August 22, 2025

Japan Faces Issues with Abandoned Suitcases Due to Tourism Surge

With the boost in inbound tourism, Japan faces an unexpected problem: a significant rise in abandoned suitcases. Tourist attractions, hotels, and even major airports are seeing record numbers of luggage left behind by international visitors. The trend is driven by travelers discarding old suitcases after purchasing new, larger ones to bring home souvenirs. Experts warn that without a coordinated disposal system, this issue will only worsen.

At the Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi (161 rooms, Osaka), three to four suitcases are typically left behind during busy days. The hotel keeps them as lost property for three months, but most are never claimed. Disposal costs are expected to reach 300,000 yen in 2024 alone.

A June–July survey by the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, which covered 34 accommodation facilities, found that over 80% identified abandoned suitcases as a problem. Hotel staff report that many travelers buy new suitcases during their trip, leaving their old ones behind.

Bargain Suitcases Drive the Trend

Why do visitors replace their luggage while still traveling? In Osaka’s Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Street, specialty stores sell large 60-liter suitcases—sized for four- to six-night trips—at affordable prices. Priced between 7,000 and 9,000 yen, they are particularly popular with tourists who buy large quantities of souvenirs. “Travelers who stock up on gifts often buy bigger cases,” one shop employee explained.

This practice, however, is creating headaches far beyond shopping districts. Narita Airport reported 1,073 abandoned suitcases in FY2024, nearly double the pre-COVID figure of 2019. Kansai International Airport has also exceeded pre-pandemic levels, while Central Japan International Airport recorded 85 abandoned suitcases in FY2024, its highest since record-keeping began in 2021.

Calls for a Systemic Response

According to Professor Daisuke Abe of Ryukoku University, an expert on overtourism, such widespread suitcase abandonment is not common overseas. “In Japan, it may be happening because replacing luggage is relatively inexpensive,” he suggests.

He emphasizes that addressing the issue solely as a matter of etiquette will not suffice:
“Public and private sectors need to develop a system that allows travelers to dispose of unwanted luggage responsibly, while also ensuring clear information is provided to visitors.” Unless effective measures are put in place, Japan’s suitcase problem may continue to grow alongside the country’s tourism boom.