nan number from nan erstwhile year, pinch astir 700 abandoned items.

The problem is not isolated to airports alone. Several hotels successful cardinal tourer locations, peculiarly successful Osaka, are besides struggling pinch abandoned suitcases. A caller study by nan Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau revealed that much than 80% of hotels person dealt pinch nan issue. In galore cases, these suitcases are near down successful rooms, often without immoderate intends of identifying nan owner. As a result, accommodation providers are near pinch nan load of disposal costs, a situation that continues to turn pinch nan expanding number of visitors visiting Japan.

Why Are Tourists Leaving Their Bags Behind?

The mobility arises: why are visitors leaving their luggage behind? One of nan superior reasons is linked to nan rising costs associated pinch hose baggage fees. Many airlines complaint further fees for checked luggage that exceeds weight limits. To debar paying these other charges, immoderate visitors person resorted to abandoning their aged suitcases successful Japan. This rumor has been peculiarly noticeable pinch visitors from countries wherever luggage is cheaper to replace.

Another facet contributing to this behaviour is nan expanding fame of purchasing larger suitcases while traveling. Tourists often bargain new, bigger bags to accommodate souvenirs and items they’ve picked up during their travels. These caller purchases time off nan old, smaller suitcases to beryllium discarded. With luggage being comparatively inexpensive successful Japan compared to different countries, it becomes easier for visitors to dispose of their aged bags without reasoning astir nan semipermanent consequences.

The Impact connected Airports and Hotels

For airports and hotels, abandoned luggage presents a logistical nightmare. Not only do these establishments person to negociate nan abstraction taken up by unclaimed suitcases, but they besides look important financial costs for disposal. For example, hotels successful Osaka person been reported to walk money connected storing and discarding abandoned bags, which is simply a costs not typically accounted for successful their business models.

Airports, already nether unit from expanding rider traffic, look akin challenges. Airports specified arsenic Kansai and Narita person had to allocate unit clip and resources to grip abandoned luggage. Some moreover study an summation successful constabulary engagement to analyse imaginable information risks posed by unclaimed bags. This further workload adds to nan operational costs astatine these hubs, creating a ripple effect crossed nan tourism industry.

Proposed Solutions for Managing Abandoned Luggage

Recognizing nan increasing problem, immoderate businesses and airports person started implementing solutions to reside nan abandoned suitcase issue. For instance, Narita Airport has introduced a free pickup work for aged suitcases. Tourists who acquisition caller luggage tin person their aged bags picked up and disposed of properly, reducing nan number of abandoned suitcases astatine nan airport. This work helps to easiness nan load connected nan airdrome while offering a applicable solution for travelers.

Hotels are besides exploring ways to grip nan issue, pinch immoderate offering suitcase disposal services for a fee. This inaugural helps guarantee that abandoned bags are removed promptly, allowing nan edifice to support cleanliness and debar unnecessary costs. The Japan Tourism Agency is besides moving connected enhancing connection pinch overseas visitors, providing accusation connected really to dispose of unwanted luggage successful an environmentally responsible way.

What Should Travelers Do?

To thief trim nan problem of abandoned luggage, travelers should beryllium mindful of nan pursuing tips:

1. Check Airline Regulations: Before departing, travelers should cheque nan baggage policies of their airlines to guarantee their luggage complies pinch weight limits. Avoid nan request to time off bags down by packing efficiently and wrong nan prescribed limits.
2. Dispose of Old Luggage Responsibly: If you acquisition caller luggage during your trip, see donating aliases recycling your aged suitcase alternatively of abandoning it successful a nationalist space.
3. Use Luggage Services: If available, return advantage of luggage disposal aliases pickup services astatine airports aliases hotels. These services are designed to thief visitors negociate unwanted bags and guarantee they are disposed of properly.
4. Consider Environmental Impact: Be alert of nan biology implications of improperly disposed luggage. Japan has strict discarded guidance regulations, and it is basal to travel due disposal methods to debar contributing to pollution.

Raising Awareness Among Tourists

As portion of efforts to reside nan issue, nan Japan Tourism Agency plans to create acquisition contented to raise consciousness astir due luggage disposal. This inaugural will see videos that item nan etiquette for handling unwanted luggage, focusing connected travelers’ work to support cleanliness and travel section laws.

In conclusion, while abandoned suitcases mightiness look for illustration a insignificant issue, they person important consequences for some nan tourism assemblage and nan environment. Japan’s increasing tourism industry, particularly pinch events for illustration nan upcoming Expo 2025 successful Osaka, will request to guarantee that some locals and visitors are alert of nan effect of their actions. Through proactive solutions and heightened awareness, nan rumor of abandoned luggage tin beryllium efficaciously mitigated, ensuring Japan remains a cleanable and welcoming destination for travelers worldwide.