7-Eleven Japan Introduces Luggage Storage Service

If you've ever used a Japanese convenience store, you'll know they're handy places to pick up snacks, drinks, hot food and even some clothes.

They also offer a lot of different services.You can pay your bills at a convenience store, and send or receive packages.But now, Japan's biggest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, is adding a new service that's sure to make a lot of travelers in Japan happy: luggage storage.

7-Eleven is working with the luggage storage service Ecbo Cloak to introduce the new service at 378 stores across 26 of Japan's prefectures.

The Ecbo Cloak service has already been introduced at some cafes, shops and post offices across Japan — but at 7-Eleven stores, the service will be available 24 hours a day.And there are often 7-Eleven stores near railway stations where demand for luggage storage is high.

This is good news for travelers to Japan's more popular cities, who won't have to worry about finding an empty locker at a railway station when they arrive.It may also be good news for local residents, since fewer travelers will be pulling large luggage onto local buses and subway trains.

Ecbo Cloak lets customers reserve storage in advance using an app or the Ecbo Cloak website.The fees are 500 yen per day for smaller bags such as backpacks and handbags, and 800 yen per day for larger suitcases.That's about $3.20 to $5.10.

Payment is made in advance, and then you can just bring your luggage to your chosen store — and enjoy the rest of your day, knowing your bags are safe and can be picked up at any time.