Hi! Planning a trip to the western part of Japan with main base in Osaka but visiting Kyoto, Hiroshima and some other nearby places. It will be a family trip and will be traveling with my aunt who is a PWD. She has one prosthetic leg but mostly uses a wheelchair. Already booked an accommodation that is accessible and about 5mins walk from the train station.
Will there be any limitations on accessibility on transportation and main attractions on the mentioned places? Any tips you can share to make this trip enjoyable and easy for my aunt as well? Thank you!
by Radiant-Summer-8065
1 comment
Note like a lot of Asia Japan is not very friendly to those with physical disabilities.
Train stations will have lifts/elevators in places. They’re not in the most convenient places but they’re there. As long as you’re not going to any rural places this shouldn’t be an issue.
Kyoto is pretty tricky because the Gion district is very narrow. However if you sort of avoid the ‘main’ roads you’ll be shocked at how going 2 small streets over the crowds will magically dissipate and it feels like you’re on another planet.
Temples are sort of hit and miss on accessibility. The Kyoto Ninenzaka ends in a staircase. The Fushimi Inari shrine is pretty much all staircases. If you want to avoid the horrors of the Gion district you can go to Higashi Hongan-ji Temple which is very close to Kyoto station, is huge, accessable, and has no one there.
Hiroshima should be mostly ok. The Peace Museum is accessable.
Nara’s Todaiji is wheelchari accessable. Just do not feed the deer as you really don’t want to deal with their hyper aggressiveness.
If you want to visit any castles it sort of depends. Osaka castle has been modernized inside and has a lift so you can go there. But Himeji castle is in its original state and has literally 90 degree ladders to go between levels.
[https://www.japan-accessible.com/city/kyoto.htm](https://www.japan-accessible.com/city/kyoto.htm)
This site seems to have some ratings on various attractions for wheelchair access.