Does a 115-litre suitcase fit in Japan?
86 × 55 × 35 cm, 176 cm around: it is too big for the usual station coin lockers, the Shinkansen needs an oversized baggage reservation, takkyubin charges it as size 180 and no Japanese airline will take it as carry-on.
The four checks
| Coin lockers | No standard locker | Larger than the cabinets most stations install. Use a staffed baggage room or a storage service. |
|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | Reservation required | 176 cm around, over the 160 cm line, so the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen need a free Oversized Baggage Area seat. No such system on the Tohoku, Hokkaido, Joetsu or Hokuriku lines. |
| Takkyubin (luggage delivery) | Size 180 | Up to 180 cm and 30 kg, from ¥3680 within one region. |
| Japanese airlines | Check it in | Every Japanese carrier needs this one in the hold. |
Dimensions
| Name | 115-litre suitcase |
|---|---|
| Height × width × depth | 86 × 55 × 35 cm |
| Three-side total | 176 cm |
| Longest side | 86 cm |
| Empty weight | 5.9 kg |
| Wheels included? | Yes — the figure includes wheels and handles. |
"115 L" is a nominal size, not a standard: makers measure it differently and cases with the same label run from about 82 to 90 cm tall. The figures above are the middle of that range, so check your own case before relying on a tight verdict.
What to do about it
- Coin lockers are out, so use a staffed baggage room at a major station or a storage service such as ecbo cloak, which lists shops and hotels that hold bags by the day.
- Book the Oversized Baggage Area seat when you buy the ticket — through Smart EX, EX, e5489, a ticket machine or the ticket office. It costs nothing, and there are only a few dozen such seats per train.
- Sending the case from the airport to your hotel is usually the cheapest way to avoid all three problems: hand it in at the arrivals counter and travel with a day bag.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 115-litre suitcase fit in a Japanese coin locker?
No. At 86 × 55 × 35 cm it is larger than the biggest cabinet most stations install, so plan on a staffed baggage room, a luggage storage service such as ecbo cloak, or sending the case ahead by takkyubin.
Do I need a Shinkansen oversized baggage reservation for a 115-litre suitcase?
Yes on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen. At 86 × 55 × 35 cm its three sides add up to 176 cm, past the 160 cm threshold, so you need a seat with an Oversized Baggage Area. The reservation itself is free; turning up without one is a ¥1000 charge. The Tohoku, Hokkaido, Joetsu and Hokuriku lines have no such system.
What does it cost to send a 115-litre suitcase by takkyubin?
At 86 × 55 × 35 cm, 176 cm around, it is a size 180 parcel — up to 180 cm total and 30 kg — which starts at ¥3680 for a parcel that stays inside one region and costs more the further it goes. Airport counters at Narita, Haneda and Kansai take the same sizes for delivery to your hotel.
Other suitcase sizes
Sources
- Dimensions: typical external size for a case labelled 115 L, wheels and handle included. Not a maker's figure — nominal labels are not standardised, so the range above is the honest answer and the middle of it is what is checked here.
- JR East Smart Logistics — Multi Ecube coin locker sizes and fees (Last checked 2026-09-09)
- JR Central — Oversized baggage on the Shinkansen (Last checked 2026-09-09)
- Yamato Transport — Takkyubin size and weight table (Last checked 2026-09-09)
Last checked: 2026-09-09 — Rules and prices change. Coin locker dimensions in particular vary from station to station, so treat the sizes here as a guide and check the official page before you travel.