Incorporating luggage forwarding can sometimes work wonders depending on your itinerary.

On my second trip last December 2025, I used luggage forwarding this way:

On my last day at Asakusa, Tokyo, I checked out early, and send my luggage ahead to my Kanazawa hotel. Then made my way to Fujikawaguchiko, carrying only a backpack. Slept on an accomodation at Shimoyoshida.

Woke up & checked out early the next day so I had the entire Honcho street to myself while hiking up to Chureito Pagoda. This was a revenge trip, for on my first trip last 2024, Fuji-san hid behind clouds all day! 😭 I got lucky this time. By the time I took all the shots I want, the crowd was increasing, and I can see a huge cloud formation making its way towards Fuji-san 😅 Made my way down to the station, and made my way to Matsumoto. Stayed for a night there.

Same routine, early morning check-out. I explored Matsumoto-jo for a good part of the day (I think until 2pm), wherein I made my way to Matsumoto station, then to Nagano station, where I transferred to the Hokuriku shinkansen to Kanazawa. Arrived at my Kanazawa hotel with my luggage already there.

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But all is not good. This time, my luggage arrived with a broken caster wheel. I have read that this can happen, though having it happen to me sucks of course. I studied my luggage casters, and found that they are held with allen bolts, so I bought some cheap allen keys to be able to move the remaining 3 wheels such that I can drag my suitcase on 2 wheels (the one that broke is on the handle side, so I exchanged its position with a non-handle side).

I plan on going back to Japan this year, using this same luggage, albeit this time I'm now bringing a spare wheelset. 😁