What I Thought About Accessibility In Tokyo, Japan

By alantvuong on November 16, 2016

I was recently in Tokyo to attend a music festival in September and already made a blog post about my hotel stay. I was really impressed with how wheelchair accessible the city itself was for my manual wheelchair. I took this chair since my attendant previously agreed to push me around the city. The first thing I noticed was that people walk and drive on the opposite side of the sidewalk and roads than they do in North America. So just be aware when you are crossing streets. I was mostly in Tokyo, and realized their wasn’t really any issues with finding a sidewalk with a curb cut for the wheelchair. I do remember the few times I had my buddy just bump my manual wheelchair up a curb to get around. Another thing noticeable was that public garbage cans are really hard to find. The city is surprisingly clean so we just stored garbage in my wheelchair backpack until we find a garbage can.

transit staff always willing to help with ramps

To get around Tokyo, we mostly relied on the world famous subway system. The transit map can be quite confusing but everything is color coded. I suggest buying a reloadable transit pass as it is easier to just tap the card everytime you need to use the subway. What we also did was get free wifi installed on our phone. There is a free app advertised everywhere in Tokyo. It made it easier to use the subway system and to get around the city having google maps. The subway stations are very busy and they resemble malls. The main busy stations have many restaurants, shops, and tons of people walking around. When riding the subway, we noticed people are very quiet. They don’t really talk to one another or talk on the phone. No one eats in public. They either read, listen to music with their headphones or just keep to themselves.

reloadable transit pass

We been to many subway stations for the 10 days we were in Tokyo. Some were really old, while some were very new and modern. The city is preparing for the 2020 Summer Olympics, so there is lots of construction and renovations. What surprised me was that when we took the subway to see The Imperial Palace in an old part of Tokyo, even the old subway station was wheelchair accessible by having a lift up the old stairs. They couldn’t renovate it and add an elevator since the station was so old, so they added a lift. Even other subway stations that do not have elevators, they modified their escalators to make it wheelchair accessible. Both methods require us to find a transit staff member to operate the lift or the escalator.

loving how accessible this old train station is

I was really shocked to see how the escalator was able to take a wheelchair user. The transit staff starts off by blocking the escalator from the public using signs. He then turns a key which slows down the escalator and it keeps running until 3 green escalator steps flatten out. The staff member then stops the escalator from moving and loads you on. Once the wheelchair is secure. a lttlt flap goes up to prevent the wheelchair from rolling off the step, he then turns the key to start the escalator and escorts you until you are done. Talk about great service. He even asks you if you need to connect to another train so he can radio the next staff member to help you for wherever you need to go. Unless we need to use another accessible escalator we didn’t need help boarding any train since my buddy is with me to assist me.

going up the accessible escalator

When we went to visit Hakone to go on a boat to get a closer look at Mt. Fuji, we took a bullet train called the Romancecar. It costs more than a regular train and requires advance purchase. It is definitely faster, nicer and very accessible. You have let them know you need an accessible train when buying your tickets. You have to be at the train station before your scheduled departure time. The accessible car was located in the middle and was very nice. There is a seat removed so that you can park your wheelchair. There is ample room to maneuver around the car to get to the snack booth and to the wheelchair accessible bathroom. The views were nice looking outside while riding this to Hakone. Definitely worth it for the luxurious ride.

luxury accessible ride on the Romancecar

nice big accessible bathroom on the Romancecar

We did take a bus that was wheelchair accessible in Hakone which Tokyo also have too but our vacation relied mostly on the subway. Accessible taxis are hard to come by and it is best to call ahead to book a taxi. Overall I thought Tokyo was pretty wheelchair accessible compared to other Asian cities I have been to. The subway system is massive but very accomodating to a wheelchair user. They could add more accessible taxis but the subway is cheaper, and you get to explore more of Tokyo riding the train. I am thinking of coming back to Tokyo in 2020 to see how the city have made the city even more accessible for the Olympics and Paralympics. So book your vacation to Tokyo and enjoy your accessible stay.