September 22, 2025 | 11:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Abandoned suitcases have become a new problem in Japan. Several hotels and airports in the country have found suitcases intentionally left behind by tourists. This has posed a new challenge, as hotels and airports now have to pay to dispose of them.
In a survey conducted by the Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau, where the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will be held, more than 80 percent of accommodation providers stated that abandoned suitcases have become a new problem. One hotel in the city reported finding suitcases in rooms previously occupied by Japanese tourists. Since most suitcase owners cannot be reached, the hotel is responsible for the disposal costs.
In addition to hotels, abandoned suitcases have also become a problem at several airports. At Narita, Kansai, and Chubu airports, there has been an increasing number of abandoned suitcases in the lobbies and other areas since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. A record 816 abandoned suitcases were reported at Kansai Airport in the last fiscal year. Meanwhile, at Narita Airport, police collected about 700 abandoned suitcases, nearly double the amount from the previous year.
Why Are Suitcases Abandoned?
According to a report by Japan News, many people seem to leave behind old suitcases that they no longer need after buying new, larger ones for bringing back souvenirs. Such behavior may violate waste management and public cleanliness laws, as well as other regulations. However, visitors seem to underestimate this issue because they don't know how to properly dispose of their suitcases.
However, travel influencer Johnny Jet said that people don't just abandon suitcases because there are new ones or because they are accidentally left behind. Many tourists intentionally leave their suitcases due to airline regulations. At airline counters, suitcases are usually weighed before being checked in. Many of these suitcases exceed the weight limit, resulting in travelers having to pay additional fees. Since the additional fees can be costly, many people choose to leave their suitcases behind.
"Nothing disrupts the calm of a Japan trip faster than an unexpected baggage fee," Johnny said as quoted by Yahoo News.
The weakening yen is said to be one of the reasons suitcases are often abandoned. Allegedly, suitcases priced at a few thousand yen are relatively inexpensive for Japanese tourists compared to prices abroad. This makes it easier for them to exchange their suitcases for new ones.
Proposed Solutions
Some businesses have started offering practical solutions. At Narita Airport, a luggage store now provides a free pick-up service for old suitcases when tourists purchase replacement bags.
The Japan Tourism Agency has been asked to improve its ability to provide information to foreign tourists. As part of this effort, the agency will produce videos to raise awareness about etiquette. Some airports and hotels have begun offering services to pick up unneeded suitcases, both for free and for a fee.
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