Japan Prepares Clothing Compression Machines at Airports to Save Luggage Space
KOMPAS.com – Travelers heading to Japan and wanting to bring back more souvenirs now have an option to save space in their luggage.
Japan is preparing a clothing compression machine service that can shrink garments before being packed into checked baggage.
According to SoraNews24, this service called Pocket Tips uses an automated compression machine capable of reducing clothing volume to about one-seventh of its original size. The technology has been tested at several Japanese airports and is under consideration for full-scale implementation.
The Pocket Tips machine is designed for easy use by travelers. Clothes just need to be folded following a provided mold, then placed into the machine and the start button pressed.
The compression process takes about one minute. Once finished, the previously bulky clothes become a compact cube, making it easier to organize inside the suitcase.
This technology does not require plastic compression bags. In addition to clothing, the machine can be used for relatively large items like towels.
Compressed clothes will not remain permanently compressed. To restore their size, garments can be washed or laid flat for around 15 minutes.
Unsplash Illustration of Narita Airport.
The development of Pocket Tips is supported by Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, Kumamoto Airport, and Naha Airport. The machines have gone through trial runs at these locations.
Next, the developers and airport operators are considering full deployment of the service at these four airports.
During the trial period, the service primarily targeted travelers leaving Japan. The compression machines help create extra suitcase space for souvenirs purchased before departure.
However, plans are underway to allow use in both travel directions, enabling tourists to use the machines upon arrival as well as before leaving the country.
The need for additional suitcase space is evident from surveys conducted during the trial period.
PEXELS/MIKHAIL NILOV Illustration of passenger luggage.
Out of 400 respondents, about 70 percent said they had once refrained from buying extra souvenirs due to lack of baggage space.
After trying the clothing compression service, around 89 percent of participants expressed interest in using it again.
Nonetheless, Pocket Tips has no official launch date yet. Full implementation is targeted for 2027, while stakeholders finalize machine placement, operation systems, and safety aspects before wide-scale service deployment.
