The Japanese found where Find abandoned suitcases (5 photos)

A suitcase problem has engulfed some tourist areas of Japan, where tourists simply have nowhere to dump their old suitcases due to bizarre trash regulations. So, they abandon them on city streets after buying new ones.





Dressed in full protective gear to tend radishes

Of course, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, published on May 15, the number of foreign tourists who visited Japan in March and April of this year exceeded 3 million. And they didn't just eat all the rice and take up all the seats in the snack bars, forcing them to charge admission to regular eateries. It's good that some smart people finally figured out what to do with the suitcases.

Your suitcase – our flowers



Oh, what beautiful suitcases they throw away!

The Niwa Tokyo Hotel, located about 200 meters from JR Suidobashi Station, has decided to grow vegetables and flowers in suitcases. General Manager Satoshi Ebinuma has dedicated a space on the hotel's rooftop for this purpose. The plants are grown organically, without fertilizers, and will later be used in dishes at the hotel restaurant. To save even more money, they used abandoned suitcases as planters and pots.





Tomatoes love it

Everyone cares for the plants, but the director is responsible for the selection and most of the work, since it was his idea. They grow lemongrass, mint, spinach, various herbs for herbal teas, and rosemary for grilled meats. The hotel director is already giving advice to other hotels on how to use empty suitcases abandoned by tourists near the entrance. He points out that the suitcase should match the root pattern. It can be used upright or laid on its side for short roots. They're durable, lightweight, and easy to carry, as long as the wheels aren't broken.



But I don't like this; it looks like half-bald clubs in the Russian provinces.

He planted just 25 types of vegetables and fruits, including eggplants, melons, and tomatoes. Guests really like the director's eco-friendly approach; it's very Japanese. Although to this day, 80-90% of guests at the hotel, which boasts a "beautiful modern Japanese style," are foreigners. Hence the excess suitcases. On average, a small hotel sees an abandoned suitcase once or twice a month. Among them are those that were damaged and the owners were unable to repair them, and those that were simply replaced with new ones during a trip out of town.



Photo from this hotel's social media

They are stored in the backyard for a while in case they are simply picked up. But otherwise, disposal costs around 1,000 yen per suitcase. And this is a problem for the entire hotel industry. Some are even considering using the suitcases as mini-beehives. The Japanese have been saved!