Addressing Japan’s Growing Issue of Forgotten Items in Hotels: A Sustainable Solution

As the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan continues to surge, the challenge of managing forgotten items left behind in hotels has become increasingly severe. In Tokyo’s Ikebukuro, the “Ikebukuro Sakura Hotel” reports nearly 80 items left behind by guests each month, with over 80% of these belongings coming from foreign tourists. These items range from watches, wallets, clothing, and suitcases to cosmetics and more. The process of handling these forgotten belongings is both tedious and costly. When hotel staff discover an item left behind, they must carefully inspect each one to ensure it doesn’t contain prohibited or dangerous materials. This is especially important for cosmetics and electronic devices, as incomplete declarations can lead to returns or re-inspections during the shipping process. Additionally, the high cost of international shipping further complicates matters for hotel management. Even when guests are willing to cover shipping costs, the limited number of carriers that accept cash-on-delivery makes the process more complex. Moreover, due to distance and logistics challenges, whether the items reach their owners remains uncertain. According to logistics management company OSS, the total number of forgotten items left in hotels across Japan each year may exceed 10 million. This not only adds significant…