Getting Around
Category
Cherry Blossom Viewing in a Wheelchair
When visiting Japan in the spring, no one wants to miss the cherry blossoms. Japan has turned cherry blossom viewing, or hanami, into..
Traveling in Japan over New Years
Traveling in Japan over New Years can be exciting… and horrible. The New Years holiday in Japan is similar to Christmas in the West – a..
Tips on Traveling to Japan with a Hearing Impairment
By Frank Mondelli
Garbled voices over loudspeakers, screens that don’t show last-minute schedule changes, crowded environments where it’s..
Nara, Deer, and the Path to a Great Buddha
By Justin Schroth
If you find yourself wandering just east of Osaka, you may find yourself in Nara, one of many cities surrounded by..
What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Japan with a Visual Impairment
By Alexa Fukuoka
When you decide to move abroad, it will obviously require you to make some adjustments. Dealing with a new culture, new..
The eternal hunt for a hidden bathroom
(And other complex situations I’ve found while being visually impaired in Japan)
By Alexa Fukuoka
When I was in my early 20’s, I learned..
Airport Limousine Bus Diversity Training
After adding the first wheelchair lift bus to their fleet in 2016, Airport Limousine Bus in Tokyo has been holding diversity training..
Easy Accessible Transportation in Japan
The boom in information brought about by the advent of the internet has been enabling for people with disabilities and other special..
Accessible Tour Guide Map of Kawasaki Daishi Area
As Japan prepares for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, accessibility has been on the minds of many. One city to put thoughts..
A New Magazine for Accessible Travel in Japan!
Recently, Accessible Japan had the opportunity to meet two members of a team of eight out to create Japan’s fist magazine to focus on..
New App to Help People with Disabilities Navigate Tokyo
Navigating the streets of Tokyo is no easy task, regardless of ability. However, having a disability adds an extra layer of difficulty..
Exploring Accessible Touring in Kyoto
By Terin Jackson
from Kyo Tours Japan
Part of an ongoing partnership to improve wheelchair accessibility for tourists in Kyoto. Firsthand..
Wilgo, an Accessible Taxi in Tokyo
I’m Jun Sumii, a self-employed wheelchair lift taxi driver in Tokyo. In September, 2017, I left the company I had worked at for 35 years,..
5 Months in Japan: What I’ve Learned So Far
By Joan Pahisa
Hi everyone!
I’m Joan and a few months ago I decided to move to Osaka to study Japanese. I had been working really hard on..
Accessible Airport Bus in Japan
By Toshiko Kudo
For the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Paralympic Games, the accessibility of public transport in Japan is improving. An airport bus..
Understanding Accessibility in Japan
By Terin Jackson
from Kyo Tours Japan
All about my day in Tokyo with Accessible Japan and how it got me thinking about disability issues..
Tokyo on Wheels – Part Three
By Andy Barrow
The time has come to draw a few conclusions from my time in Tokyo (Read part one here, and part two here!). In this post,..
Tokyo on Wheels – Part Two
By Andy Barrow
I have a confession to make. My two-part blog may have grown somewhat… Sorry! (Read part one here!)
Basically, I felt..
Tokyo on Wheels – Part One
By Andy Barrow
My name is Andy Barrow and I’m an international speaker who also happens to be a full-time wheelchair user. I’ve spent..
The Trip to Bunny Island
By Suzanne Kamata
I first learned of Okunoshima from a Canadian friend’s Facebook post. She’d shared photos of herself surrounded by..
5-Port Cruise Around Japan in a Wheelchair
By Kim Almas
In October 2017, our family took an 8-day/5 port Diamond Princess cruise around Japan. My husband is partially disabled, so..
Tokyo now has wheelchair accessible routes in Google Maps!
While Bmaps and WheeLog! offer great user curated accessibility information, Google Maps is by far the best way to find your way around..
One day in Kyoto in a Wheelchair
Looking for a few places to visit for a day in Kyoto? We look at the wheelchair accessibility of some famous sites in eastern Kyoto. ..
Bmaps – an Award-winning Accessibility Information App
An award-winning accessibility info app for anyone, with or without disability!
Wheelchair users, persons with visual or hearing..
WheeLog! An accessibility app for Japan… and the world!
Yuriko Oda (織田友理子) has GNE Myopathy/HIBM/DMRV and is the president of the ‘Patients Association for Distal Myopathies’ (PADM) and a..
Increasing the Number of Accessible Taxis in Tokyo
Taxis are a common appearance throughout Japan and are incredibly easy to find. In addition to hailing them on the street, taxis also..
Voltage in Japan and Wheelchair Battery Chargers
When you traveling with a power wheelchair, charging batteries properly can make or break a vacation. No one wants to travel halfway..
Hakone Round Course in a Wheelchair
The Hakone Round Course is a popular day trip from Tokyo that allows travelers to enjoy Lake Ashi, lush forest mountains, and a fantastic..
Mobility Scooters in Japan
While mobility scooters have been gaining popularity around the world as an alternative to traditional wheelchairs, Japan has been slow..
Fiona’s Travelog: Accessible Onsen and Wheelchair Exhibitions
By Fiona T
Konnichiwa!
This post is long overdue since I was in Japan last summer.
This is not my first time in Japan, but definitely my..
A Lifehack for Accessible Hotel Rooms in Japan
While Japan does have rough guidelines for accessible hotel rooms, they are nowhere near as strict as the United States or Europe...
Traditional Japanese Garden Accessibility in Tokyo
Though Tokyo is known for its bustling streets and crowded trains, there are a number of traditional Japanese gardens in between the..
Visiting Kanazawa in a Wheelchair
During the Edo Period, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivaling Kyoto and Tokyo due to the abundant..
The Japanese Genkan and Accessibility
The genkan is a traditional entrance way into Japanese homes (and some businesses) and serves as an area to remove one’s shoes before..
Traveling in Japan with a Visual Impairment
By Cristina Hartmann
My two-and-half weeks in Japan as someone with both vision and hearing impairments left me amazed—in a good way. My..
Wheelchair Accessible Day Tours in Tokyo
While many people prefer to buy a good guidebook (like our Tokyo guide!) and create an itinerary to meet their own pace and interests,..
Priority Seats in Japan
Like many other countries around the world, most mass transit in Japan has a set of seats that are considered priority seats, or 優先席..
Ginza – Accessibility Report
Though it was formerly rejected by foreigners for being “too Western,” the high-end shopping center of Ginza is now a popular place to..
Accessible Japan’s Guide to Tokyo Available NOW!
After two years of building this site and adding loads of information, it has become a bit difficult to get all the information in one..
Tsukiji Fish Market – Accessibility Report
Tsukiji Fish Market, the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world, is full of energy and delicious food. However, it can be..
No Elevator, no problem…(?)
In the past 10 years, Japan has moved at a tremendous pace to install elevators at subway and train stations for the disabled and the..
Snow Country
Notes from the Obstacle Course
Dr. Michael Peckitt
It was a stern night landscape. The sound of the freezing of snow over the land seemed..
Disability Identification Cards in Japan
Having an identification card for persons with disabilities can be a prickly topic. Is it discrimination? Is it security to protect..
My Trip to Tokyo with Multiple Sclerosis
We love helping people enjoy Japan. We also love it when people write back to share their experiences with others, so they too can..
A Question Concerning Priority Seats
Notes from the Obstacle Course
Dr. Michael Peckitt
In December of last year, on my way to visit Tokyo, I noticed something about..
A One-Day-Trip to Kamakura in a Wheelchair
By Melanie Bo
of Little Miss Turtle
Hello! I’m Melanie. I’m a wheelchair tourist who loves to travel around the globe. Tokyo is one of my..
Christmas Lights in Japan
When most people think of Japan, they most likely don’t think of Christmas. But Japan loves events, and Christmas has been added to the..
Ueno Park – Accessibility Review
Ueno Park is a public park in the Ueno district of Tokyo. The park is famous for its many museums and art galleries, as well as for..
Ready, Steady, GO! Inside Japan Tours and Accessible Japan
A few months back, Accessible Japan was contacted by Inside Japan Tours to discuss accessible travel in Japan. Since then we have worked..
Life Where I’m From X and Accessible Japan
Greg Lam lives with his wife and two kids in Tokyo, Japan. He creates YouTube videos about everyday life in Japan with his family, as..
Passion for Independence
Maureen T. Corrigan holds a medical degree, a masters in administration and a college fellowship. She began her career as a medical..
Traveling to Japan with a Mobility Scooter
Maureen T. Corrigan holds a medical degree, a masters in administration and a college fellowship. She began her career as a medical..
An Outing to Ogijima
Suzanne Kamata is the author of the YA novels Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible and Screaming Divas, both of which feature..
Support Squeaky Wheels by Suzanne Kamata!
Expat author, advocate, and friend of Accessible Japan, Suzanne Kamata’s unpublished memoir Squeaky Wheels: Travels with my Daughter by..
Odaiba – Accessibility Review
Odaiba is a shopping and leisure area built atop artificial islands in Tokyo Bay. It has great wheelchair accessibility including many..
Travelling to Japan in My Silver Years
A place to rest your feet and contemplate life on the Philosopher’s Walk in Kyoto.
Jan Grisdale – friend and supporter of Accessible..
Kyoto in a Manual Wheelchair by Susie from Wheelchair World – Part 2
About Susie – I love travelling, seeing different places, different lifestyles, and different environments. Japan is the 78th country..
Kyoto in a Manual Wheelchair by Susie from Wheelchair World – Part 1
About Susie – I love travelling, seeing different places, different lifestyles, and different environments. Japan is the 78th country..
Priority Seats: To Sit or Not to Sit
Notes from the Obstacle Course
Dr. Michael Peckitt
I have mentioned ‘Priority Seats’ before in my blog posts for Notes from Obstacle..
Riding the Bus in a Wheelchair in Japan
While known for its complex and sophisticated train system, Japan also has many buses connecting commuters to the nearest train station...
A Short Trip to Kyoto in a Wheelchair
Though the ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto, may conjure up images of ageless buildings that are not wheelchair accessible. However,..
New App for Tokyo’s Busiest Stations
If you are traveling in Tokyo a lot, you may have to do a little bit of guesswork or ask a local guide. With the help of a new..
Minato Ward Improving Experience for Wheelchair Users
A new smartphone app as well as some changes to sightseeing routes in the Minato ward of Tokyo could improve the area for those in..
Internet Access when Travelling in Japan
Your smartphone can be your greatest ally when visiting Japan. Being able to access apps like Google Maps or reading Accessible Japan..
Lonely Planet’s Accessible Travel Online Resources
Starting to plan your next vacation? Hard of hearing or vision-impaired? A wheelchair user or slow walker? Fibromyalgia, MS or..
Tokyo Tower – Accessibility Review
The distinct shape and bright colors of Tokyo Tower make it stand out in Tokyo’s cluttered skyline whether night or day. Originally a..
Traveling with Luggage in Japan
Hopping on a train can be one of the best ways to explore Japan. Thanks to the great infrastructure and the amazing railway network of..
Shinjuku – Accessibility Review
Shinjuku is an economic hub of Tokyo and sees more than 2 million passengers go through Shinjuku Station every day. This means that there..
The Japan Rail Pass and Wheelchair Users
If you’re visiting Japan as a tourist, it’ is a good idea to consider purchasing a Japan Rail Pass – a very-cost effective solution for..
Priority Seats
Notes from the Obstacle Course
Dr. Michael Peckitt
Since the 1990s, JR East, the division of Japan Railway Co that serves Tokyo and the..
Deaf in Japan with Friends
This guest post, including pictures, comes to us from Ariana Fernandez. Ariana is deaf and uses hearing aides.
I had a car crash when I..
Check A Toilet App
As discussed in our blog about toilets in Japan, Japan has done an incredible job of providing wheelchair accessible toilets across the..
Wheelchair Accessible Toilets in Japan
When traveling in another country (or even your own!), what to do when the call of nature strikes is an issue whether you are disabled or..
Visiting Japan with a Service or Guide Dog
Traveling to another country with a guide dog can be a challenge. In addition to the quarantine guidelines, due to the laws regarding..
Riding the Train or Subway in Japan in a Wheelchair
If you are thinking of traveling to Japan, you may have run across a map of the subway and train lines in Tokyo and subsequently felt..
Shinkansen (Bullet Train) – Accessibility Report
The Shinkansen (literally “new trunk line”), more famously known as the Bullet Train is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan..