Wheelchair Traveling to Tokyo & Kyoto

32 comments

1. **Our FAQ is constantly being updated with more information and you can start** [**here**](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/faqs/japantravel) **with regards to trip planning if you need tips, advice, or have questions about planning your travel to Japan.** You can also join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/3f7KBUMwU4), comment in our stickied weekly discussion thread, or check out /r/JapanTravelTips for quick questions. Thank you!

   *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JapanTravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*

2. 1. I used the ATM in Japan. It’s fairly easy, inexpensive and 7-11’s are everywhere. Lots of places do take CC as well ( mind you not all though)
   2. Elevators are fairly easy to find in the train station. JR trains ( via people at the station)provides assistance for getting on and off the train using ramps.

3. Unfortunately I don’t have specific advice, but I believe there are a number of youtube videos on this topic which you may find useful.

4. https://www.accessible-japan.com/

5. Not an expert, just went to Japan in September:

   1.- In my experience, most shopping malls had wheelchair friendly bathrooms. Small restaurants or parks, some, but not so common.2.- It is easy to find elevators, just be mentally prepared that not every exit has one, but there is at least one in every station. In Kyoto you’ll be mostly moving by bus though.

   3.- I don’t think most of the trail of Fushimi Inari is really wheelchair accesible (it’s just tons of stairs)

   4.- In Kyoto, Arashiyama and Asakusa you can sit on a rickshaw cart pulled by a man who gives you a quick tour around the area. Can’t think of anything more accesible (and fun!).Also, if your arms are good, you can go for a boat ride in Ueno Park.

   5.- If you have the JRPass (which I don’t recommend if you just plan to use it for Tokyo -> Kyoto -> Tokyo), you have to go to the station and reserve a couple days in advance through the window or one of the terminals at the station. If you don’t have a JR Pass, you can purchase a reserve ticket a couple days in advance through the website. If for some reason you take a shinkansen without reserving in advance, you may have to stay at the area between the wagons (there is plenty of space there though). More info on here [https://www.accessible-japan.com/shinkansen-wheelchair-accessibility/](https://www.accessible-japan.com/shinkansen-wheelchair-accessibility/)

   6.- Don’t really know

   7.- In most places I don’t think it’s a problem, but I don’t really think you would be able to enter a tatami floored room with your wheelchair.

   8.- Have someone translate to japanese a little card that you can carry with you, explaining your condition. Sadly most japanese don’t speak english very well, so if you have a little presentation card it can be helpful

6. I can’t answer all the questions but I hope some of this information helps.

   Toilets can be hard to find. Usually you’ll have better luck going into a train or subway station to find a bathroom rather than a konbini. You may find bathrooms to be hit an miss as far as size goes. You can usually find a decent sized western stall but I did find a few places that only had squat toilets available. Lots of small bars and restaurants don’t have a bathrooms available and you may need to go down the street and come back. If they do have one expect it to be on the smaller side.

   Elevators won’t be at every entrance or exit but they are clearly marked. Some can be small so you may find there is a line and only you yourself can fit.

   As long as your JR pass is activated you should be able to just get on. I did see some wheelchair users get help from the station attendants but I don’t know if that is required. When you present your pass to go through the gate they will probably ask if you need or offer assistance.

   More very traditional and historical places (like castles) will have you remove your shoes. The last time I went I was only required to remove my shoes at one very traditional kimono museum.

   I would order yen in the equivalent of $200 ahead of time. Then you’re ready to go and can use ticket machines and get your ic card that much quicker. You can always get more yen from the ATM’s after you get settled into your hotel.

7. Japan isn’t really accessible given that they build up. A lot of places require climbing stairs. This is especially true for those neighborhoods with buildings crammed together and narrow streets. Major train stations would have elevators and there’s signage but they are not prevalent so budget more time.

8. There is signage for elevators, especially in transit buildings. Department stores tend to have good bathrooms but there will be a line for the larger stall as there are moms who prefer the larger stall with their children. The hallway getting there may be too narrow for a wheelchair and if so, there is probably a family bathroom.

   There are specific accessible bathrooms that will be large enough that are sometimes called multipurpose rooms, (maybe) unisex bathrooms, or family room that should be okay. They have a + sign within a human silhouette 👤 or the wheelchair symbol. I’ve seen them in the second floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and they usually have a map of the entire building on each floor so you can easily locate them.

   I wouldn’t worry about the shoe removal. They will let you know in English if it’s necessary. The only time I’ve been told was at a ryokan. I would let your hotel/accommodation know ahead of time so that your stay will be comfortable.

   When taking the trains, I recommend telling someone when you are entering so that they can adhere to their train schedule and help you navigate/find the proper accommodations for boarding, exiting, etc. There is always someone when scanning in and usually one wider gate to tap in. Have your translation app ready to go. I don’t have the JR pass, I got a Suica card from the iPhone wallet app. The JR pass might not work for buses, at least the Nara buses didn’t accept them.

   For Schwab, I’ve just popped into a 7-11 anytime I needed cash. Almost everywhere has accepted card except some restaurants and street vendors so I definitely withdrew too much. The limit is USD $500/transaction, up to $1000/day. I didn’t bring any yen with me but definitely have a coin purse.

   Although I am not a person with disabilities, I do think Japan will be accommodating and people will be willing to help (at least way more than America). I haven’t been to Kyoto yet but based on Osaka the English will start to be more limited in signage once you leave Tokyo. Good luck and I hope you have an amazing trip!

9. i took a look at your IG handle and can see that you’ve got impressive strength, but shit taste in f1 teams.

   i don’t want to deter you from a trip to japan and i can only speak from my own experience there as an able-bodied individual, but i want to say that japan has a lot of work to do to accommodate/enable wheelchair access but it’s not impossible especially for someone with the strength that you have).

   i went as recent as this summer and while they are adding more elevators in train stations/subways, there are still a ton of places that do not have them. now this could be my bias because i don’t have to consciously look for an elevator or escalator but i definitely was looking for them a bit more this trip due to the insufferable heat and trying to conserve energy.

   in terms of signage, everything is usually marked pretty clearly so i want to say yes, *if* it’s there. also there’s a ton of staff at the station that should be able to direct you or answer questions (although some have specific jobs like monitor train boarding safety so you might have to wait for the train to arrive/leave before they are able to answer a simple question). another example, i know for a fact that there is an ichiran in shibuya that is basement level that doesnt have an elevator and narrow stairs.

   i think the hardest part about navigating with a wheelchair will be that space in japan is just smaller/more narrow and also, the amount of people. newer buildings abide by building codes with elevators, but not everything is new. im not sure if you are bringing your own wheelchair or if renting a smaller one in japan will be possible, but thats something to consider as a part of your research. there will be some places that are located basement (there’s an ichiran in shibuya that i know for sure has a set of narrow stairs) that i think would be challenging, but theres a ton of ichirans and better ramen.

   i hope someone else can chime in with real world experience with traveling with a wheelchair or someone that needed one. ultimately, i think it can be done and you might have to settle for some bigger name restaurants/places in order to accommodate the wheelchair seat height, but just have to be more patient and plan for more lead time due to the mass of people in Tokyo.

10. Tokyo will be more accessible than Kyoto, straight out the gate. The sidewalks are wider, there’s more curb ramps (though I wouldn’t say they are everywhere). Downtown Kyoto was pretty manageable (we navigated most of it via bike) but if you’re in Gion, you’ll be likely rolling on the roads because the sidewalks are all over the place in terms of accessibility.

    I will say to expect that you will not be able to go into most shops – soooo many will have one step up leading into the store, and many are very narrow and would not be maneuverable, but larger department stores like Don Quixote will be Ok. Malls and department stores usually have largish washrooms, and chances are you can likely use a family washroom if there’s no designated wheelchair ones.

    [This website](https://www.accessible-japan.com/) is dedicated to reviewing wheelchair friendly hotels and attractions in Japan.

    Tokyo station is fairly accessible and so is Kyoto station, so the journey between the stations should not be an issue. If I remember correctly, if the station staff know you are coming, there’s a small portable metal ramp they can set up so you can roll onto or off of the shinkansen, but I don’t have the phone numbers or know exactly who to contact…. I just remember seeing them do it when we were in Kyoto, to help someone who had a powerchair. Reading on accessible japan, you need to turn up about 15 minutes early and let the ticket booth know, and they will bring the ramp.

    Several temples, hotels and private homes have something called a genkan, which is the tiled area where people are expected to take shoes off. One of the hotels we were at in Kinosaki had a ramp next to their genkan and people could roll up, but I wouldn’t expect that to be common. Most folks understand that you cannot get up out of the chair, so if the area is otherwise flat aside from the genkan, as long as your chair hasn’t wheeled through a bunch of mud, you can just take your shoes off (symbolic of being respectful, y’know?) and have your gf bump you up the genkan step and you can wheel around in your chair (this might apply to a couple of the temples and a few of the hotels.).

    the access Japan website has the list of which sites are accessible, and which are hard or totally unaccessible.

11. 1. Wheelchair accessible toilets are not found that often in Japan. In Tokyo, most JR, Tokyo Metro and TOEI stations were renovated for the Olympics and major department stores should have some accessible toilets. Kyoto would be much worse (outside Kyoto station anyway).

    The bigger problem you might have is wheelchair accessible hotel bathrooms. [Accesible Japan](https://www.accessible-japan.com/) lists such rooms and you can see the availability is dreadful,

    2. There is signage, there are elevators – all main central Tokyo JR lines and almost Tokyo Metro and TOEI stations, as well as most stations in Kyoto have elevators or ramp access. It might not be most conveniently located, but Japan actually had done a somewhat good job of retrofitting the station platforms. Thus said, not all of station areas are accessible via wheelchair, only essential ones.

    3. You should assume that most temple complexes are either only partially or fully inaccessible, or accessible in such a way that would make visiting them very cumbersome. Original castles (especially tenshus) will be fully inaccessible. Some art installations or museums are either inaccessible. You should not assume that facilities are accessible, unless it is clearly stated.

    5. If you are just going to Tokyo and Kansai, just use Smart-Ex app/website to buy tickets.

    6. Some places offer some discounts, but this is not universal, and almost never free entry. And it’s usually only for a person in a wheelchair.

    7. You will not be allowed in places, where it’s customary to take off your shoes in a wheelchair. There might be some exceptions, but most such places will be inaccesible.

    8. Japan is a lot of stairs and steps. Always research the route you’d be taking, don’t assume that because it looks simple on Google Maps – it will be. Even relatively flat cities such as Tokyo can have sharp inclines. Kyoto’s main tourist areas (Higashiyama, Arashiyama) have a lot of very steep inclines.

12. OP, these are the smallest bathrooms in the whole world. I may be exaggerating, but Japanese folks tend to be much less wide than Americans. I often wondered how folks needing wheelchairs got around when I was visiting. I did not see many Japanese using wheelchairs.

    The largest bathrooms I’ve experienced are in the Shinkansen bullet train and in Love Hotels. They have huge bathrooms, but are incredibly suspect of course. Don’t bring a black light…

13. I’ve been doing some research into this as someone who is in an interabled relationship.

    There may or may not be elevators. New York has the same problem. [Here is information](https://www.tokyometro.jp/lang_en/station/search_accessibility/index.html) on station-by-station accessibility for Tokyo Metro. A few stations have accessible *escalators.*[ Here’s what that looks like.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TANDEMyIVQE) When it comes to long-distance trains or the shinkansen, it helps to make a reservation to guarantee there will be a wheelchair space for you.

    Japan has some modern buildings but also some old ones, and narrow streets and sidewalks, so those could pose a challenge.

    I’d also recommend the [WheeLog app,](https://wheelog.com/en/) spearheaded by a Japanese woman with distal neuropathy. Users collect and submit accessibility information about various places. Their maps are on the website too. The creator also has a [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@kurumaisuwalker) that may be informative.

    Single-stall restrooms are being made more available at train stations, department stores and the like. They’re just as much for parents who need changing tables as they are for people with disabilities.

    New hotels have to be accessible by law. However, only a few rooms have to be accessible themselves. In the scoping out I’ve done, Courtyard Tokyo Ginza is an example of a hotel with accessibility features you might expect, like grab rails, self-closing doors. Maybe a hint might be to look into western chains? Dunno. But unless you book a room specifically marketed as accessible, Japanese hotel rooms are unforgivingly small.

    There aren’t a lot of cases where you’re going to need yen on arrival, especially not before you encounter an exchange desk at the airport. I’d bring several hundred dollars with you and change that over at the airport. There are international ATMs at 7-Eleven and post offices. Just press a button for English.

14. I would say a lot of the shrines and castles are inaccessible, since it’s literally a country of mountains and a lot of these places were built on top of those.

15. A rule of thumb is that the newer the building is the more accessible it is to wheelchairs. For example, at one of my workplaces, buildings erected in the early 1990s have elevators wide enough for a single wheelchair, but only one wheelchair-accessible toilet room in the entire building. One built in the 2010s has accessible toilets on every floor.

    Some tourist/public places now have ramp access and (the last time I noticed) materials for cleaning wheelchair wheels before entering places where most people are expected to remove shoes.

    In Tokyo, at least, it is easy to find elevators, and there are signs, but it’s often time consuming to actually get to the elevators. Many subway stations, for example, had elevators fitted long after they were built. In some places, two or three separate elevators will be used to get from outdoor ground level to platform level.

    Of the tourist places I’ve recently visited (in Tokyo, mainly), most are wheelchair accessible, but not every area inside is: gardens and the like have some walkways, but many shrines or temples do not. Expect bumpy rides in many places.

16. I have a family member that is a paraplegic and won’t be recommending Japan to them.

    I don’t think hotels will have truly accessible rooms despite calling them disabled rooms if they do offer disability rooms. This would be probably be the biggest issue for you.

    Some elevators are quite small and could be an issue if you’re in a wider chair. Some hallways and most shops are also narrow and turning circles would not be possible even in a reasonably narrow chair. Most restaurants would be inaccessible. I’ve popped my head into a few disabled toilets and 50/50 for wheelchair usable.

    In terms of restaurants I’m sure they might not think of you as a paraplegic and just be waiting for you to struggle to walk a few steps to the raised bench tbh.

    There’s stairs everywhere at tourist sites – particularly Kyoto and if I’m being frank the pedestrians here are rude af and would be a nightmare in a chair

17. I was there a few weeks ago. Tokyo is going to be a lot more accessible than Kyoto will be in terms of finding elevators and bathrooms.

    Convenience stores (7-11, Lawsons, Family) usually have restrooms available, however it might be a tight fit. With restaurant bathrooms, the more fancy it is, the bigger and better it will be. Smaller in the hole places will either be a very tight fit or not have any restrooms at all.

    Major stations in Toyko (Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shibuya, ect) have elevators clearly marked overhead, but because of how busy they are, you’ll need to allocate more time than you think. Luckily Japanese people in general are really polite and will let you on when they see you coming and make way for you.

    With bringing money, I bought around $600 USD worth of yen and that lasted me a couple of weeks, with some swiping of my credit card here and there. Conbinis has plenty of ATMs available for withdrawing though, so there is always an option to withdraw money if needed.

18. Re bathrooms – Recognize that this is going to seem super random crossover, but recommend using the Mamapapamap, which is designed to help find nursing and changing rooms for bebes near your location. 9 times out of 10 I found that the changing rooms were actually the family rooms/larger standalone restrooms. Kyoto was pretty limited to larger department stores, but they’re tucked all over Tokyo. App just makes it way easier to find.

19. I’ve got to say thanks so much for asking this, I use a wheelchair part time and this information is so useful for me, I hope you have the best time in February and hopefully I’ll be there next year as well

20. I’ve been in and out of Japan (all of it, not just Tokyo) my whole life. In Tokyo, you’ll either be accommodated well enough or can find a way. Elsewhere, especially outside of the big cities, there’s going to be basically nothing designed especially for the wheelchair bound.

    1 – Always clear signage, Japan is of course famous for this kind of thing

    2- The most famous will likely have something; anything else, check before going

    3- Not really. May be able to go to Mt. Takao and take the tram halfway up though, and if you do that there is a literal paved road to the top. It’s actually a chill and cool hike, and that’s coming from a wildness hiking snob

    4- Just get on, though there are certain cars that have specific wheelchair sections. There should be signage for that too, but you can definitely find online which stations and trains have the accessibility cars.

    5- Nah Japan doesn’t really give a shit about discounts like we do.

    6- I would guess they either wouldn’t care, or would be hospitable and help you.

    7- Expect to have a lot of, not difficulty exactly, but a lot of “how can I make this work.” Expect no accessibility and check beforehand, basically.

    8- Either. All ATMs work fine, but I’ve had the smoothest experience with 7-11 (anecdotally it seems foreign banks wig out less)

    A TON of traditional stuff like shrines, castles, etc, will be virtually inaccessible to you. Everything in Japan is hilly, stairs are everywhere, and ramps/elevators for accessibility are rare. That said I think you’ll still have a great time, go for it big dawg

21. Unfortunately don’t have much to add on the wheelchair front but to wish you luck. Just having a backpack on makes getting around combini difficult, Japan is a skinny/tall place. I wonder if you could find other social media accounts of someone who has done it in a wheelchair.

    The good news is you have the best card for getting yen that you could have. The Schwab debit card has free foreign transactions and reimburses any ATM fees you might get hit with (which I hear is getting more common? Used to be none at conbini ATM). If you’re hoping to get some yen before you arrive, know some banks will wreck you and hide their fees behind their exchange rate, which I only realized too late. I winced every time I paid cash knowing I was effectively paying ~10% more than I needed to each time (Chase bank if you’re curious). Ask for the exchange rate before you commit. Honestly in the future I’d just arrive cashless, could likely use my digital suica for anything I needed (if anything) before seeing my first conbini to get cash.

22. To add to all the good tips already mentioned, I’d say be aware of the buses in Kyoto. In Kyoto, most tourist places are accessed by bus, but these buses get really, really (I mean it!) crowded especially on weekends and holidays. If money really isn’t an issue, you might want to hire a taxi for the day and tell them you are on a wheelchair when you book in advance. They will arrange an accessible car, and the driver will likely know the special entrances and routes for the wheelchair users.

    Also, for trains, notify the station staffs if possible. In Japan, the staffs usually assist the wheelchair users, they will contact the station you are getting off at so the staff will be there for you when you get off as well.

23. You can use many places for bathroom only, just ask nicely. Otherwise, you can buy a bottle of water or something (if you are going to use convenient store or fast-food places). In Tokyo you can find disability accommodating bathrooms easily. Try department stores, major retails, hotels, or even big stations. You will find wheelchair signs.

    Most big stations can accommodate you easily in Tokyo, there are elevators everywhere.

    If you have already decided where to visit, I highly recommend you to check their website. For example this is Ueno Museum. [https://www.ueno-mori.org/other/barrierfreenogoannai.html?enlang](https://www.ueno-mori.org/other/barrierfreenogoannai.html?enlang)

    You may be edible for discounted rate but I don’t think that’s very common. Or it may not apply to foreign visitors.

    Ask assistance from station worker when you take Shinkansen, they will guide you to wheel chair accessible cars.

    I think Disney land is very accessible. Or any modern places like Roppogi Hills.

    Wheelchair accessibility in Japanese is called バリアーフリー (Barrier Free), when you talk to Japanese locals, use that word instead.

24. My dad went to Tokyo pre-Covid, and he uses a motorized scooter due to his disability. He said that the Tokyo police told him he needed to put headlights on his scooter if he was going to be out at night. He went into a 99 cent type of store, and he was able to purchase one.

    He mentioned that the city is not very wheelchair friendly, but the train conductors did a good job of making sure there were platforms at his arrival station.

25. Hi, I’m a manual wheelchair user too, and I’ve been to Japan but it was when I was able bodied. I’ve paid a bit of attention to media from Japan, and read up on it, wondering if I could go back to Japan and what it would be like. As far as tracking dirt inside with wheels, if you want you could carry some cloth to clean your wheels with when you go inside someplace that you would usually remove your shoes. Or, get some wheel covers to take with you. They’re the ones that are like slippers for your wheels, you can use them when inside to protect the floor from dirt, but you won’t have any traction while using them lol

    As for elevators in stations, sometimes they won’t be there, but it seems like the protocol in those situations is for the station people to carry you upstairs in the chair. In general, it seems like to navigate spaces in Japan, wheelchair users more often accept help from other people than what I’m used to seeing where I live in the US. But in general, where there’s a will there’s a way!

    That’s all I’ve got though! I hope you have a lovely trip. I’ll be going back someday myself 🙂 If you wanna share your experiences later I’d love to know how it goes!

26. A lot of people have given solid answers, and I don’t have much to add on that front. However, I have a different suggestion (if you have the time/interest).

    There is a Japanese drama “Perfect World” which follows a man who was paralyzed in high school and how he learns to navigate Japan in a wheelchair as he works as an architect. Obviously it’s fiction (so some over dramatization, and of course the Japanese tendency to become preachy in every drama they make), but it brought to attention many accessibility issues specific to Japan. As someone who is not wheelchair bound, it made me think about accessibility issues that wouldn’t have occurred to me when I lived in the US, so it might come in handy as you prepare for your trip.

27. The Toyoko Inn chain is all over Japan and they have accessible rooms at all their hotels. I think they have won awards and shit for their accessiblity. Not sure what you are looking for in accommodation but they have basic, reasonably priced rooms with a great breakfast included.
    Do NOT use airbnb in Japan especially Tokyo. Hosts will blatantly lie about accessibility. My sister has mobility issues and even after carefully checking listings and questioning the hosts, they seem to somehow forget there’s a flight of stairs!
    A lot of places like McDonald’s and cafe chains only have toilets upstairs, no lifts.

    There’s a wiki type website that my sister and i have used for accessibility info for Japan. I can remember the name but it should be easy to google.
    I can’t say for certain but I think you need to coordinate train access with the staff. I’ve seen staff at stations with ramps so ots definitely a manual process. Best to go on the Japan Rail site and look for info.
    Some places that require you to remove your shoes have tatami flooring so probably no possible to use a wheelchair there.

28. Also, be aware what “wheelchair accessible” might mean in Japan. I was in Nagasaki at Glover Gardens (which is basically on top of a large hill- like we took 3 long escalators to the top) and noticed a high school age boy pushing up a girl in a wheelchair on the “accessible” trail. I would venture that the slope was about 25 to 30 degrees steep. There’s no was in hell someone could get up there on their own accord or be pushed up if they were a full sized adult. I had never seen such a steep slope on a “wheelchair accessible” path.

29. I don’t think you’ll have an easy time in Japan.

30. Hello, on the train to Kyoto from Tokyo at the moment so I’ll keep an eye out. Feel free to send me a message. I’ve seen disabled toilets at train stations and found decent sized toilets upstairs (lifts) of nice shopping centres. They often have ‘mothers room’ I don’t know if they have a toilet in them but I’ll check the next time I see one, could work in a pinch?

    You should be fine getting on and off trains, only a small gap but buses would be harder. Very narrow. Still doable though.

31. I’m currently living in Japan, and while I won’t be able to answer all your questions, hopefully, this info helps you out.

    From what I’ve seen at all the train stations I’ve been to, they all have elevators, you just have to look for them. Most of the time, they’re right next to the escalators. When boarding the train, if the gap is too large, the train conductors will place a board on the ground so you can board easily. Certain train cars also have some designated areas for wheelchairs but it’s different for every train line/car.
    If you’re going to be taking the bullet train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Kyoto and you get a reserved seat using the JR pass, you will have plenty of leg room in front of you to be able to fold up your wheelchair. If you need additional storage space, you have to reserve your seat in a specific train car to reserve a locker. I believe you’re going to have to go to Tokyo Station to use the Shinkansen from the airport because I don’t think the airports are Shinkansen hubs.
    If you’re going to be using the bus, they’re pretty accommodating with people in wheelchairs and the bus driver will assist you with boarding and deboarding the bus.

    If you’re going to be exploring around the major cities around Tokyo, there’s a lot of shopping malls, and they all have family restrooms that are larger than the regular bathroom stalls. If you go to smaller restaurants, the restrooms are going to be small.

    When it comes to Yen, most banks charge an international fee for every transaction, and that can add up real quick. Definitely read the policy on that with your bank. If that’s the case, I would recommend you bring some cash with you to exchange at the airport and then maybe use the ATM a few more times while you’re there to get additional Yen.

    Hope this helps! Safe travels and have fun! It’s going to be cold when you visit and will most likely be raining a lot as well. I hope you enjoy your experience!

32. Hi! I have not read through the other comments. But, I did spend three months in Japan with my mom, she is wheelchair dependent.

    Best places to use the bathroom are in train stations, big tourist places (eg. Tokyo Sky Tree), or malls. They have HUGE and clean accessible bathrooms where me, my husband, my kid, and my mom would all pile in and take care of business and clean up. We would ALWAYS use a bathroom at the train station for this reason. I don’t think we ever had any issues because we used the train bathrooms.

    Finding the elevators are like a scavenger hunt. Seriously, especially at big stations like Tokyo station, etc. – at this station we would need to take 2-3 elevators to get to the platform where we needed to go. And at rush hour it was ridiculous. Other travelers with suitcases, moms with strollers, and elderly use the elevators too. Some elevators are hidden behind walls and in places you would not have expected. You can always ask when entering a station about elevators for both your entry station and your destination station. I would recommend doubling your travel time to account for elevator scavenger hunting and waiting in line to get on. Btw, if you are getting on at Ueno station, there is a complete separate entrance which is the accessible entrance. We kept taking the one elevator down to the subway area where the ticket thing is but could not figure out how to get to the platform. Finally someone took it upon themselves to help us. He went and asked and then took us outside and walked us to the other entrance. I speak a bit of Japanese, but google translate was my best friend.

    We did not do too much in Kyoto, we mainly were in Osaka, Tokyo, Hakuba, and Sapporo. We did Disneyland and USJ. People seemed super intrigued with our caravan. In Japan, it is not like going to Disney in the US where so many rides can accommodate wheelchairs, etc. It is also not super common to see others in wheelchairs, we maybe would see one or two others each time we were out. However no matter where we went, we were lucky to find an elevator (admittedly there are stations with no elevators). My plan if that happened was to go to the next or prior station and walk/wheel to where we needed to go.

    On the JR trains there is a process. They were super helpful if you talk to someone at the station. There are areas of the train you can park and stay in your wheelchair. But, I did not book those seats, so I just transferred my mom and the wheelchair hung out in the area by the exits. They will also put a ramp to connect the platform to the train car, which for me seemed a bit unnecessary.

    In Japan, you need a disability book to get discounts, which you can only get if you are a citizen. We booked a discounted disability plane ticket and I showed them a letter from my mom’s doctor. It worked on one flight but not another.

    The wheelchair was exempt from the shoe thing for the places we went.

    For yen, we got it in Japan. We brought a considerable amount of USD but used very little. We relied on using our suica card in our phone wallets and credit cards.

    I am happy to answer anything specific. Feel free to dm me. I don’t recall any front of the line privileges with the exception of going through customs. An airport worker met us at the plane and went through the whole customs process with us, including with helping with luggage. As you may or may not know, tipping for the most part is frowned upon, so we had little bags we made with some reeses peanut butter cups, and gave those out to people that were helpful to us.

    I apologize in advance for any typos/spelling errors. It is after midnight and I am tired.