Is traveling with elderly parents doable?

Looking for advice. I was in Japan recently and basically since I returned, all I can think of is when I’ll be going back.
My parents and I were having a chat about it, and the idea of going with them came up. I am excited about going on a family trip, but I don’t know how realistic it is.
Although they can walk, they have some mobility issues which realistically would prevent them from walking more than 2-3k steps per day. That’s fine with me because I can wander off when they need to relax. But, I am concerned about walking in train stations, or walking long distances to visit temples etc. I want it to be a nice experience for them too. Has anyone done a trip like this before? Did you enjoy it? I am thinking that we’d spend a few days in Tokyo, and then head over to Osaka or Kyoto, or exclusively stay in Tokyo (Ginza probably).

by thehomechef20

32 comments
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  2. Last year I traveled with a few couples who brought their elderly parents, so a group of about 6 30-40 yr olds and 4 60-70 year olds. The older people were OK but a few days they decided to stay behind or take it slow. We all did our adventures and they would stay behind at the hotel/air bnb and do lunch and laundry. They probably went out a little but they just needed a lot more rest. It wasn’t a burden at all but they did need to be told before hand how much physical activity our daily plans may entail and they decided based on that if they would go or do their own thing.

  3. Despite the objections of many people here, you can books tours with a private car service, which would allow you to visit major sites without too much walking in between.

  4. Absolutely manageable.

    Make sure to get them good walking shoes at least six months ahead of time, if they need orthotics or knee braces, anything that helps make walking more comfortable.

    I would encourage them to increase their exercise daily and keep up with stairs. You can make the lead up part of the adventure, go for walks on weekends, set goals for steps.

    I have seen so many people (of all ages) who try to go from zero to sixty on vacation and it just wrecks them. My Mom had amazing trips to Asia in her late seventies/early eighties but she walks daily.

  5. You gotta plan really really carefully and always think of where to take a good rest. Don’t make the schedule too tight and be sure to always use escalator/elevator at station. Try think of whether there would be place to take a few minutes of good sitting at the tourist place you are going to visit and choose a place that doesn’t have that much stairway.

  6. I just went with my elderly parents. Part of the trip was through a car rental to the Fuji five lakes area and part of it was in Tokyo using public transit. I thought that the car part of the trip was great but the Tokyo part was not as enjoyable for them. They don’t have mobility issues but I can sense that the crowds made them nervous. Also they walk at a slower pace and sometimes it’s difficult keeping the group together when people are walking faster all around. They also like frequent breaks and I thought traveling in a car allows that naturally while it’s not guaranteed when using public transport.

  7. I’d plan on seeing 1, maybe 2 walking sites (like a temple) a day max, take taxis everywhere so they aren’t using all their energy getting to the sights. Plan on more sedentary activities (eating, theater, karaoke, etc)

    From what I’ve read on here, English-language healthcare can be a challenge in Japan, so definitely know which hospitals to go to/how to navigate that if a health issue arises.

  8. I go with my elderly parents pretty regularly, they love Japan but they’re not fans of the crowds in Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, Nara, etc.

    We sometimes travel by public transport, especially if we’re doing winter trips. Just plan ahead and make sure there is not too much walking in a day, and find and use all the elevators instead of keep walking up and down stairs. Find resting spots, and don’t be afraid to cut short each days itinerary to get some better rest. Don’t cheap out on the hotel. It doesn’t need to be absolutely luxurious but a nice one with a soft bed and nice bathtub that they can enjoy and relax is a must.

    My parents do seem to really enjoy it then most when we just drive and go to relatively less crowded spots like we went to Nachi and Kumano areas last spring, because then they’re not wasting energy in the transit, fighting the crowds and queueing. We still went to famous and popular spots but you’re not constantly being surrounded by crowds.

    If you are able to drive, it will be the best imo. Alternatively, you can explore private tour, hiring a taxi or driver, etc.

  9. Most touristy places have rickshaws, so that’s a possibility? Tokyo kyoto kamakura are some examples of where I’ve seen them. 

  10. 2-3k steps isn’t much to work with. I’d go for a private tour. Even finding escalators or elevators may be a 500 step detour. Especially for Kyoto as there are places where it’s stairs or nothing.

  11. As long as they are willing to hop in a taxi to the hotel when they get too tired, so you can keep sightseeing, everyone can go at their own pace.

    You can use the wheelchair accessible option in Google maps to make it (a bit) easier to find the elevators for your in train/subway stations. This will limit the number of stairs a bit but you may have to walk out of the way to the elevator.

    – [Tokyo Now Has Wheelchair Accessible Routes in Google Maps](https://www.accessible-japan.com/tokyo-now-has-wheelchair-accessible-routes-in-google-maps/)

    You could also choose a day in each city where you utilize the hop-on hop-off bus tours. They can be good for a bit less walking while getting a broad overview of the city. Then, the other days, you can visit specific areas/neighborhoods you want to explore more.

    – [Sky Hop Bus (Tokyo and Kyoto)](https://skyhopbus.com)
    – [Tokyo Sightseeing Cruises](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/best-water-activities-in-tokyo)
    – [Osaka Sightseeing Bus Tours](https://livejapan.com/en/in-kansai/in-pref-osaka/in-umeda_osaka-station_kitashinchi/article-a2000475/)
    – [Osaka Water Sightseeing Cruises](https://digjapan.travel/en/blog/id=11961)

    Similarly there are sightseeing taxis you can reserve too. Or just take a regular taxi from time to time. Taxis are particularly helpful in Kyoto. For example, Kinkakuji is in kind of an out of the way/inconvenient spot. So it’s easier to take a taxi there and not too expensive for the time/hassle you save. There are taxis everywhere in Kyoto and they can be much more comfortable than the (often very) crowded buses.

    – [Hinomaru Sightseeing Taxi Tokyo](https://hinomaru.tokyo/kanko?locale=en)
    – [Catching a Taxi in Tokyo (can get $$$ depending on where you’re going to. Tokyo is huge!)](https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/transport/how-to-catch-taxi-tokyo-japan/)
    – [It’s particularly easy to get around Kyoto via Taxi as there are a lot of them.](https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-taxis)
    – Google Sightseeing Taxi + City Name as there’s a number of different companies that offer this option
    – [Osaka Taxis](https://insideosaka.com/osaka-taxis/)

    The top floors of department stores have a array of nice, sit down restaurants and it can be nice to take the elevator up and wander through to choose which one you want to eat at in. No wandering the streets in the heat/humidity/rain cold as you just walk around the floor indoors. The seating/tables in these is usually a bit more spacious. In the basements of department stores are nice, take away food halls so if you’re very tired and just want to relax in your hotel room you can pick up food to take back for dinner. There are also more food halls that have been opening where you can try multiple types of food in one place.

    – [JapanGuide: Department Stores](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2072.html)
    – [Department stores](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/10/baby-tokyo-department-stores-take-your-children/ )
    – [Tokyo Depachika (Department Store Food Halls)](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/best-depachika-food-halls-in-tokyo)
    – [Asakusa Food Hall Inspired by Japan Festivals in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/asakusa-is-getting-a-new-matsuri-themed-yokocho-food-hall-060822)
    – [New Yokocho Food Hall in Shinjuku, Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/shinjuku-has-a-new-yokocho-food-hall-with-17-eateries-110122)
    – [8 Other Food Halls in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restaurants/best-restaurant-food-halls-in-tokyo)
    – [Kyoto: Daimaru Dept Store Restaurant Floor](https://www.insidekyoto.com/daimaru-resutoran-gai)
    – [Kyoto Station: CUBE Food Court](https://www.insidekyoto.com/the-cube-food-court-kyoto)
    – [Kyoto Tower Food Hall](https://www.kyoto-tower-sando.jp/s/en/shop/floor/top)
    – [Kyoto Ramen Kyoji Street](https://www.kyoto-ramen-koji.com/english/)

    So, say you’re done sightseeing at your morning spot, everyone can have lunch together at a department store or food hall. After lunch, your parents could shop in the department store or just take a taxi back to the hotel to rest in the afternoon. You continue sightseeing and then meet back at the hotel that evening and go out to a nearby restaurant for dinner together.

  12. First: check their insurance company will allow them to fly. You haven’t mentioned how old they are but it gets expensive quickly over a certain age to get insurance, and can become a no not long after that, even if they are actually physically able. Once you’ve done this , then yes, read the other posts. 🙂 .

  13. Buy / rent a car. Renting is straight forward via an app, and you can book parking spaces on advance.

  14. My mom is in a similar boat and we went in 2019. The hardest part for us was when you accidentally take a wrong turn and that may have been a significant number of her steps spent on the wrong direction. My suggestion may be looking up your route early for the bigger train stations so you’re not backtracking. We also did a hop on hop off bus tour that was really great! It gave us the chance to see lots of sites, get off where we wanted, then get back on for some resting on the way to the next one.

  15. What about using a wheelchair periodically during the day? A lightweight one is around 16 lbs and can be folded and slung on the shoulder.

  16. Of course its doable, if you plan right. 
    Have you thought about doing Tokyo then somewhere like Kanazawa? That way they’d get to see traditional Japan without dealing with the overcrowding of kyoto.

    Oh and if you use Google maps for transport, it will tell you the best carriage to get on for escalator use when you get off. Also they have a less walking option you can use.  

  17. Hiroshima might be a good option for trip with elderly parents. The main part of the city isn’t too crowded or too spread out. Miyajima is an easy day trip.

  18. Hop on hop off buses are great for people that are mobile, but don’t want or can’t walk as far.

  19. 2-3000 steps is very very little and will likely be very limiting. That’s something like 20 minutes of walking total.

  20. I also see sooo many people here say absolutely don’t take taxi’s etc., but unless you’re on a super strict budget, which your parents likely are not, use them! It gets you right to where you’re going without added steps, so they can spend their time walking around at the destination. Just plan a bit of additional in the budget for transportation.

  21. I spent 3.5 days in Tokyo with my Mum, as part of 3 week trip with my brother, yes the walking was a lot but, I think the crowds made her more nervous and fear of getting separated.

  22. I’d say look into car rental. I live in Tokyo but recently took a trip to Wakayama/Osaka/Kyoto/Shiga, and got a car. Parking (even in Kyoto!) wasn’t so bad, and with the car nearby it takes away the stress of finding places to sit with elderly people. You can also find places to park in central Tokyo (department stores etc., which can even be free if you’re shopping there), but you’d be well advised to check where you’ll park before going anywhere. Obviously find a hotel that has parking available (or just rent day to day otherwise). It’s obviously going to be a bit more expensive than taking public transportation, but if you can afford it, then it’s a good option.

    If you’re not used to it, driving on the Tokyo highway system (shutoko expressway) can be a bit confusing and somewhat nerve-wracking, but you can usually avoid it if you’re not going too far.

  23. I am doing the same type of trip in less than a month with my parents upper 70’s. They were born there but we now live in USA. They will do some walking, but my husband and I will probably drop them off in cafes while we do the more strenuous things. We bought a portable wheel chair off Amazon for under $300 I believe to bring with us just in case for my mom, who is more frail and having some health issues

    I think it is manageable. If she gets to tired then I’ll just plop them in a cab to go back to hotel instead of train. It might cost more but, it’s doable

  24. It depends on your parents, i wont travel with mine, my sister does

    It is a massive logistical/culinary headache and you are the free tour guide. Also its a lot more expensive because you are often stuck in central cities with great access

    so do you want to be a free tour guide?

  25. I think my biggest advice is not to travel in the summer. I was there once time with my older mom and young at the time son. It was really hard on both of them. Took a lot of breaks and stayed hydrated but still not worth the risk.

    My mom was recovering from knee surgery and some of the train stations were a little tricky if they didn’t have a lift. Most too but it’s not always very accessible so keep that in mind.

  26. I’ve had this thought too. I want to return to Japan, and my Mum wants to go. However, she has considerable mobility issues. I think that I’d basically have to budget *a lot* for taxis, and allocate a lot more time to places to take into account having to push a wheelchair.

  27. Idk if this is an issue for them, maybe you would need to book hotels more carefully and ahead of time since almost all of the bathrooms in hotel rooms i have stayed in have bath showers and big steps into the bathroom. Idk if its an issue for your parents but I know it would be a massive problem for my clumsy grandma and she would probably break 20 bones here!

  28. We regularly travel to Tokyo with my 2 in-laws who are in their 70s.
    Definitely have to slow the pace and take breaks.

    On a recent trip We booked a private driver and van through Klook for the Fuji five lakes area and modified our itinerary since we had some out of the way things we wanted to do.
    Our rational was that for a party of 5 and wanting to go to places that public transpo couldn’t get us too, it was about equal in cost. Private driver was a little more maybe with road tolls, but we wanted to save the in laws the walking that comes with taking the train.
    Downside was that the drive took longer than expected due to traffic, although we all just slept on the way to and from Tokyo.
    If had to do it again, I would maybe book a driver from the Fuji five lakes area instead of from Tokyo.

    Some other tips-
    Make sure to look for the stairs/ elevator signs at stations and avoid the stairs.
    Try to avoid stations without stairs/ elevators.

    Short cab rides are great. For us all in a cab for a short ride would sometimes be equal or less than the train ride, while also avoiding the walking inherent when taking public transpo.

    Buses are also a good option. Sometimes it’s a little longer travel time, but possibly less walking than trains.

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