Seibu Holdings Delivers Luggage from Coin Lockers to Tokyo Hotels
Targeting Visiting Tourists... Introducing 'Empty-Handed Tourism'
In Japan, where the number of tourists visiting has sharply increased, a new service aimed at assisting tourists with "empty-handed tourism" has recently been launched, drawing attention. This service allows tourists to place their luggage in subway lockers (coin lockers), which are then delivered directly to the hotel where the customer is staying, strategically capitalizing on the tourist boom. Within Japan, it has become a hot topic as it is likened to the "Anywhere Door" featured in the famous anime Doraemon.
In Japan, where the number of visitors from Korea has significantly increased, a new service has been launched recently to assist tourists who travel empty-handed, drawing attention. [Image source=Getty Images]
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun recently reported that Seibu Holdings, a major Japanese railway company, has been piloting a service called "Pick lock porter in Tokyo" since last month. This service transports luggage placed by customers in coin lockers at certain Tokyo subway stations directly to their hotels. The system was developed by the startup Spacer and was first operated by the railway company JR West in Osaka and Hiroshima before being introduced to Tokyo and other parts of eastern Japan. Seibu Holdings stated that the service is currently available at 500 hotels in Tokyo and nearby Chiba Prefecture.
The service is simple to use. Customers place their luggage in coin lockers installed at three locations?Tokyo Ikebukuro Station, Seibu Shinjuku Station, and Toshimaen Station?by 2 p.m., select their hotel delivery destination, and enter the information via a touch panel. Afterwards, delivery personnel retrieve the luggage and bring it to the customer's hotel. Fees vary depending on the size of the locker, with the largest size costing 2,800 yen (approximately 25,650 KRW). Customers can store as many items as fit inside the locker by paying the corresponding fee for the size.
A part of the explanatory video for the 'Pikuraku Porter' system, where luggage left in a coin locker is automatically delivered to the hotel. (Photo by Spacer website)
A representative from Seibu Holdings’ Corporate Planning Division said, "We wanted to make coin lockers like the 'Anywhere Door' from the Doraemon manga," adding, "We thought that combining the concepts of depositing and retrieving could create various possibilities." They further explained the motivation behind the introduction, saying, "Coin lockers at major stations fill up quickly, and baggage storage facilities face challenges such as labor costs and language barriers for foreigners. Moreover, hotels increasingly face new challenges with luggage storage before check-in or after check-out. Increasing the utilization rate of coin lockers can solve these issues."
However, despite the innovative idea, it reportedly took a lot of time to coordinate. Since cumbersome tasks such as matching received luggage with guest information are required, many hotels without sufficient customer service capacity declined to adopt the service. Consequently, Seibu Holdings employees personally visited hotels to persuade them. Their future goal is to connect luggage storage lockers at airports and major hub stations with all hotels.
This service launch coincided with a surge in tourists visiting Japan. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the cumulative spending by foreign visitors to Japan from January to September this year increased by 61.7% compared to the same period last year, reaching a record high of 5.8582 trillion yen (approximately 53.7 trillion KRW). The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, "As the number of tourists visiting Japan increases, if such service linkages are implemented nationwide, it will not only alleviate congestion but also lead to improved satisfaction among tourists."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
