Wheelchair accessible vacations in Japan

Ali Muskett from our supplier InsideJapan:
“It does require some flexibility, but Japan is more accessible than people first realise. In particular, people are always pleasantly surprised by the transport network and more and more barrier-free rooms are being introduced.”

Japan may well be one of the world’s most wheelchair friendly countries, a far cry from how it was 20 years ago. In cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, while the terrain can be hilly in places and pavements are always busy, getting around either alone or with a helper is generally very easy. In other popular destinations, such as Kyoto and Nara, and in the countryside, it is harder going and you may want to look at private tours.

Along with museums and more modern landmarks such as the Skytree, many of Japan’s biggest and most well-known temples such as the Sensoji Temple and the Meiji Shrine are now fully wheelchair accessible with ramps and lifts. There is even a stretch of tori gates at the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto that can be explored. However some temples are trickier due to being positioned on steep slopes, or not yet adapted for wheelchair access. Public gardens usually have wide, flat paths ideal for wheelchairs, so if you want to see the cherry blossom you will have many options. Another popular visit is the iconic Mount Fuji, and tour vehicles can get as far as the 5th station, halfway up, to the point where most hikes begin.