Tokyo, Japan And Kansai International Airport Tackling Surge Of Abandoned Luggage Left By Travelers: Read More To Know

Published on August 26, 2025

Tokyo, Japan facing an different problem amid a emergence successful overseas tourism: abandoned travelers luggage is becoming a increasing rumor astatine airports and hotels. According to caller reports, complete 80% of hotels successful Japan person noticed a spike successful visitors leaving down their aged luggage, creating unnecessary challenges for edifice staff. This rumor isn’t conscionable confined to hotels; Kansai International airdrome and different airports are besides grappling pinch an summation successful discarded suitcases, importantly affecting nan logistics of operations.

Growing Problem for Hotels successful Japan

As Japan sees a surge successful overseas visitors, nan rumor of discarded suitcases is becoming much prominent. In Osaka, nan Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi, a celebrated edifice pinch 161 rooms, has reported that connected definite days, guests time off down 3 to 4 suitcases successful their rooms. Hotel unit members are responsible for transporting nan abandoned luggage to nan mislaid and found, which remains stored for 3 months. However, astir of it is ne'er claimed. Last year, nan disposal of unclaimed luggage costs nan edifice astir 300,000 yen (approximately $2,000).

The hotel’s wide manager, Kentaro Kaneko, shared that managing this problem is simply a important strain connected nan edifice employees. They request to scope retired to nan guests and return nan suitcases retired from nan rooms, which complicates their already engaged schedule.

Hotels crossed Osaka and Tokyo are facing akin challenges. A study conducted by nan Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau successful June and July showed that much than 80% of nan hotels reported abandoned luggage arsenic a important issue.

Airports Struggling pinch Luggage Abandonment

Airports are besides heavy impacted by nan rising number of abandoned bags. Narita International Airport, located adjacent Tokyo, reported a staggering 1,073 dumped suitcases successful nan fiscal twelvemonth 2024, much than double nan number of abandoned bags successful 2019. Kansai International Airport has besides surpassed pre-pandemic figures, dealing pinch a akin surge successful discarded luggage.

This increasing problem forces airports to divert resources for luggage betterment and security. Empty suitcases that are near unattended require broad information checks to guarantee they do not incorporate explosives. This process often involves respective officers and sizeable time, straining airdrome resources.

The Rise of Luggage Discarding: Why Is This Happening?

One cardinal logic down nan emergence successful abandoned luggage is nan costs of suitcases. Professor Daisuke Abe of Ryukoku University suggests that galore visitors successful Japan discard their aged luggage because it is comparatively inexpensive to bargain new, larger suitcases. Tourists often acquisition larger bags to accommodate their shopping hauls and souvenirs. Once their trips are over, they opt to time off their aged luggage down alternatively than transportation it backmost home.

Individuals purchasing caller luggage for a travel mightiness not see nan biology ramifications, on pinch nan operational burdens, discarded bags airs for hotels and airports. This brings to ray nan interest of really nan tourism assemblage plans to tackle this problem. Perhaps nan Japanese authorities and section enterprises should devise a much streamlined attack to recycling suitcases aliases find ways to trim nan number of bags travelers ditch.

The Cost of Disposing of Abandoned Luggage

The financial effect of abandoned luggage is not constricted to hotels and airports. The disposal costs associated pinch unclaimed luggage are significant. For instance, nan Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi spends astir 300,000 yen annually connected disposing of abandoned suitcases. These costs are a load for mini businesses and hotels already facing tight margins successful nan competitory tourism market.

The costs of safely discarding luggage is high, arsenic hotels must either shop it for months aliases salary for master services to dispose of it. The believe of storing luggage successful mislaid and recovered areas besides ties up valuable abstraction and resources.

A Call for Solutions

Experts work together that a solution is needed to reside this increasing problem. Professor Daisuke Abe emphasized nan value of some nationalist and backstage sectors moving together to create a strategy that allows visitors to dispose of their luggage properly. Such a strategy would thief to alleviate nan logistical strain connected hotels, airports, and different tourism-related businesses.

At this uncovering stage, airports and hotels are taking steps to mitigate nan problem. Some are partnering pinch janitorial services to negociate left-behind luggage, and others are moving to heighten their discarded removal and retention systems for luggage. Moreover, nan Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau is considering strategies aimed astatine educating visitors connected nan due methods for luggage disposal anterior to departing Japan.

Government and Industry Collaboration

The Japanese authorities and tourism bodies could play a important domiciled successful addressing this issue. Offering visitors much accusation astir really to dispose of luggage aliases providing alternatives specified arsenic luggage pickup services could beryllium beneficial. These initiatives would thief minimize nan biology effect of discarded suitcases and trim nan load connected section businesses and airdrome authorities.

Bottom Line

The rumor of abandoned luggage successful Japan highlights nan problems that travel pinch nan summation successful overseas tourists. Airports and hotels are facing expanding operational and financial burdens related to abandoned baggage. There is simply a request for caller methods to easiness nan load connected nan tourism assemblage while optimizing nan business traveler experience. Japan’s tourism manufacture must negociate nan expanding tourer footfall while keeping nan ecosystem functional.