Top Tips for Accessible Travel in Japan—Enjoy Your Trip Unhindered

The mass transit train service in Japan is the best mode of transport for exploring; it's fast and reaches many destinations within the nation. Also, it is not as scary as it looks if you are wheelchair-bound. The trains are equipped with special accessibility facilities for differently-abled people, making travel a smooth and enjoyable experience regardless of your mobility status. Most stations are manned by attendants who are happy to help you; inquiring about your destination, they will help you on board by placing special accessibility ramps to get on board and even call your destination station to give them a heads up about your arrival so you have someone waiting to assist you there. Choosing your accommodation wisely is just as important; Tokyo apartments are popular choices for most tourists as they offer flexibility and an at-home atmosphere for enjoying your holiday on a schedule that's easy for you. Some like the Oakwood Hotel and Apartments Azabu Tokyo offer easy access to train and bus services making travel a hassle-free affair.

When staying in Tokyo or other major cities in Japan, you will find buses are an easy and convenient mode of transportation. Most are equipped with wheelchair accessibility with designated areas offering priority to passengers in wheelchairs. You should get the driver's attention once the bus arrives, so they will lower the lift for your wheelchair to be taken on board. These services are mostly offered within city limits, so if you are planning to travel to rural areas, it's best to seek a different mode of transportation that offers better assistance. Also, accessibility services are not included in the airport shuttle buses as well as the highway buses.

Exploring at ground level in a wheelchair is easy within major cities, in those you get expansive sidewalks and ramps to get into buildings. However, rural areas where most attractions like temples and historic buildings are located are not easy to navigate. Some streets are quite narrow with no sidewalks so you share the street with vehicles, others are gravel paths, or hilly slopes that are not wheelchair friendly. Therefore, it is best to organise such journeys with a buddy; like a family member or friend who will assist you along the way. If you are travelling with an assistant, there are plenty of cost-effective 2-bedroom apartments; Tokyo especially is popular for this type of accommodation.

Most smaller shops will be difficult to access, however, you can ask the shop owners or assistants to help you out; most are willing to do so and are considerate and kind, bringing out goods you have been window shopping for a closer inspection. The best way to get over the small shop syndrome is to try exploring large shopping locales, some areas offer ramps to get over the curbs that separate the shops areas from the streets; exploring shops within a specific area is easier in a wheelchair.

The larger restaurants will offer wheelchair access while the smaller diners will have curbs you need to get over to enter. You can always ask for some friendly assistance at these times. However, you should do some research on the eateries you want to visit as most consist of booths and bolted-down seating, with no allowance for wheelchairs. So, make sure you check the place out before visiting. On a side note, take along your own utensils when visiting traditional restaurants as most will provide only chopsticks, which is a problem only if you are not used to eating with them.