Narita Airport Tests Compression Machines to Tackle Tokyo’s Overstuffed Suitcase Problems
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Need a little help fitting everything into your suitcase before leaving Japan? Narita Airport is testing automated clothing compression machines to help travelers save space.
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Narita Airport’s Newest Experiment: Saving Travelers From Suitcase Stress
With more international travelers coming in and out of Japan with each passing year, Tokyo’s Narita Airport is a hotbed for travel trouble, but with this latest experiment, the airport is taking aim at a problem many travelers know all too well: overstuffed suitcases that just won’t close. Starting with just a few days in mid-January 2026, the Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) teamed up with Tokyo-based apparel company SJOY to test an automated clothing compression machine, designed to shrink bulky clothes down to a fraction of their original size.
Image Source: Mainichi Shimbun
The idea is clever in its simplicity, allowing travelers to place their clothing in a machine roughly the size of an ATM, with a small compartment 10 centimeters high, 15 centimeters wide, and 30 centimeters deep. No real preparation is required, and no careful folding is needed – once the lid is closed and a button is pressed, the device goes ahead and compresses the clothing inside the compartment into compact, regular bricks, described as “palm size.” In 1~3 minutes, the garments are squeezed down to regular, easy-to-pack shapes, which can be unfolded and returned to their original shape when unpacking.
For travelers, the benefit is obvious and immediate. A report from the Mainichi described a man in his 30s, visiting Narita with his wife after a trip to Shikoku, compressing two jackets during the machine’s test run. “I suddenly have more room in my backpack,” he explained, “so now I can fill that space by buying souvenirs at the airport before heading home.” It’s a clear example exactly the kind of last-minute relief that the airport hopes to provide, especially for people who didn’t anticipate how much shopping they’d do on their trip – especially common among international travelers visiting Japan for the first time.
Not Just for Travelers’ Convenience
Easing the struggle of getting through the airport might be a major part of the motivation for this new service test, but it’s not the only one. Narita Airport has actually been struggling with a sharp rise in abandoned suitcases in recent years, a trend linked to the surge in inbound tourism. According to NAA, the number of abandoned bags jumped from 124 cases in the 2020 fiscal year to 1,073 in 2024, which is more than an eightfold increase. Airport officials believe many travelers end up buying new, larger suitcases when their luggage overflows, leaving the old ones behind on the departures floor.
Frequent travelers may know from first-hand experience, but NAA staff say it’s common enough to see passengers wrestling with bulging suitcases that simply won’t shut. While the issue of overweight luggage is hard to combat, by at least offering an easy way to reduce clothing volume, the airport hopes to ease that stress and cut down on luggage abandonment at the same time.
The trial, held from January 13 to 15 in Narita’s Terminals 2 and 3, is part of a broader push from the NAA to introduce innovative services that keep the airport running smoothly, even in the face of increased foot traffic. Results are still being analyzed, but if the test proves successful, the airport plans to explore a paid version of the service and consider permanent installation. Travelers looking for solutions to this modern travel headache (and maybe a little extra space for one more box of Kit Kats or Tokyo Banana) will just have to keep an eye out for the machine during their next visit to Narita, and keep an ear out for what new innovations the airport is looking at next.
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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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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