As record numbers of tourists flock Japan To take advantage of the weak Japanese yen, some are getting into trouble with the authorities because of the growing popularity of motorized, transportable suitcases.
Two major Japanese airports have already asked travelers not to carry motorized suitcases into their facilities, according to Kyodo news agency, while police are urging domestic retailers to warn customers of strict laws regarding their use.
In recent years, motorized luggage, similar to children’s scooters but powered by lithium-ion batteries, has become more common among travelers, while being popularized by celebrities like Paris Hilton and Shilpa Shetty.
According to Kyodo, Japan currently classifies electric suitcases, which are popular in the rest of Asia, as “motorized vehicles that can only be driven on roads with required safety equipment and a driver’s license.”
In June, a Chinese woman in her 30s, a student in Japan, was referred to prosecutors for driving without a license after allegedly driving a three-wheeled suitcase on a sidewalk in Osaka on March 31, according to Osaka Prefectural Police.
Under Japanese traffic laws, the woman’s suitcase, which can travel up to 13 km/h, is classified as a “motorized bicycle,” along with some mopeds. Police reminded the public in June that permits were required to carry such luggage.
In July, an Indonesian boy drove a motorized suitcase past pedestrians on a street in Osaka’s bustling Dotonbori shopping district, according to Kyodo, which said his family was surprised to learn that a driver’s license was required for such vehicles in Japan.
According to Takeru Shibayama, a senior researcher at the Institute of Transportation at the Vienna University of Technology, the wide range of Japanese vehicles – which fall under the category of motorized bicycles – could force the country to discuss “whether a new classification should be established” to deal with electric suitcases.
Japan has struggled recently to cope with new modes of transportation. Traffic violations involving e-scooters quadrupled in the six months since restrictions were eased in July 2023, according to the National Police Agency. The loosening of regulations allows people over 16 to ride them without a license, and they are now commonplace in major cities like Tokyo.