Motorized Suitcases Count as Vehicles in Japan, and Tourists are Unlicensed Drivers
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Thinking about bringing an electric suitcase to Japan to cut down on walking? Unless you want run-ins with the law, you might want to think again.
Motorized suitcases, equipped with large wheels and electric motors, allow users to ride their luggage instead of dragging it around. A first glance, the concept seems ingenious – getting through airports with a big suitcase can be exhausting, so why not let your bag do the work for you? In recent years, the suitcases have become increasingly popular in many parts of Asia. But this trend has not caught on in Japan, and you’re not likely to see locals tearing down the sidewalk on a suitcase in Tokyo or Osaka anytime soon, mainly for one major reason: in Japan, these motorized suitcases are legally classified as vehicles, and they come with all the associated restrictions.
Image Source: Yahoo Japan News
In Japan, motorized suitcases come under the same category as small motorcycles, and thus must be “driven” on the road, with a helmet, insurance, and a driver’s license valid in Japan. If you’ve been thinking about bringing a suitcase with a motor to make it easier to get around on your next trip to Japan, it’s clearly not a particularly practical idea – you’d probably be better off just renting a car. But the vast majority of people using these suitcases in Japan are foreign tourists unfamiliar with Japan’s strict policy regarding their luggage. In most countries where the suitcases are popular, there are no such restrictions, so travelers arrive in Japan entirely unaware of the trouble that awaits them.
Image Source: Sankei Shimbun
Unfortunately, the result is that tired tourists are beginning to find themselves in uncomfortable situations with the Japanese police. Mainichi Shinbun reports that the very first person to be referred to Japanese prosecutors for incorrect suitcase usage was a Chinese woman who was seen riding her suitcase down a sidewalk in Osaka earlier this year. Not long after, a family from Indonesia received a stern talking to in the very same area, when their son was spotted riding his suitcase through a crowd. According to the newspaper, the family was shocked – back home, people ride their motorized suitcases wherever they want. In Osaka, however, police are cracking down.
Given the recent increase in various small motorized transportation devices, suitcases included, it looks like the Japanese government might need to reassess exactly which policies make the most sense for a variety of different vehicles. But for the time being, Japanese airports are strongly advising passengers to stay off their motorized suitcases on their way to check-in, and local police in Japan’s bigger cities are growing quick to catch suitcase-riding culprits. Unless the law changes any time soon, for your next trip to Japan, you’ll want to leave your motorized suitcase at home.
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!
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