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Hate packing clothes for vacation? Japan-bound travelers may not have to.

Updated July 6, 2023 at 2:58 a.m. EDT|Published July 5, 2023 at 3:33 a.m. EDT
A Japan Airlines bag-check counter in Tokyo in 2019. (Akio Kon/Bloomberg News)
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Many travelers have occasionally resolved to become light packers, all the better to attain the unencumbered lifestyle of those who sweep through an airport with nothing more than a carry on. But what if travelers could pack close to nothing at all?

That’s the idea behind a new clothing rental program from Japan Airlines (JAL). Starting Wednesday, Japan-bound passengers can reserve apparel that will be delivered to their accommodation upon arrival, creating a “travel experience with minimal luggage,” the airline said in a release. Sumitomo, one of Japan’s largest trading companies, will be responsible for procuring, laundering and delivering the items, which will be sourced from overstock and pre-owned apparel.