One of the best-kept secrets of travelling Japan is how liberating a ¥500 coin locker can be. Drop your bags at the station, spend the whole day exploring — no suitcase dragging up temple steps, no awkward luggage on a packed subway carriage. Station coin lockers are one of Japan's most practical travel features, and once you've used one, you'll wonder how you managed without them.
This guide covers everything you need: where to find lockers, how much they cost, how to use both key-operated and touchscreen models, and what to do when the big lockers are already taken.
Where to Find Coin Lockers
Coin lockers are truly everywhere in Japan — you'll find them in abundance at railway stations, with the biggest concentrations at Shinjuku (nearly 3,600 lockers), Tokyo, Ueno, Ikebukuro and Shibuya. But you don't need to be at a megastation to find one — even small provincial stations are equipped with lockers, and airports, shopping malls, department stores and major tourist attractions also have numerous options.
At JR stations: Look for signs reading "Coin Locker" or "コインロッカー" near the ticket gates, both inside and outside the gates. At larger stations, locker banks are often spread across multiple exits — if one bank is full, a station map on or near the lockers will show other banks nearby.
At subway stations: Most Tokyo Metro and Toei subway stations have coin lockers, particularly at busy interchange stations like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno and Ginza. The same is true for major subway stations in Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya.
Finding lockers in real time: The Suica Coin Locker Search machines at major Tokyo stations (including Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Shinagawa) display a colour-coded map showing locker availability — green for plenty of space, orange for limited. The ecbo cloak app (available in English) also shows real-time availability at stations and nearby partner shops, and lets you book a storage spot in advance.
If you're not sure where the lockers are, ask any station staff member: "Sumimasen ga, koin rokkā wa doko desu ka?" (Excuse me, where are the coin lockers?) — they will point you in the right direction.
Sizes and Prices
Coin lockers come in three main sizes. Small lockers are approximately 35cm × 34cm × 57cm — by far the most common size, found in large numbers at virtually all stations. Medium lockers are approximately 57cm × 34cm × 57cm, available in moderate numbers at major stations. Large lockers go up to around 117cm × 43cm × 57cm — enough for a full-size suitcase or large backpack — though these are the first to fill up on busy days.
Some major stations also have extra-large lockers that can fit two carry-ons or a large suitcase with room to spare, though availability is very limited.
Pricing is typically ¥300–400 for small lockers, ¥400–500 for medium, and ¥500–800 for large per calendar day. Prices vary by station and locker operator, so always check the rate label before inserting coins. The calendar-day billing is important: fees reset at midnight, not 24 hours after you locked up. Leave your bag overnight and you'll owe another day's fee when you return.
You can store luggage for up to 3 calendar days. After that, station staff will open the locker and hold your belongings separately — so plan accordingly if you're away for more than a couple of nights.
Two Types of Locker: Key and Touchscreen
Key-operated lockers are the traditional style and still very common. You insert ¥100 coins until the required amount is paid, close the door and turn the key — then take the key with you. To retrieve your bags, re-insert the key and turn to unlock. These accept ¥100 coins only, so carry a few.
Touchscreen (keyless) lockers are increasingly standard at major stations and are more traveller-friendly. Select "Deposit" on the screen, choose an available locker, place your bags inside and firmly close the door. Select cash or IC card payment — for cash, insert coins or banknotes and collect your receipt with PIN code; for IC cards, tap your card on the reader and take the receipt. To retrieve, select "Remove," enter your PIN or tap your IC card to unlock. The touchscreen interface is available in English, Chinese and Korean at most major stations.
Step-by-Step: How to Use a Coin Locker
Key-operated:
- Find an empty locker — look for one without a key already in it
- Place your bags inside and close the door
- Insert ¥100 coins until the required amount is paid
- Turn the key and pull it out — the door is now locked
- Keep your key safe — you'll need it to retrieve your bags
- To get your bags back: insert the key, turn and open
Touchscreen:
- Select your preferred language on the screen
- Choose "Deposit" and select an available locker size
- Place your bag inside and firmly close the door until it locks
- Pay by coin/note or tap your IC card
- Take your receipt — it has your PIN or locker number on it
- To retrieve: select "Remove," enter your PIN or tap your IC card
Use your Japan Rail Pass to exit the ticket gates first if your locker is outside the fare zone — then look for locker signs.
3 Tips Every Traveller Should Know
Tip 1 — Pay with Your IC Card and Carry ¥100 Coins as Backup
If you have a Suica or PASMO card loaded with credit, many modern lockers let you tap to pay — no coins needed. PASMO cards can also be used for lockers labelled "Suica," and vice versa; transportation IC cards from other regions (such as ICOCA, TOICA and SUGOCA) may also be accepted. That said, older key-operated lockers are coins only, so it's worth keeping a few ¥100 coins in your pocket. If you run short, look for a change machine near the locker bank, or buy a drink from a nearby vending machine to break a ¥1,000 note.
Tip 2 — Arrive Early on Busy Days (Especially at Kyoto and Shinjuku)
Large and extra-large lockers fill up fast during Golden Week (late April–early May), Obon (mid-August) and the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. If you're arriving at Kyoto Station or Shinjuku on a peak weekend morning with a full-size suitcase, the big lockers may be gone by mid-morning. Arrive before 10 AM or, better yet, book ahead using the ecbo cloak app — which partners with hundreds of nearby cafés, shops and stations across Japan to offer guaranteed storage from around ¥500/day for a regular bag and ¥800/day for a suitcase.
Tip 3 — Lost Your Key? There's a Clear Process
The original article suggested you'd have to mime at a station official — but there's no need for theatrics. If you lose your locker key or PIN, contact the management company immediately — their contact information is posted near the lockers. You'll need to fill out a loss report and show ID, and there may be a ¥1,000–2,000 key replacement fee on top of any unpaid locker charges. Station staff are experienced at helping with this — stay calm, find the notice near the locker bank, and follow the process.
When the Lockers Are Full: Alternatives
If every locker at your current station is taken, you have good options:
Try the next exit. Large stations like Shinjuku, Tokyo and Kyoto have locker banks at multiple entrances. The locker map displayed on each bank shows where others are in the station — check it before giving up.
Luggage delivery (takuhaibin). Japan's door-to-door luggage delivery services (Yamato Transport's "Kuroneko" and Sagawa Express are the main ones) will pick up your bags from your hotel and deliver them to your next accommodation or the airport — usually overnight, for ¥1,500–2,500 per bag. This is especially useful for Shinkansen travel between cities when you don't want to lug heavy cases through ticket gates.
ecbo cloak. This app-based service connects you with partner shops — cafés, convenience stores, kimono rental shops and more — that have secure storage space. Rates are fixed at ¥500/day for regular bags and ¥800/day for suitcases. Book online, drop off at the shop, and pick up when you're ready.
Meet & Greet airport service. If your luggage concern is about your arrival day — not wanting to drag bags while exploring before check-in — the Meet & Greet service can help you start your trip smoothly from the airport itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are there coin lockers at every train station in Japan?
Coin lockers can be found at virtually every train station in Japan, from major hubs to small provincial stops. Subway stations in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya also have them, particularly at busier interchange stations. The number of lockers — especially large ones — varies enormously, so at small stations it's worth having a backup plan.
2. How much does a coin locker cost at a Japanese train station?
Prices are typically ¥300–400 for small lockers, ¥400–500 for medium, and ¥500–800 for large per calendar day. Some stations run slightly higher, especially at tourist-heavy locations. Fees are charged per calendar day (resetting at midnight), so a bag left overnight incurs an additional day's charge.
3. Can I pay for a coin locker with a Suica or IC card?
Yes — many modern touchscreen lockers accept Suica, PASMO and most regional IC cards. PASMO and Suica are interchangeable at most locker terminals, and cards from other regions (ICOCA, TOICA, SUGOCA) are often accepted too. Key-operated lockers still require ¥100 coins only, so carry a few as backup.
4. What happens if all the lockers are full?
Check the station map near any locker bank — most large stations have multiple locker areas. If they're all taken, try the ecbo cloak app for nearby partner storage, or use a door-to-door luggage delivery service (takuhaibin) to send bags ahead to your next hotel.
5. What should I do if I lose my coin locker key?
Contact the locker management company immediately — their information is posted near the lockers. You'll need to fill out a loss report, show ID, and may need to pay a ¥1,000–2,000 key replacement fee. Station staff can help you find the right contact and guide you through the process.
