Arriving in Kyoto Before Check-in: What to Do With Your Luggage on Day One

Whether you come in by Shinkansen, night bus, or train from Kansai Airport, you may reach Kyoto in the morning, but most hotels don't let you check in until around 3 p.m. Spending those first hours with a suitcase is a waste of a Kyoto day. Here is how our luggage delivery team would plan your arrival.

First, decide what to do with your luggage

Leave it at your hotel. Many hotels will hold your bags at the front desk before check-in. You still have to carry your suitcase from Kyoto Station to the hotel, though.

Coin lockers at Kyoto Station. Convenient, but large lockers fill up quickly, and in cherry blossom and autumn leaf season they can be full by late morning. You also have to come back to collect your bags later.

Luggage delivery. Airbnbs and self check-in guesthouses often have no staff on site, so you can't drop bags early. Hand your luggage over at Kyoto Station, have it delivered to where you're staying, and start sightseeing hands-free right away.

Easy first-day ideas near Kyoto Station

Higashi Hongan-ji. About a 10-minute walk from the station. The huge temple grounds are free to enter and a calm way to start your trip.

Kyoto Tower. Right in front of the station. The observation deck gives you a view over the whole city, which helps you get your bearings for the days ahead.

Umekoji Park and the Kyoto Railway Museum. A walk west of the station. Relax in the park, or spend a few hours at the museum if you love trains.

Fushimi Inari Taisha. Just a few minutes on the JR Nara Line to Inari Station. Without a suitcase, the trail through the thousands of torii gates is much easier to enjoy.

Tips for a smooth arrival day

Sort out your luggage before you leave home. If you know your arrival time and the name and address of where you're staying, the day goes much more smoothly. Travel days are tiring, so don't pack too much into your first afternoon.

Your Kyoto trip starts the moment you arrive. Take care of your luggage first and enjoy your first day hands-free. Have questions about your route? Contact us through our booking page and we will be happy to help.