Accessible travel in Japan: wheelchairs and strollers

Japan has spent decades making its cities easier to get around, and much of that work was sped up for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Large stations have lifts, tactile paving and staff trained to help. The challenge is less the cities and more the historic sights, small restaurants and older hotels.

Trains and stations

• Ask at the ticket gate. Tell staff where you are going. They will bring a portable ramp, help you board and phone ahead so someone meets you with a ramp at the other end. No booking is needed for local trains, though allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes.
• Lifts are in most big stations, but they can be at the far end of the platform. Look for the elevator symbol on signs and station maps.
• Priority seats are near the doors of every carriage, marked with symbols.
• Avoid rush hour, roughly 7:30 to 9:30am and 5:30 to 7:30pm on weekdays, when trains are very crowded.
• IC cards work for wheelchair users and companions too. See our IC cards guide.

Shinkansen

• Reserve a wheelchair space. Most Shinkansen trains have wheelchair spaces near a larger accessible toilet, and some newer trains have several. Book at a JR ticket office, or online on some lines.
• Book early in busy seasons such as Golden Week, Obon and New Year, because spaces are limited.
• Folded wheelchairs and strollers do not need the oversized baggage reservation. See our luggage guide.

Taxis, buses and walking

• Universal design taxis (the tall black JPN Taxi model) have a ramp and can carry a wheelchair user in their chair. They are common in Tokyo and increasingly in other cities. Ride-hailing apps such as GO let you request one.
• City buses in big cities are mostly low-floor, and drivers can lower a ramp.
• Pavements are smooth and kerbs are dropped in most city centres, but side streets often have no pavement at all.

Hotels and toilets

• Hotel rooms are small. Book a "universal room" or "barrier-free room", and confirm the bathroom has no step. Many standard rooms have a raised bathroom door sill.
• Ryokan often have steps, tatami and futons on the floor. Some have Western beds and accessible rooms, so ask before you book.
• Multipurpose toilets (look for 多目的トイレ or the wheelchair symbol) are in most stations, department stores and malls, often with a changing table and an ostomy sink.

How accessible are the main sights?

Travelling with a stroller

• Strollers are welcome on trains. Keep them unfolded but out of the way, and avoid rush hour.
• Baby rooms with changing tables, nursing rooms and hot water are in department stores, malls and many big stations. Look for the baby symbol.
• A light, foldable stroller is easier than a big one, because temples, old streets and some stations have steps.
• Send your big luggage ahead with luggage forwarding, so you are only managing the stroller and the children.

Planning tips

• Use Accessible Japan (accessible-japan.com), a site run by a wheelchair user living in Japan, for detailed reviews of hotels, sights and transport.
• Check each sight's access page before you go. Many official sites list lifts, slopes and wheelchair loans.
• Borrow a wheelchair at many big museums, gardens and castles. Ask at the entrance.
• Build in rest time. Our itinerary maker lets you choose a relaxed pace for seniors and families.

Opening hours, prices and transport details change. Check the official sources before you travel: Japan National Tourism Organization: traveling with a disability.

We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.