I kind of agree with this.
Luggage forwarding is great in very specific situations, like the classic Tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto one night stop. That’s exactly what it’s perfect for. But it’s turned into default advice even when people are just riding a Shinkansen once and staying multiple nights at the next stop.
Shinkansen space really isn’t the nightmare people make it out to be. Medium suitcases fit overhead more often than not, and the legroom trick works fine if you don’t want to lift it. For a single train ride, I’d much rather deal with my own bag than do paperwork, timing drop offs, and repacking carry ons every couple of days.
Where forwarding shines is minimizing transfers, stairs, and hotel hopping, not avoiding trains altogether. I think first time Japan travelers hear “oversized luggage rules” and panic.
It’s a tool, not a rule. Use it when it actually makes life easier, not because Reddit says you must.
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