Kyoto preserves centuries of history in its streets, temples, and landscapes. From the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha to Kiyomizu-dera’s famous wooden stage and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, the city is packed with unforgettable places to explore.
But many of Kyoto’s most popular sights also come with

・Historic stone steps and slopes (especially around Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka)
・Crowded buses and trains
・Temple grounds with gravel paths, stairs, and uneven surfaces

Dragging a suitcase through these areas can quickly drain your energy, slow down your plans, and make the experience less comfortable for everyone around you. That’s why Kyoto has been promoting hands-free sightseeing as a smarter, more sustainable way to enjoy the city.
Drop your bags at the station, and Kyoto suddenly becomes much easier to explore.

Pikuraku PORTER is a convenient service that lets you place your luggage in a smart locker at the station and have it delivered to your Kyoto hotel by the evening of the same day.
The service was already available at JR Kyoto Station’s conventional line Central Gate (Karasuma Gate). As of May 22, 2026, it is also available inside the ticket gates at Kintetsu Kyoto Station, making it especially handy for travelers arriving from Nara or using the Kintetsu lines during their trip.

・Start Date: May 22, 2026
・Location: Inside the ticket gates at Kintetsu Kyoto Station locker area (17 lockers total: 6 small, 5 medium, 6 large). Also available at Kyoto Station Central Gate
・Same-Day Hotel Delivery Cutoff: Drop off by 2 PM for delivery to your hotel around the same evening
・Temporary Storage Hours: 5 AM - 12 AM; charged every 24 hours, with advance reservations available
・Eligible Hotels: Around 280 hotels in Kyoto City
・Supported Languages: Japanese, English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
・Payment: Transportation IC cards and credit cards

Fees are based on locker size. You can place multiple items in one locker as long as they fit within the size limit.
【Same-Day Hotel Delivery (Kyoto Station → Kyoto City Hotels)】
Large Locker (2,800 yen): Within W33cm × H80.7cm × D64.5cm (For large suitcases)

Medium Locker (2,300 yen): Within W33cm × H52.4cm × D64.5cm (For medium carry-on bags or duffel bags)

Small Locker (1,900 yen): Within W33cm × H24.1cm × D64.5cm (For souvenirs or backpacks)

【Temporary Storage (Per 24 Hours)】
Large Locker: 900 yen

Medium Locker: 600 yen

Small Locker: 400 yen

Note: Delivery from Kyoto Station to hotels in the Osaka area is not supported. For same-day delivery, complete the procedure by 2 PM.

Worried that using an unmanned locker in Japan might be confusing? Don’t be. The system is designed to be intuitive and tourist-friendly.

Step 1: Select Your Language and Place Your Luggage Inside
Choose your preferred language on the touch panel: Japanese, English, Korean, or Chinese. Then follow the on-screen instructions and place your luggage in an available locker.

Step 2: Choose Your Hotel
Select the Kyoto City hotel where you’ll be staying that night. Around 280 major hotels are supported, so you can quickly choose from the on-screen list.

Step 3: Pay Cash-Free and Go!
Pay with a credit card or transportation IC card such as Suica or ICOCA. Once the process is complete, your luggage is taken care of. No physical key. No waiting in line. No carrying heavy bags through Kyoto. Just head straight out and start exploring.

Kyoto Station is enormous, and first-time visitors may find it confusing. That’s where Kyoto Station Digital Map, also known as “Eki-Sma,” becomes incredibly useful.

No app download is required. Simply open the map (https://platinumaps.jp/d/kyoto-station-smart-navi) in your browser for free.

The service displays:
・Locker locations
・Real-time locker availability
・Pikuraku PORTER information at Kintetsu Kyoto Station
・Station navigation information

That means you can check whether lockers are available before you even arrive, saving yourself from dragging luggage around the station searching for empty space.

Once your bags are taken care of, it’s time to explore Kyoto properly. These spots are easy to reach from Kintetsu Kyoto Station and JR Kyoto Station while offering a fantastic introduction to Kyoto’s history and culture.

Take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line one stop from Kintetsu Kyoto Station to Toji Station, or walk about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station.
Founded alongside the construction of Heian-kyo, Japan’s ancient capital, To-ji Temple is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism and has more than 1,200 years of history. Entrusted to Kobo Daishi, also known as Kukai, the temple is home to Japan’s tallest wooden structure: its famous five-story pagoda.
Walk through the grounds and admire the craftsmanship, Buddhist art, and quiet dignity of one of Kyoto’s most important historic landmarks.

These two major temples are both within walking distance of Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Gate.
Nishi Hongan-ji is especially famous as a World Heritage Site. Its richly decorated Karamon Gate is also known as the “Sunset Gate” because visitors are said to lose track of time admiring its beauty.
Both temples offer a calm, spacious introduction to the world of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, making them ideal first stops after dropping off your luggage.

From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line for about 5 minutes and get off at Inari Station. The shrine is right nearby.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of around 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan and has long been worshipped as a deity of harvests, prosperity, and business success.
Its famous Senbon Torii, or thousands of vermilion torii gates, create one of Kyoto’s most unforgettable walking experiences. Without a suitcase slowing you down, you can enjoy the atmosphere much more comfortably and explore deeper into the shrine’s mystical mountain paths.

Kyoto is a city best enjoyed slowly, whether wandering through historic temple grounds, exploring quiet backstreets, or discovering hidden cafés along the way. But heavy luggage can quickly turn that experience into a stressful one.
That’s what makes Pikuraku PORTER so useful.
With smart lockers, same-day hotel delivery, multilingual support, and cashless payment, the service makes Kyoto sightseeing smoother, lighter, and far more comfortable.
The next time you arrive at Kyoto Station, try leaving your bags behind first. You may find yourself enjoying Kyoto in a completely different way.

(Source/Main Image :Kyoto City)