How accessible in Japan

Accessibility in Japan

Accessibility in Japan has been progressing compared to other countries. You could feel that accessibility in Japan has been progressing especially in popular touristy places and stations.

Accessibility at the Stations

For example, elevators and accessible bathrooms are installed in the stations in big cites such as Tokyo. When you get on the train by a wheelchair, you can ask station attendants at the ticket gate previously if they can help to get on the trains.

How to Get on the Train

At the time to get on the train, the station attendants take you to the platform and put a board between the train and the platform so as to let you get on the train. You need to tell the station you will get off; another station attendant waits for you at that platform and help you to get off the train in the same way.

(Japanese trains usually are not delayed even by one minute unless an expected situation happens. Thus, the station attendants can provide with such services!)

Accessibility in Big cities and Small cities is Different

In the big city, mainly people use the public transportation such as trains and buses. Therefore, accessibility has been comparably established around those stations. On the other hand, accessibility needs to be improved in suburban areas and local cities.

 

Obstacle for Travelling is Language

Probably, the most challenging you could encounter is language. We, Japanese, are not good at speaking English, so you might be difficult to book the hotels/Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) and Shinkansen (express train).

 

Confirm the accessibility of the hotels is necessary

Furthermore, regarding booking the accessible rooms, there are still many hotels requiring us to book the room on the phone. Even though the low of accessibility has been introduced, which requires hotels that are big enough to accommodate the certain number of people to equip with the accessible rooms, some hotels have steps outside of the room and bathrooms are too small for the wheelchair to turn around in. When you would like to secure whether or not your hotel meets your requirements, you need to contact the hotels to know the details of the accessible rooms on the phone.

Japan is one of the most accessible countries

In Japan, accessibility has been going on for the Olympics in 2020. You could go around in the big city smoothly; however, it is also true that there is some room for improvement.

 

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