Job Discussion Forums

[DoctorPayne]

Has anyone used the Pasco baggage service when arriving from overseaas? Is it reliable? Is it worth it? Will I be reembursed for damages or lost items?

I'm not lazy but I'm planning on bringing two big bags and two carry-ons so its a bit much to haul over long distances.

[Mike L.]

All of theses services at the airport in Japan are reliable and efficient! I doubt there oculd be any damage done to a suitcase that wouldn't have already been done by the baage crew in your home country..

[DoctorPayne]

Good point

[Lister100]

If you can ship it go for it. But in my case I had to change places a few times and I didn't want to leave my bags behind in the process.

I made the trip with the same amount of luggage. Two really heavy bags and two carry-on. The idea of traveling with so much baggage scared me a lot and it was in the back of my head the whole time I was in the air. However I managed alright.

A few key factors

1) heavy bags with good rolling wheels

2) carry-on bags should be a back pack and shoulder bag

3) You should have the strength to lift your heavy bags over the occasional obstacles

4) Plan your route to the destination for your first night in Japan (I found a very nice hotel at 200 CDN dollars for my first night. It was really close to the train station that I needed to use the next morning. The extra money bought great service and English speaking staff which gave me directions for getting to where I needed to go the next day. You won't regret spending more for these luxuries. I only stayed the one night and if I had to do it again I would.

5) Again I emphasize plan your transportation. I made sure my hotel was close to where I needed to be the next day and was easily accessible from the airport. From there if you are taking the train make sure you know where you are getting off and what you will do to get from point A to point B. Its damn heavy lugging those things around for long time. You don't want to make it harder on yourself.

If you're taking a train from where you land, something I wished I had brought was a combination lock with attachable cables. The trains don't have much of a baggage area so you have to leave your heavy bags at the back of the train car where you cannot watch them. With the lock you could attach them together so given the probable weight and size of your bags nobody will get away with them. Show up early for the train too. The space for big bags is only about two and a half feet behind the last seat in the train car. Someone else shows up with the same idea and you will be competing for space. I did it this way without a lock and I was looking over my shoulder everytime the train made a stop. No problems though just uncomfortable.

Remember that people are people and the Japanese while having a lower crime rate still have crime and theft. Don't do anything stupid like leave your bags unguarded while you ask for directions or something. Take the precautions you would anywhere else and you will be fine. While waiting for the train in Osaka Kansai Airport I saw some guy staring at my briefcase bag and when I tucked it under my shoulder he came and asked for money to go to Tokyo. This was not an upstanding person and yes he was Japanese.

Don't worry too much, just use good sense and you will be fine. And be prepared for a shock when you arrive. Some part of me half expected to see westerners around and English when I got off the plane. I knew that Japan is very Japanese, but its hard to realise until you arrive. I think my biggest culture shock was on the day of arrival and when I started my first day of work.

[DoctorPayne]

Thanks or the advice, I will be going to my apartment when I arrive but I will need to travel a bit to get there. Hopefully all goes smoothly.