Accessible Japan?

18 comments

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2. I would recommend searching “wheelchair” on this subreddit, there are some previous questions asked as well as experiences written up by travelers who need wheelchairs as well.

3. Is there any particular reason you want to go to Harajuku? Takeshita Dori is an incredibly crowded street to the point I think you’d find it impossible to navigate via wheelchair, and plenty of the stores require going up and down narrow stairs. I would avoid unless you’re really into a specific thing there (keep in mind it hasn’t been a fashion hub in years).

   Subway/trains in general should be no problem, if you let the station attendants know, they will put a ramp out for you.

4. im disabled and went to japan a few weeks ago! i didn’t take my mobility aid but naturally paid attention to accessibility. there is surprisingly lots of disabled people and mobility aid users out and about and using public transportation (something i cannot do in the US bc of how inaccessible it is). I saw lots of blind people, cane and crutch users, walker and rollator users, and motorized and manual(?) wheelchair users etc of all ages.

   There will be some problems with restrooms in small restaurants which are extreeeemlyyy tiny and compact. so maybe stick to bathrooms in more public places like the train stations and big malls etc where they will be more likely to have a wider stall for accessibility.

   the train was accessible and i saw motorized wheelchair users have no trouble with accessing the priority seating and wheelchair section. Taking the elevator will definitely be more of a struggle in train stations since they are a bit more out of the way than the stairs are, at times, if that makes sense.

   train station helpers are everywhere and there are marked accessible cars of the train that have a smaller gap between the platform and train so that wheelchair users can enter smoothly. dont be afraid to ask for help. even on other platforms that were less accessible, id see train station helpers placing ramps for wheelchair users to get on smoothly.

   I took a taxi once but have no insight as to if the trunk is empty to fit your wheelchair etc. It was a small sized taxi like the typical ones in the US. I wonder if they have van options as well.

   I went to Puroland and they had priority lines which were super fast (i am unsure about elevator locations in Puroland).

   As for shopping malls like Nakano Broadway and others in Akihabara and Harajuku, the ones I went to all had elevators! Crowded areas like Takeshita St. and some areas in Kyoto etc will be a bit slower for you to get around in because of how packed it is and everyone doing their own thing and moving at their own pace trying to get to their destination- but I noticed people were respectful and considerate of others.

   It will be helpful that you’ll have your dad there with you!! It sometimes sucks navigating things alone as a mobility aid user ngl. It’ll definitely be helpful that your dad is there so I’d say don’t fret too much (easier said than done, ik), and go enjoy yourself!!! Lmk if you have any other questions no matter how random or niche! Sorry for the ramble i hope this is helpful!

5. Ghibli Park is pretty accessible! some of the photo stops on the outside areas are on hills with no disability-friendly acess, but really not that many. all of the buildings have elevators. I recommend doing the exterior areas earlier in the day and finishing off at the pavillion because it’s easier to find places to sit down/chill for a while

6. Teamlabs Planets is going to be a no-go for you, unless you’re feeling very strong that day. You have to walk up a ramp with water flowing down it, and there is a room with a spongy floor that is quite disorienting and will challenge your sense of balance as you sink into the spongy material with each step. And you have to take your shoes off for this whole attraction.

   Good luck with your trip though, I think you should absolutely go and enjoy yourself. There may be some disappointing moments where access may not be as easy as you’d like, but don’t let it hold you back – just go slower or find alternative routes.

7. Hakone might be difficult with limited mobility. The buses going up the mountain are small and narrow, even luggage has an issue fitting. The roads are also narrow and winding, making even short distances difficult to walk to/from point A to point B. Buses do not come as often or run as late as someone might like. The taxis are pretty expensive because of all of this (but you’d probably be able to fit your wheelchair in the trunk so long as you order an SUV/larger taxi) and note for TaxiGO you need a phone number that can receive texts (not the case for many foreigners)

8. https://wheelog.com/en/about/

9. Harajuku – rough getting down to Takeshita-dori but once you get there, it’s smooth enough. You can get there via side streets that don’t have steps but most of the typical routes suggested by google maps involve steps.

   Nakano Broadway – they do have elevators but they’re hard to find, so as long as you’re ready to go to lengths to find an elevator, you’ll be fine. The hallways seem narrow from a US perspective but we never found them crowded or difficult to navigate. That said, given how weird and diverse the shops are, a map downloaded ahead of time with the specific shops (or fandoms) you want to find will help you target them and streamline your route vs “wandering.” If you don’t have something specific you want to find that may only be located at Nakano Broadway, I’d seriously say Don’t. It’s a lot of slogging through a labyrinth of hallways for the “maybe” that some secondhand side shop might have something related to your favorite fandom. There’s no “vibe” to soak up like there is in Shinjuku or Ikebukuro, it’s very much a destination for shopping, so if your reason for going there is “because everyone said it was cool,” don’t. When you have mobility issues, even when elevators are present the overall slog of just walking around isn’t worth whatever vague sense of interest is promoted in social media. A friend of ours who is deaf and has fibro-related mobility issues has specifically sorted her trips between “to feel a vibe” versus “to shop, specifically for certain items” because the latter takes way more energy and planning than the former. If you just want to experience certain vibes in Japan while you can, anime shopping is not one I would prioritize – and even then if you really have trouble moving around, send someone with a fandom list to Akihabara, Ikebukuro, or other places to shop for you, as hanging around inside a 5 floor Book-Off that doesn’t have elevators but might have your fandom fave can be tough even for the able-bodied.

   Good luck wih the treatment and may you kick leuko to the curb!

10. KingKogi (Martina) on Youtube has Tokyo travel guides. She has **Ehlers–Danlos syndromes** (**EDS**) so her guides might have accessibility included.

11. Totally awesome that you are doing this. I took my son in a big american stroller in December to Tokyo and Hakone. I know not exactly the same as a wheel chair but similar dimensions, and I pushed that stroller everywhere. The train from NRT, and all subway/underground trains were fine, a lot of stations have elevators, people are very polite/helpful. The difficult thing for us was restaurants are usually very small and many do not have elevators. I just folded the stroller up and left it neatly outside the restaurant, its very safe.

    Hakone may be challenging, the bus going back from the lake up the hill is packed and not a lot of room. Your best bet is to taxi, we took a taxi a few times, I can’t remember how much it was but it wasn’t too crazy. You can fit on the gondola! And should be able to transfer from gondola to the boat no problem and do the loop. I wouldn’t waste my time with the bus, but maybe there is a trick I don’t know about.

    The train from Tokyo to Hakone, they can give you a seat near the back, and there is a space behind the back two seats to put a wheel chair, it should be able to fit, the stroller fit.

12. Ironically if you’d searched for the title of your post you would have found [Accessible Japan](https://www.accessible-japan.com/) which gets really into all the questions you’re asking.

13. If you use Uber and select the Uber XL option when you need a ride you’ll usually get a nice spacious van that will likely have enough room for your motorized chair. Taxis will probably not have enough space but Uber XL provides a very comfortable alternative and they are fairly priced.

14. I know a little about trains and taxis wrt wheelchairs. There are wheelchair spaces on every train, not always a great part of the train but they exist. Now here’s a good bit: when you book your ticket (and I recommend you do this), if you tell them you’ll be in a wheelchair, a station attendant will escort you to the exact point on platform where the wheelchair space on the train will be, wait with you, and help you on – and radio ahead so there is someone waiting to help you off at your destination! (Sorry if I’m not being clear or if that’s common in other countries. This is a very common occurrence so other passengers won’t even blink an eye if you’re worried about feeling self-conscious. This will happen even during the thickest of rush hours, and you’ll get the space and accommodations necessary – although I don’t recommend travelling during these times.

    I have rarely seen a taxi with a ramp and a wheelchair space. But given the aging population, every driver is used to helping out people with mobility issues. If you don’t mind the body contact, they’ll haul you out of your chair, lug you into the cab, and throw your chair in the trunk in a polite and efficient manner – You’ll be quite able to travel by taxis on your own.

    I can’t speak to any of the places you intend to visit – you damn nerd! – but generally, where physical accommodations are yet to be installed, the staff will always pick up the slack. But bear in mind this population is aging and mobility issues are well understood.

    From Narita – depends on your destination and budget. Where will you be staying?

    Some recommendations will vary with the season. When are you coming?

15. Chiming in for Tokyo Disneysea – [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/TokyoDisneySea/s/7SpRX7Wsde) from r/TokyoDisneysea is very helpful.

16. I am sorry to hear this! I have a slight issue walking but can walk slowly. I can only speak for Kyoto. Major train stations will be fine, they have elevators.

    For Kyoto, I would take taxis as the bus stops are some way away from attractions except for Downtown. A normal taxi if your wheelchair is foldable or a spacious taxi if not (a good accommodation can help with booking). A lot of the Higashiyama Temples you can drive right up to the gate. Many are wheelchair accessible/have ramps. You may not see the entire site as there are paths into the hillside but definitely the main bits.

    Buses have ramps but are super crowded and i found it quite stressful. (I cycled, which may not be an option for you). Also rode taxis, they are super nice and spacious. Not too expensive. Plan a route in advance where you cluster sights you want to see.

    Feel free to message me about more details of accessible sights. I did not visit the biggies except Ryoanji and Ninna-ji, though.

17. My fiance and I just returned from Japan, and she was in her wheelchair most of the time. We didn’t have any issues getting around at all. Everyone was very helpful, and 90% of places we went were accessible!

18. I can’t comment on your exact situation, but we traveled to Tokyo last July/August with our toddler. Every subway station has elevators, anyone can use them. They have two buttons, one that unencumbered people use, and another that people with disabilities, the elderly, wheelchairs, parents with strollers can use. The locals usually stand to the left at these elevators, you can and should queue to the right and you’ll generally be given first access.

    The only time we found this to be hit and miss was during rush hour. I wouldn’t recommend any tourist to travel at rush hour, it’s so damned busy

    Google maps is amazing for tracking exactly which train to take, which car to enter and where to enter and exit the stations, but the one huge caveat is that Google Maps specifies the quickest egress, not the most accessible. Sometimes you need to go around the block to another station entrance to find the elevator – the directions won’t account for it.

    Every station has a map, you should be able to get used to reading them, but if you’re fatigued it could be pretty tough.

    The guards and staff at the stations are always very helpful, but language is a barrier, patience is a virtue – Google translate or the like is very useful, especially if you need help.

    There are accessible bathrooms everywhere.

    In addition, every elevator we saw in all buildings we went into had the two button priority to disabled, elderly and parents system.

    We didn’t do bullet trains, but we were told they were just as accessible.

    One thing to be wary of is that some of the train entrances have gaps where wheels may get caught up – I don’t know if that’ll be a blocker for you.

    Good luck, I hope you get to see Japan, it’s an amazing place.