Compared across countries
Where can you leave your luggage for the day?
For a trip that crosses borders — the same question, answered country by country.
The pattern
Station lockers are the shared answer in three of the four. The United States is the exception: coin lockers have largely gone from its stations and airports, and what stands in their place is a staffed counter at a handful of Amtrak stations. What differs among the rest is the meter — Japan adds counters that hold a bag for weeks, Korea splits its machines between card and cash, and China charges by the hour with a daily ceiling.
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United States
Not in a station locker — those have largely gone from American stations and airports. Amtrak staffs a baggage counter at a handful of big-city stations, and that is the official answer.
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Japan
Two separate systems: coin lockers you work yourself, and staffed counters that will hold a bag for up to two weeks.
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China
Metro station lockers. Shanghai runs them at 32 stations, sized by suitcase inches and charged by the hour with a daily cap.
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South Korea
Lockers sit in most subway stations and bus terminals. The newer ones take a card; the older ones only take cash.
United States
Japan
China
South Korea