It’s an idea so good, it’s amazing it isn’t everywhere: An app that finds a shop or cafe that’s willing to hold your baggage while you sightsee or have a meal, for about the same cost as a coin locker at the station.
Ecbo Cloak is so far only available in Japan, but it’s great for those days when you have time to wander the city before you head to the station or airport. Or when you’ve arrived at the station and all the lockers are taken. Cloak has a network of retail shops, restaurants and bars that will watch your bags for you, and an app to help you find one near you.
Its other plus over coin lockers is that you can reserve a spot in advance. Online now in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, it’s testing out in Fukuoka, and has plans for Nagoya and Sapporo. It plans to have 10,000 spaces by the end of the year. The price plan is based on size: 300 yen per day for smaller items, 600 for items longer than 45 centimeters.