Hello!
My parents and I are going to Japan in about 2-3 years and my Mum is a wheelchair user. She is able to walk short distances and go up and down stairs with the help of my Dad. Her wheelchair is also foldable so it can be flat.
I was wondering if there were any tips or things that we should know and take into account before and after we leave. I’m looking for general things like how walking throughout the city will go, public transport, restaurants, museums etc. Is there anything that we should avoid or try to aim for?
I am also learning Japanese (my parents aren’t very good at it 😅) so what phrases or words would be useful to know?
If you have any questions please let me know!
Thanks 🙂
EDIT: My Mum’s wheelchair is electric so we don’t have to push her and it’s still quite a small wheelchair.
7 comments
You’re in luck! Japan is full of old people with mobility issues. Most metro stations have a lift and since you’re in Japan the youth will go out of their way to help you. Good luck 👍
Hi
Just plan a bit more time for any trip. Subway is partially three stories deep and there is always just one elevator on one of the ends. So you might walk a fair bit too get to the elevator etc.
Even more so when it comes to taking the shinkansen. Many people with luggage queue for the elevator and if you are unlucky it will take you fifteen minutes to get to the platform.
Sidewalks and pedestrian cross are fine. Just the big streets with a pedestrian under or overpass are annoying as again the will only be one elevator somewhere.
All venues have wheelchair friendly restrooms.
Have a good trip
https://www.accessible-japan.com
Went to Japan in January with my mother who is in a chair. Tokyo as far as I experienced is almost entirely adapted for wheelchair users in most of the tourist areas the only trouble location I can think of off the top of my head is Akihabara and Nakano broadway as the stores there tend to be very small and as such difficult for a wheelchair user to navigate. The imperial palace can be difficult to push around due to the gravelled paths but it is doable. Public transport the trains are brilliant they are essentially roll on roll off and the accessible carriages with wheelchair spaces are marked on the platform for where they will stop. The disabled restrooms at stations and large malls are fantastic very spacious with lots of aids also for peace of mind there are emergency call strips at floor height as well can’t speak much for smaller ones as didn’t use any. As for phrases make sure you know Sumimasen! As you will have to ask to move past people some times also learn how to say “my mothers condition is x” incase of any medical emergencies if it’s relevant
Japan is the best place for PWD! Mom had an accident right before going to Japan. It was bearable as trains have specific sections for wheelchair users, there are ramps or elevators everywhere. If you need to roll your mom inside a train, ask for help in the ticket gate so the train officer can set up a small ramp in between the platform gap and the train.
Small tip — avoid rush hour. Even if there are designated spots on the train, it will be difficult with the mass of people.
As long as you’re in a major city it shouldn’t be a problem.
Unless you want to go to a small izakaya or something. You do however mention that your mother can walk short stints if helped so I’m sure you guys will be fine.
Enjoy your trip and welcome to Japan.
EDIT: stay as far away as you can from rush hour tho. Wheelchair, blind, no arms, the salarymen wont give a fuck. In Japan it’s work first so don’t mess with a salaryman and his commute.
You 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.
– [Tokyo Now Has Wheelchair Accessible Routes in Google Maps](https://www.accessible-japan.com/tokyo-now-has-wheelchair-accessible-routes-in-google-maps/)
– [Basic Guide to Accessible Travel in Japan](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2301.html)
– [Accessible Japan](https://www.accessible-japan.com)
When booking Shinkansen seats you’ll need to book a seat in the last row so you can fold up the wheelchair and store it behind the seats. The same space where large luggage goes.
You could choose a day in each city where you utilize the hop-on hop-off bus tours. Not all of these are back up running yet as they closed during Covid but if they’re running could 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 yo 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. There are wheelchair accessible but it’s usually easier if you can just fold up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk.
– [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 Kyoto as there’s a number of different companies that offer this option
– [Osaka Taxis](https://insideosaka.com/osaka-taxis/)
Restaurants and seating/tables can be very, very small. Even skinny people have to squeeze into seats between tables and worry about bumping into the people/table next to them. So be prepared for some close quarters and that not all restaurants may be wheelchair accessible. If you can fold up and leave the wheelchair at the front of the restaurant and she can walk in that will open up more options. However, the top floors of department stores have an 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 the A/C. The seating/tables in these is usually a bit more spacious/wheelchair accessible. 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 and these usually have more/bigger tables too.
– [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/)
Finally, consider the size of your hotel rooms; particularly the bathrooms. I’d stay away from the cheapest [budget hotel chains](https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001458/) in Japan as they often have very small unit baths where the size will make it uncomfortable to shower/bathe. Chains like Candeo, Mitsui Gatden, Daiwa Roynet, and Hotel MyStays tend to have larger rooms and larger bathrooms. There are some wheelchairs accessible rooms but they are quite limited. If she can easily walk around the hotel room and use the bathroom without her chair you’ll have more options. After walking 10 miles a day you’ll want/need to be able to take a long hot shower/bath to relax your muscles before bed. So pay close attention to the bathroom photos on sites like Booking.com and avoid lodging that has [the small unit baths.](https://resources.realestate.co.jp/living/japanese-apartment-bathrooms-explained/)
Hope these suggestions help.