There is one golden rule about travelling in Japan: you will always buy more snacks and souvenirs than you planned for. Tokyo Banana. Limited-edition KitKats. Drugstore skincare. That one ceramic cat you absolutely did not need. By day five, my husband and I were staring at two suitcases that refused to close, and that is how we ended up discovering D.KELLY in Asakusa — a little luggage shop that solved our packing crisis for less than the price of a decent dinner back home.
Instead of playing packing Tetris on the hotel floor at midnight, we did the sensible thing. We bought another suitcase. I walked the shopping streets around Asakusa, popped into a handful of stores, compared prices, and kept coming back to one shopfront: D.KELLY JAPAN (浅草店).
Why D.KELLY in Asakusa Won Me Over
Luggage shopping in tourist-heavy areas like Asakusa or Ueno usually gives you two options. Overpriced designer sets in department stores, or sad, flimsy bags shoved in the corner of a souvenir shop. D.KELLY sits right in the middle, and that is exactly where you want to be.
1. D.KELLY prices are genuinely silly (in a good way)
The storefront is plastered with “PRICE DOWN” markdowns, and they are not fake discounts.
- 20-inch cabin bags: ¥2,900 – ¥3,900 (roughly S$24 – S$32)
- 24-inch medium check-in: around ¥5,900 (roughly S$48)
- 28-inch large haul: ¥6,900 – ¥8,900 (roughly S$56 – S$72)
For context, a cabin bag at Changi or in an Orchard Road mall would cost you three to four times that. Even if you only use it once to get your shopping home, the maths works.
2. The colours are actually nice
No endless wall of black and grey. D.KELLY stocks mint green, blush pink, cream ivory, turquoise, matcha olive, and two-tone vintage styles with brown faux-leather trim. They look far more expensive than they are, which is the whole point.
3. Sensible features for real travellers
Most models come with multi-stage aluminium handles, TSA-approved combination locks, lightweight ABS/PC composite shells, side bag hooks, and — my favourite party trick — built-in fold-out cup holders.
4. Cheap day bags and pouches too
Beyond the hard shells, there are backpacks, crossbody slings, tote bags and travel pouches from just ¥390 to ¥590. Perfect for offloading the overflow from your carry-on.
The D.KELLY Suitcase I Brought Home
I picked a mint pastel seafoam trunk suitcase with metallic corner protectors and silver hardware. It looks like something from a boutique brand. It cost less than a buffet.
Front view
Vertical ribbed grooving runs down the shell, which adds rigidity against rough baggage handling and looks smart while doing it. The reinforced metallic corner guards give it a retro trunk feel. There is a recessed utility hook in the centre too — ideal for looping a paper shopping bag or umbrella while you wheel through a station.
Side view
This is where the value shows. The side profile has a proper aluminium frame closure with twin TSA latch locks instead of zips, which are the first thing to tear or get punctured. There are ergonomic grab handles on the top and side. I strapped on a rainbow luggage belt for extra security and instant recognition at the carousel. The 360-degree dual spinner wheels roll quietly and do not catch on station tiles — a real test in Tokyo, where you walk far more than you expect.
Back view
The best bit: a fold-out cup holder built into the shell. It sits flat when unused and flips open when you need somewhere to park your takeaway coffee, bubble tea or vending-machine can while waiting for the train. Add the smooth multi-stage telescopic handle and you have a bag that punches well above its price tag.
Size and Price Cheat Sheet
D.KELLY keeps spec sheets right by the racks, which makes decision-making quick. Here is the rough guide:
- 20-inch (cabin): approx. 35.5 × 26 × 53.5 cm to 37 × 22.5 × 58 cm | 2.4 – 3.3 kg empty | ~¥2,900 – ¥3,900
- 24-inch (medium check-in): approx. 42.5 × 31.5 × 63.5 cm to 45 × 25 × 68 cm | 3.1 – 4.2 kg empty | ~¥5,900
- 28-inch (large haul): approx. 47.5 × 38 × 72 cm to 50.5 × 28 × 77 cm | 3.8 – 5.0 kg empty | ~¥6,900 – ¥8,900
Prices and specs shift slightly with seasonal promotions, and their Made-in-Japan series costs a bit more than the standard ABS/PC models. Check the tag, not just the banner.
Quick Tips Before You Buy at D.KELLY
- Check your airline allowance first. A 28-inch bag fills up faster than you think, and Scoot or AirAsia excess baggage fees will wipe out your savings.
- Buy it late in the trip. You’ll know exactly how much overflow you’re dealing with — and you won’t be lugging an extra bag between cities or hotels.
- Test the wheels in-store. Roll it on the shop floor. You will be doing a lot of walking to Narita or Haneda.
- Bring your passport for tax-free shopping where applicable, and ask before you pay.
- Grab a cheap luggage belt while you are there. Bright colours make spotting your bag at the carousel far easier.
Shop Information and How to Get There
D.KELLY sits inside the busy Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street (新仲見世商店街), a short stroll from Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate. The arcade is covered, so rain or cold weather will not ruin your shopping.
- Shop name: D.KELLY Asakusa (D.KELLY 浅草店)
- Address: 1-22-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (大東ビル 1F)
- Opening hours: 10:00am – 9:00pm daily
- Payment: Cash, credit cards, IC cards
Getting there
- Tokyo Metro Ginza Line: ~4 minute walk from Asakusa Station (Exit 1)
- Toei Asakusa Line: ~5 minute walk from Asakusa Station (Exit A4)
- Tobu Skytree Line: ~5 minute walk from Asakusa Station
- Tsukuba Express: ~4 minute walk from Asakusa Station (Exit A1)
Navigation tip: Walk down Nakamise Shopping Street towards Sensoji, turn into the covered Shin-Nakamise arcade, and look for the bright white storefront with rows of colourful suitcases spilling out of the entrance. You cannot miss it.
Final Verdict on D.KELLY Asakusa
If your Tokyo shopping has outgrown your luggage — and it will — do not panic and do not pay department store prices. D.KELLY in Asakusa gives you a sturdy, good-looking, feature-packed suitcase for the cost of a few bowls of ramen. Mine survived the flight home, the carousel, and the taxi boot without a scratch. Worth every yen.
