Our Story
✈️ Born from a Lost Item on Our Honeymoon – For Travelers Like You
Japan Lost and Found Service was born out of a deeply personal, frustrating, and unforgettable experience during my honeymoon.
Our Dream Trip to Switzerland Takes an Unexpected Turn
In the summer of 2025, my wife and I traveled to Switzerland. It had been my dream to return there with her ever since a life-changing trip I took with my brother in 2022. I was mesmerized by the stunning natural beauty, breathtaking alpine views, and the warmth of the people not to mention the convenience of the transportation system. I promised myself: “One day, I want to share this wonder with my future wife.”
That dream came true. We walked 13 kilometers every day for two weeks, hiked mountain trails, took wedding photos at Kleine Scheidegg beneath the Jungfrau, and even visited Chamonix to see Mont Blanc. It was everything we hoped for.
The Nightmare Journey Home Begins
But as we returned to Japan, our beautiful journey took a turn for the worse.
Due to a timing miscalculation, we missed our original return flight and had to buy new tickets, costing over $2,500 USD out of pocket. Then, our connecting flights from Switzerland to Frankfurt and finally Beijing were delayed. When we landed in Beijing, our final flight to Tokyo was departing in less than 40 minutes. To make matters worse, there was an unexpected security check.
Panicking, we rushed through, threw our belongings into trays, passed through screening, grabbed what we could, and sprinted nearly a kilometer to the farthest gate. Thankfully, we made it onboard.
A Crucial Item Left Behind
But when we arrived in Japan, I realized something was missing.
I had left my MacBook behind at the security check in Beijing Airport.
Desperate, I asked a Chinese-American passenger who had been sitting next to us for help. He kindly called the airport for me, but the answer was vague. Instead, they just gave me an email address and told me to contact it. I immediately felt like I was being passed around and ignored.
For three days, I kept sending emails until I finally received word: they had found my item. Relief! But the next line crushed me: “We cannot ship it to Japan. You need to pick it up in person.”
I had already spent so much, missed work, and felt drained. And now they expected me to fly to Beijing again just to pick up a lost item?
The Birth of a Mission: "No Traveler Should Go Through This"
At that moment, a powerful thought struck me:
“No traveler should have to go through this.”
Japan is a wonderful, kind, and organized country. Lost items are often found. But for international travelers, the language barrier, complex procedures, and the distance after returning home make retrieving a lost item almost impossible.
That moment of despair became the very reason I created Japan Lost and Found Service.
Through my own persistent negotiation and diligent tracking, I was eventually able to fly to Beijing and recover the item myself. But I knew this wasn’t something most people could do. I was determined to build a service that would turn hopelessness into resolution for others.
Our Promise to You
So here we are.
We don’t just return lost items we restore peace of mind, protect the memories of your journey, and ensure that a small mistake doesn’t overshadow a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
No matter how small the item or how far you’ve already traveled, we’re here for you.
Japan Lost and Found Service is committed to reuniting you with your lost belongings wherever in the world you may be.
