Transportation Question

[Wendylet]

We will be leaving TDR and heading to our hotel in Shinjuku and I can google map easily for the trains required to take. My question is whether or not you can use the IC card on this journey or if I have to buy a separate ticket for this travel. Also we will have several pieces of luggage with us and I'm not sure how that is handled on these trains. Is there a spot to put them? Do we have to identify the number of pieces before we get on the train? I'm sure many of you have done this trip so any help is most appreciated! Btw we have already downloaded the mobile Suica cards onto our phones.

 

[Kwami]

The trains in Tokyo are basically just like the subway in most cities. You can use your IC card to board trains between Maihama and Shinjuku. Those trains won't have space for storing luggage, so you'll have to hold it. If there aren't any passengers using the are reserved for wheelchairs, then you might be able to use that space. But, please hold onto your suitcases so that they don't move around. You don't need to reserve seats or declare luggage.

If you don't want to deal with all that, then you can take a taxi. Or, you can ask the TDR hotel to ship your luggage to the next hotel. Since you're staying in Tokyo, you can probably have it delivered on the same day if you bring it down early enough.

 

[wanderlust7]

Just a heads up that it can be a pain taking luggage through Tokyo train stations. It's often crowded and a long trek to the platform, especially if you have to transfer. Elevators are hard to find. Escalators are easier, but might not be the closest option.

The delivery services are reliable and fairly inexpensive. It should cost less than $20 to send a large checked luggage. But if you have a lot of luggage, then it might start approaching the price of a taxi.

 

[Wendylet]

Just a heads up that it can be a pain taking luggage through Tokyo train stations. It's often crowded and a long trek to the platform, especially if you have to transfer. Elevators are hard to find. Escalators are easier, but might not be the closest option.

The delivery services are reliable and fairly inexpensive. It should cost less than $20 to send a large checked luggage. But if you have a lot of luggage, then it might start approaching the price of a taxi.

So would I be able to arrange the pickup of the luggage from the Ambassador Hotel and then onto our next hotel? I will have 2 large suitcases and if they were able to move just those 2 it might be helpful. Would I be able to leave the luggage with bell services in the morning before we go to the park or do I have to be there to hand off the bags? Also does it take longer than a day to deliver?

 

[wanderlust7]

So would I be able to arrange the pickup of the luggage from the Ambassador Hotel and then onto our next hotel? I will have 2 large suitcases and if they were able to move just those 2 it might be helpful. Would I be able to leave the luggage with bell services in the morning before we go to the park or do I have to be there to hand off the bags? Also does it take longer than a day to deliver?

Yes, it's a super common thing in Japan. The hotel can help you fill out the form and send it out. You don't need to be there for the hand off. When you get to your new hotel, it might just be waiting in the room for you.

It's usually next day. I've heard same day for short distances is possible, but I've never needed it. We take a carry-on with us. Plus I'm often using the service to bypass the short stops. You can ask at the Ambassador Hotel when you need to send it for same day.

 

[Wendylet]

Yes, it's a super common thing in Japan. The hotel can help you fill out the form and send it out. You don't need to be there for the hand off. When you get to your new hotel, it might just be waiting in the room for you.

It's usually next day. I've heard same day for short distances is possible, but I've never needed it. We take a carry-on with us. Plus I'm often using the service to bypass the short stops. You can ask at the Ambassador Hotel when you need to send it for same day.

I was considering trying to book the service online but you are saying that the hotel will be able to assist with this? Are there forms you have to fill out? I assumed you did everything online.

 

[wanderlust7]

I was considering trying to book the service online but you are saying that the hotel will be able to assist with this? Are there forms you have to fill out? I assumed you did everything online.

You don't need to arrange anything ahead of time. Just bring it down to the front desk and ask them to send it. If it's not the front desk that handles it, then they'll tell you where to go. It might be a separate desk at the hotel. It's 1 form per luggage. I think the Ambassador Hotel will just fill it out for you. I've had 2 hotels try to get me to fill out the form myself. But I don't think that's the norm. I didn't want to mess it up or have the address be in English when it could be in Japanese, so I just ask them to fill it out.

The service is called takuhaibin. Yamato Transport is the largest, but I don't think it matters which company it is. It'll just be whichever the hotel works with.

 

[Wendylet]

You don't need to arrange anything ahead of time. Just bring it down to the front desk and ask them to send it. If it's not the front desk that handles it, then they'll tell you where to go. It might be a separate desk at the hotel. It's 1 form per luggage. I think the Ambassador Hotel will just fill it out for you. I've had 2 hotels try to get me to fill out the form myself. But I don't think that's the norm. I didn't want to mess it up or have the address be in English when it could be in Japanese, so I just ask them to fill it out.

The service is called takuhaibin. Yamato Transport is the largest, but I don't think it matters which company it is. It'll just be whichever the hotel works with.

Okay great. One less thing to worry about. Thank you so much for the information.

 

[Kwami]

It's usually next day. I've heard same day for short distances is possible, but I've never needed it.

If you're transferring from Tokyo-area hotel to another, then you can often get same-day service if you send it early enough. Yamato has some desks where they guarantee same-day service, but that doesn't work if you're using a hotel to do the transfer.

Best to just have a carry on suitcase or something since you might be without the big suitcases for a night.