Airport to Hotel Hot Take
Okay so I just got back from Japan, and from my personal experience (and opinion), this was the easiest way to get around with luggage.
To get from the airport to your hotel, I highly recommend using a pre-booked airport bus service. You can reserve your time and date through klook just search for the “Limousine Bus” and choose the route you need. It makes arrival so much easier because you avoid paying for luggage forwarding right away or trying to navigate public transportation immediately after a long flight which is a hassle at first with our without luggage.
If you’re traveling between multiple cities in Japan (I did Tokyo and Osaka), definitely take advantage of the luggage forwarding service offered by most hotels. It was one of the most convenient parts of the trip. You can send your larger luggage directly to your next hotel and travel lighter between cities. Just keep in mind that most places require payment in cash for this service. We paid about 5,000yen for 2 large check bags that were about 30 lbs each, they go by weight. Also, if you have a backpack on the trains wear it in the front of you, makes it easier to fit yourself in a crowded train and people will appreciate it.
ALSO ALSO! For the trains, download the Suica app and add the card to your mobile wallet, when you're going through the train station all you have to do is tap your phone to the IC reader like tap to pay, no need to even have the card open or phone screen on (mainly for iPhone) you just tap your phone to the IC reader and it'll scan the card make going in and out of the busy station a breeze. Start off with a few thousand yen and add money as needed.