Receiving packages without a hotel concierge
 

I'm spending a week in Tokyo and staying in an Airbnb this time, and with the sensitivity around the Airbnb concept the host has asked that no packages be sent to the home. We plan to do some shopping at kappabashi and then deliver our purchases instead of having to lug our shopping around or trek back to the apt.

I tried to google for delivery services where a package can be sent to a post a post office or shipping company service counter, and best I can figure is that Yamato does have this 'tentou' service 店頭受取サービス - but it appears to be only to designated service counters? It's only in Japanese and not on their English website, and some of the information is in graphical form so not easily rendered using Google translate. No luck with the Japan Post english website though I would guess that post offices have a hold & pick-up service.

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/tentou/tentou.html

We have a post office a block from the apt, the usual konbini, and also a Yamato service centre nearby. We're a 7min walk from Shibuya JR station.

Any suggestions or intelligence would be most welcome!

Personally, I'll spefically choose Amazon Japan as a purchase portal so that I can get things delivered to the closest combini.

Means we can get on with our visit without having to arrange to be at home for delivery windows.

Since it has been an ideal solution so far (the English interface isn't perfect, but good enough for me to be able to do it by myself), I've yet to look for alternatives.

Unfortunately Amazon is not an option for specialty shopping - we are looking to buy some knives and table/ceramic ware in the Kappabashi district.

In order to use this service you will have to register and obtain a Kuroneko member ID on this form by clicking one of these buttons.

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/comm...convEnt_on.gif
http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/comm...sideEnt_on.gif

In your case, why not just have the goods shipped to the airport? Keep the dimensions in mind and leave enough time to repackage your suitcases, but, apart from the airport surcharge, seems like a no brainer to me.

Because our kappabashi stop is at the start of our trip so too early for direct shipment to the airport, plus we'd like to take advantage of this for other shops/buys we might come across.

Thanks I did figure that bit out (in so far as seeing that I need an acct) but I don't understand what exactly the Yamato service allows - their list of tentou pickup service centres if I understand correctly seems rather limited but I'm not sure if what I'm looking at is a sub-list with additional specialised services.

Just ask the kappabashi store to send your goods on to the airport at a later date.

Same with the other speciality stores.

You can pickup from many convenience stores (see list below)

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/tent...ntou_il018.gif

or from Yamato service centres. If there is a Yamato service centre nearby I would use it.

You may have seen the list of locker locations which they are trialling and thought the options were limited.

Here is the page listing the tentou pickup service locations.
http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/tent...madoguchi.html

Book a hotel for arrival a day or two after your shopping in Kappabashi. Ship the packages there care if you arriving on MM/DD. Go to the hotel explain for reasons beyond your control you cannot stay but appreciate their kindness. Collect your package, cancel the reservation online and boom. Works for storing luggage too. Two separate bookings the second of which you have no intention of staying for.

I know about the airport service. I'm not asking for airport service. I'd like to know my options so I can decide how to best plan for this.

Thanks.

I thought about that... LOL. But I do want to know how to do pick-up delivery since it's clearly a service that's available in Japan.

Ahhh... thanks!! I wasn't sure if the pick-up/collection option was only possible using the locker approach. Yes, I have a Yamato service centre near my Airbnb so I'll probably stop by to try to ask about it as well. Hopefully someone speaks enough english to help.

1. deliver to a Yamato service centre. This is standard service.
2. deliver to your bnb address with a future date. Once the package information is in the system, you can re-direct delivery to a combini, with a Yamato ID.
3. Postal Restente 郵便局留 is a standard post office service.
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/sisho/
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%83...95%99%E3%82%81

Is there any reason you can't have the store (or yourself) arrange to ship the merchandise to your home country?

When I was in academia, I used to buy tons of books in Jimbocho, take them directly to the post office, and have them shipped home. They never failed to arrive.