Originally Posted by
abmj-jr
For future reference - although most hotels won't let you check in early, many will let you leave your luggage with them until you can check in. That at least gets your luggage out of your hands while you explore the city before checking in.
You assume I had a
hotel booked
The times I have booked an actual hotel in Japan and arrived before check in, I have left my bags at the hotel baggage storage.