In July I sent a list of interview questions to a taxi operator in Yokohama and expected a page of vehicle specs back. What came back was a story about amateur motor racing and a night at a hospital emergency entrance. Somewhere in the middle of it there was a piece of calligraphy his wife writes for every guest.

Yoshio Suzuki runs BridgeMAIT, a one-man accessible taxi service. One HiAce with a lift, one Noah with a ramp, and 36 years of working in English before he ever drove a paying passenger. Here are a few parts of our conversation. The rest is on the site.

A defining night at the hospital

Suzuki-san holds a patient-transport operator certification from the City of Yokohama. That is the piece of paper behind the story he tells when asked why he does this.

A guest fell seriously ill during their stay. Late that evening Suzuki-san was standing at a hospital emergency entrance explaining to staff, in English and Japanese, who this patient was and what they needed.

“I watched the staff’s expression change: first ‘who is this driver?’, then, slowly, something like trust. The patient was accepted, and treated well. What stays with me is what the guest’s family said afterward. They had been so afraid of exactly this, getting sick in a country where they couldn’t explain themselves. For a traveler, that fear is often bigger than the trip itself.”

He does not drop people at a hospital and leave. He stays on as the English-speaking advocate in the room, which is the part of this service that is hardest to buy anywhere else.

What racing taught him about a wheelchair van

He raced as an amateur for years. When he set up the HiAce for wheelchair passengers, he rebuilt the suspension the way you would on a track car, because the person in the chair sits right over the rear axle and feels every bump before anyone else does.

“These are upgrades you would normally find on an enthusiast’s car. I did them so that a two-hour drive to Hakone leaves my guests relaxed, not exhausted. Racing taught me one thing above all: smoothness is a skill. On a track, smooth is fast. In this work, smooth is comfort.”

The secret about airport transfers

I had filed the airport and cruise pier runs under logistics. He disagrees.

“But let me tell you a secret about the transfers, because people think of them as mere logistics. They are not, not on my routes. Leaving Osanbashi pier for Haneda or Narita, we cross the Yokohama Bay Bridge, the very bridge in the BridgeMAIT logo. I named my company after a bridge, and I get to drive my guests across the real one, over the whole port of Yokohama opening up below. And coming from the airports toward Yokohama, or heading out toward Hakkeijima in the late afternoon, there is a moment on the expressway when Mt. Fuji appears against the evening sky. My guests often assume the sightseeing starts after they check in to the hotel. On this coast, it starts the moment the wheels roll.”

Two weeks ago he took a couple from Italy on his Fuji and Hakone day. They left a public Google review afterwards:

“As a wheelchair user, I especially appreciated the perfect accessibility: the accessible van, the careful planning, and their constant help made everything smooth, comfortable, and stress-free.”

Davide and Claudia, in their public Google review of BridgeMAIT

There is a lot more in the full interview. Why “BridgeMAIT” is not the pun I assumed it was. What a stretcher is doing in a taxi, and why it usually isn’t. Why he plans two complete itineraries for every tour. What his wife writes for each guest, and what that has to do with a difficult period in his life. And the one thing he says to anyone unsure whether Japan is possible for them.

Read the full story

Would you like to hire Suzuki-san for a transfer or a day out? His vehicle specs and fares are on his listing on Accessible Japan, and the inquiry form there goes straight to him. Click here to inquire. He answers every message himself.

Josh

Japan is deep in the midst of typhoon season, which usually results in folks checking the forecast rather obsessively and keeping just about everything crossed in hopes for the best possible weather. But if you stop for a moment and squint, you’ll start to notice the faint signs of autumn on its way. Vending machines are starting to be stocked with hot cans of coffee, a sure sign that cooler days are just around the corner.

We’ve got two things really worth your attention in this edition: a certain deadline is closing soon, and we have some new additions to our accessible taxi directory. Plus: the lowdown on Hotel Naniwa Issui. Enjoy!

Last Call: The Airport Rental One-Way Trial

As of the time of writing, anyone arriving at one airport and leaving from another can take advantage of alternate pick-up and drop-off locations for mobility equipment. That means you can pick up a rental wheelchair at one airport, enjoy your vacation in Japan, and then, if applicable, drop off the rental chair at a different airport when you depart, at no extra charge.

There is one big caveat, though. This was only a trial, and it is scheduled to end on September 30th, 2026.

If you’re planning a multi-airport itinerary for later this year, now is the time to check whether your route qualifies before the window closes.

Read the full rental guide, including which airports and equipment are covered >

Hotel Spotlight: MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho

MIMARU is an apartment-style brand built around families and groups: every room comes with a full kitchen, a proper living area, and enough floor space to really spread out, which matters as much for a wheelchair user as it does for a family of four. The accessible room here has wide hallways and a large turning space, so you can move around quite comfortably. MIMARU’s accessible rooms also feature bathrooms that follow the universal design approach.

A word to the wise, though, in keeping with how we cover every listing: the bathroom is a unit bath rather than a dedicated roll-in shower, so if a true barrier-free roll-in shower is non-negotiable for you, it’s worth checking the listing’s shower details closely, or reaching out to MIMARU directly, before booking.

Read more about MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho >

Getting Around by Accessible Taxi

If you haven’t explored this part of the site yet, it’s definitely worth a look, especially if you’re still deciding between taking the train everywhere and going by taxi.

Tokyo’s trains and subways are some of the most accessible in the world, but changing lines with a wheelchair, scooter, and luggage can wear you out fast. That’s where a private accessible taxi comes in: door-to-door, on your schedule, no transfers required. Our Tokyo taxi directory rounds up vetted, lift-equipped providers who can take power chairs, scooters, and larger groups that a standard JpnTaxi can’t accommodate, whether that’s an airport run, a full day of sightseeing, or just a break from the crowds.

Airports get their own dedicated pages too, and there’s a reason for that: Japanese taxi licensing is prefecture-specific, so not every provider who can pick you up in central Tokyo is legally allowed to serve Narita. We break down exactly which providers cover which routes so you’re not caught off guard.

Browse accessible taxis in Tokyo >

Browse accessible taxis at Narita Airport >

Our Founder a Webinar Guest!

In case you missed it, our founder and dear leader, , was a guest on a brand-new webinar created by our friends over at !

We’ve put together a bit of a blog post based on the webinar’s transcript, where we go through some of the key answers that were given.

Read ‘Your Japan Accessibility Questions, Answered’ here >

Useful Links and Reminders

• Renting equipment for your trip? Start with our Wheelchair & Hoist Rentals guide for the full breakdown of airport counters and hotel delivery.

• Prefer a step-by-step walkthrough? Our How to Rent a Wheelchair in Japan guide covers the booking process in detail.

• Flying into Haneda? Bookmark our Haneda Airport accessibility hub for everything from terminal navigation to getting into the city.

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Did You Know?

This October (18th–24th), Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture will host the Asian Para Games for the first time ever, marking the first time Japan has held this event. Nearly 500 medal events across 18 sports, including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and goalball, will bring thousands of athletes from across Asia to compete at 19 venues around the region.

That’s all for this edition. If you have any questions relating to upcoming travel to Japan, or if you would just like to know about something more generally, please don’t hesitate to reach out through tabifolk.

Until next time,
The Accessible Japan Team

We’d like to start this edition of The Access Dispatch on a somber note. In light of the recent earthquake that struck Japan, our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind readers of the dangers that can sometimes present when traveling, and it seems like a good moment to share our article guide on earthquake preparedness.

Earthquake Preparedness for Travelers with Disabilities in Japan >

Four simple rules behind Japan’s most liveable cities

Our founder, Josh, was recently asked to give comments about life in Japan and what makes Japanese cities so livable. Naturally, Josh’s answers reflected the positive accessibility throughout the city of Tokyo and beyond. The article was published on the BBC website. Click here to read it in full >

From Our Community: Accessible Fukuoka

Kyushu doesn’t get nearly enough airtime in this newsletter, so we’re glad Cecelia Marshall recently made the trip down to Fukuoka and came back with a full report. She found a city that’s flatter and calmer than Tokyo, with a subway system that gets a lot right, and a pedestrian crossing style that might catch first-timers off guard (in the best way).

She also has some honest notes on the buses, which aren’t a given, the way the trains are.

Read Cece’s full Fukuoka report >

New Guide: Getting from Haneda to Shinjuku

If you’ve ever landed at Haneda and felt a small wave of dread about the trip into the city, this one’s for you. We’ve just published the first in a series of dedicated route guides branching off our Haneda Airport hub, and this one walks through the Keikyu-to-Yamanote route step by step: where to find the station attendant, what to actually say to them, and exactly how much time to build in for the transfer at Shinagawa.

There’s also a step-free alternative for anyone who’d rather trade a slightly longer ride for one less transfer.

Read the full Haneda to Shinjuku route guide >

Stuff We Love

Our friends at The World is Accessible just put together a Tokyo guide of their own, and it’s worth a look. Rather than duplicate what we’ve already documented, they built theirs entirely around our listings, our reviews, and Josh’s own recommendations, with links back to the source everywhere it counts. It’s a nice, curated front door into the city if you’re just starting to plan.

Accessible Tokyo: Your Stress-Free Guide to the City >

🔗 Useful Reminders

• New to Tokyo’s rail network? Start with our Wheelchair Accessible Trains and Subways primer before tackling the Haneda route above.

• Planning the whole trip in one go? Our Japan Accessibility Travel Kit (2026) brings together hotels, transport, medication rules, and equipment rentals in one place.

• Got a Fukuoka or Kyushu question Cece’s report didn’t answer? Ask in the Japan group on tabifolk.

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💡 Did You Know?

Dazaifu Tenmangu, one of the spots Cece visited in Fukuoka, is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a 9th-century scholar who, according to legend, was born in the Year of the Ox. Scattered around the shrine grounds are bronze ox statues, and tradition holds that rubbing the head of one will bring good luck on your exams (or really, whatever you’re studying for). Students visiting before big tests have been giving those poor bronze heads a workout for centuries.

That’s all for this edition. If you’ve been affected by the recent earthquake, or have accessible travel questions as things settle, please don’t hesitate to reach out through tabifolk. Take care of yourselves out there.

Until next time,
The Accessible Japan Team

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Booking a hotel or grabbing a Mobal SIM through our links costs you nothing extra and helps keep Accessible Japan going. Want the full guidebook? Our Tokyo Guidebook is available in print or as a free PDF on request. Know someone who’d love this newsletter? Forward it their way.

By Anthony Tipling-Bower

Picture the scene: you’ve landed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, you’ve cleared the customs area, and now you’re trying to find your way to Shinjuku, through a blur of neon lights and hectic streets. The good news, however, is that this airpor…

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By Anthony Tipling-Bower

Before anything else, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the earthquake that struck Kumamoto this week. Communities across the region are still recovering, and rescue and support efforts are ongoing. If you would like to help, donating to established relief organizations working in Japan is the most direct way to do so.

Un…

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We’re doing something a little different this issue: an all-theme-park edition. Between a price hike making headlines and two hotels we wanted to spotlight that happen to sit right next to Japan’s two biggest parks, it felt like the right month to pull it all together in one place — Tokyo Disney Resort, Universal Studios Japan, how to actually get to each one, and where to stay nearby without breaking the bank.

In the News: Tokyo Disney Resort Tickets Are Going Up

Oriental Land just announced Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea will raise max adult one-day tickets from ¥10,900 to ¥12,400 this fall — the new prices start over Halloween weekend in mid-October. Kids’ tickets go from ¥5,600 to ¥5,900. Adult tickets are now up over 65% since 2019.

There’s a second change coming next month too: the parks are discontinuing their last free Fast Pass, so skipping lines will require a paid reservation system from here on.

One thing worth knowing if you’re planning an accessible visit: the free Guest Assistance Card for disabled guests is a separate system from Fast Pass/paid reservations, and it’s still free. But the park can turn down applicants who don’t have a Japanese disability passbook, so don’t assume it’ll guarantee line-skipping the way Fast Pass did. With ticket prices up and no more free skip-the-line option, this is a year to plan the day out rather than wing it.

👉 Tokyo Disneyland accessibility guide

Spotlight: Tokyo Disneyland

Opened in 1983 as the first Disney park built outside the United States, Tokyo Disneyland is large enough that much of it is genuinely barrier-free — wide walkways, accessible toilets throughout, and benches and rest areas scattered across the park. The honest caveat: some areas use dirt roads or cobblestone that can be tricky, though alternative routes usually exist, and you’ll need to transfer into a park-issued wheelchair to board most rides even if you bring your own. Some of the more dynamic attractions aren’t available to non-ambulatory guests at all, so it’s worth checking ride-by-ride restrictions on the park’s own site before you go.

👉 Read more

Getting there: the park is a five-minute walk from JR Maihama Station, and sits right next to Tokyo Disneyland Station on the Disney Resort Monorail — both stations are accessible.

Where to stay: Mitsui Garden Hotel PRANA Tokyo Bay is an official Disney partner hotel with free shuttle service to the park, and offers three forest-themed accessible twin rooms with a widened 85cm bathroom. It’s reachable by bus from either Maihama or Shin-Urayasu Station, so it’s a genuinely practical base if you want to skip the monorail transfer entirely.

Spotlight: Universal Studios Japan

Opened in 2001, USJ remains one of the country’s more thoughtfully accessible attractions overall — extra-long accessible parking, a Guest Support Pass system for skipping standard lines, and a Support Book detailing accessibility resources in English and Japanese. As of a 2019 rule change, though, that Guest Support Pass now requires a Japan-issued disability handbook; without one, the park suggests negotiating directly with staff at each attraction instead. The honest headline caveat: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Spider-Man, The Ride are both off-limits to non-ambulatory guests for safety reasons, so Potter fans in particular should know that going in. Jaws and Jurassic Park, The Ride are both wheelchair-accessible, though be ready to get splashed.

👉 Read more

Getting there: it’s a five-minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line, which has elevators and an accessible toilet. There’s also a nice alternative if you’re pairing USJ with the Osaka Aquarium: the Captain Line ferry connects the two and is accessible to wheelchairs of all types.

Where to stay: Toyoko Inn Osaka JR Noda Ekimae is a solid budget pick near the park, part of a chain that’s done real work making its hotels wheelchair accessible. The accessible room has its toilet and sink separate from the bathing area, and the hotel can lend a shower chair, non-slip mat, and in-tub chair on request — just note accessible rooms here can only be booked by phone or fax, not online.

🔗 Useful Reminders

• Bringing medication into Japan for the trip? Check our Bringing Medicine guide before you pack, especially if any of the items you take are restricted here.

• Looking for a discount? Read how they work in Japan.

💡 Did You Know?

Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea are the only Disney-branded parks in the world not owned, even partly, by the Walt Disney Company. They’re run entirely by Oriental Land Company, with Disney retaining creative control but no ownership stake — which is part of why Tokyo’s parks have their own exclusive attractions you won’t find anywhere else, Fantasy Springs included.

That’s all for this edition! Been to either park recently, accessible or otherwise? We’d love to hear how it went — drop it in the tabifolk community.

Until next time,
The Accessible Japan Team

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Booking a hotel or grabbing a Mobal SIM through our links costs you nothing extra and helps keep Accessible Japan going. Want the full guidebook? Our Tokyo Guidebook is available in print or as a free PDF on request. Know someone who’d love this newsletter? Forward it their way.

A month ago I went to Fukuoka. Fukuoka is a major city in the Kyushu region. The city is known for its tonkotsu ramen and the Hakata Dontaku, a major festival held in May each year. There's a lot of really amazing places to visit in Fukuoka and the surrounding areas. I overall found Fukuoka to be a very accessible city.

Public Transpor…

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July is in full swing here, which means Gion Matsuri is filling Kyoto’s streets, Tanabata decorations are going up all over the country, and Osaka’s Tenjin Matsuri is drawing crowds down to the river. It’s also officially visa fee season — as a reminder, the one-time visitor visa jumped from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 on July 1st, so if you or someone you know is planning a trip, it’s worth flagging before arriving at the embassy counter.

On to this issue: we’re addressing some direct reader feedback, taking an honest look at one of Kyoto’s biggest festival-season landmarks, and walking through how to actually book accessible seats on the Romancecar.

What’s New: Two Fresh Hotel Listings

We’ve added two properties to the database this month, at opposite ends of the country and opposite ends of what “accessible” can mean in practice, which makes them a good pair to look at together.

voco Osaka Central by IHG (Kyomachibori, mid-range) is a genuinely solid general-accessibility pick if Tenjin Matsuri has you in Osaka this month — step-free throughout, a level bathroom floor, and grab bars in the one Premium King Accessible room. But we want to be upfront: the shower here is the standard Japanese layout, a handheld/slide-rail unit over the bathtub with a shower chair on request, not a true roll-in shower. It’s a strong option for an Osaka stay, just not the one to pick if a roll-in shower is non-negotiable for you.

👉 voco Osaka Central by IHG listing

Fuji Speedway Hotel (Oyama, Shizuoka, high-range) is the opposite case — one of our verified roll-in shower properties, with 2 Accessible twin rooms. It opened in late 2022 under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and sits right on the Fuji Speedway circuit, adjoining the Fuji Motorsports Museum, so it doubles as a genuinely fun stop if you’re a motorsport fan making your way toward Mt. Fuji or Hakone this summer.

👉 Fuji Speedway Hotel listing

What the Guidebooks Say / What We’re Saying: Kyoto’s Imperial Palace

If Gion Matsuri has you in Kyoto this month, most travel guides will point you toward the Kyoto Imperial Palace as a must-see — it was the imperial residence for centuries before the move to Tokyo in 1869, and today it sits inside a park that stretches 1,300 by 700 meters. That scale is exactly what we want to flag before you build it into a festival-day itinerary: every path through the grounds is gravel, and while a power wheelchair should manage it fine, manual wheelchair users may find it a genuinely tiring stretch.

There is a real highlight worth the effort, though: Kaninnomiya Mansion, on the grounds, is one of the more thoughtfully accessible buildings we’ve reviewed in Kyoto — a ramped entrance, and nearly every room open to wheelchair users except a small central courtyard. Pair a visit there with a rest on one of the many benches scattered through the park, and it’s a solid, low-key add-on to a Gion Matsuri weekend — just don’t expect quick point-to-point movement between the highlights.

👉 Kyoto Imperial Palace accessibility guide

How to Book Accessible Seats on the Odakyu Romancecar

If Hakone or a Mt. Fuji day trip is anywhere on your summer plans, it’s worth knowing how to book the Romancecar properly — accessible seating (usually Car 5) isn’t something you want to discover doesn’t exist for your chosen train after you’ve already committed to a date. Our full walkthrough covers checking seat availability, selecting an accessible seat from the seat map on desktop or mobile, and handling changes or refunds if your plans shift. One quirk worth knowing upfront: the iOS app is Japanese-only and only available on Japan’s App Store, so we’d recommend just using the browser version instead, on any device.

👉 Full booking guide for accessible Romancecar seats

🔗 Useful Reminders

• Planning your trip: our Japan Accessibility Travel Kit (2026) brings together hotels, tours, transport, medications, and equipment rentals in one place.

• New to Japan’s rail system? Start with our Wheelchair Accessible Trains and Subways primer before you tackle Shinkansen specifics.

• Got a specific accessibility question that no article quite answers? The tabifolk community is built exactly for that.

💡 Did You Know?

Tanabata, celebrated on July 7th, is based on a folktale about two star-crossed lovers — represented by the stars Vega and Altair — who are allowed to meet only once a year, when a bridge of magpies forms across the Milky Way. Across Japan, people write wishes on colorful strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches, hoping theirs will come true before the stars drift apart again for another year.

That’s all for this edition! If you’ve hit a specific accessibility snag planning your own trip — whether it’s a wheelchair dimension, a station transfer, or something else entirely — tell us about it. Specifics like JeniSkunk’s are exactly what help us make this newsletter and the site more useful for the next person facing the same question.

Until next time,
The Accessible Japan Team

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Booking a hotel or grabbing a Mobal SIM through our links costs you nothing extra and helps keep Accessible Japan going. Want the full guidebook? Our Tokyo Guidebook is available in print or as a free PDF on request. Know someone who’d love this newsletter? Forward it their way.

By Anthony Tipling-Bower

If you've searched for a map of Ueno Park before your trip, you've probably already found our downloadable park map. It's useful — but a PDF can't tell you which dotted line to trust, which shrine steps you can skip, or where the nearest working toilet actually is. So here's the guide that goes with the map: how to actually get a…

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How are you guys? For those reading this in the northern hemisphere, are you adjusting to the hotter summer months? The weather in Tokyo is definitely getting warmer, but we’re still enduring our rainy season, with persistent downpours.

As we enter July, we look forward to the historic Gion Matsuri festival in Kyoto, Tanabata (also known as the Star Festival) celebrations all over Japan, and the Tenjin Matsuri river procession being held in Osaka. And that’s simply to highlight a few of the many culturally engaging events taking place this month. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit, as long as you don’t mind the heat!

In this edition, we're focusing on a couple of things that come up again and again in the accessible travel community about Japan: finding a hotel room with a proper roll-in shower, and making the most of the Shinkansen. Plus a little cultural curiosity to round things off. Hope you enjoy!

VISA NEWS: From July 1st, 2026, the cost of a one-time visitor visa is increasing from ¥3,000 (~$18) to ¥15,000 (~$93), and multi-entry visas will rise from ¥6,000 (~$36) to ¥30,000 (~$186). The fivefold price hike marks the first time Japan has increased visa fees in almost 50 years.

Japanese Hotel Rooms with Roll-in Showers

Roll-in showers remain quite elusive in the Japanese hotel scene. The majority of hotels with accessible rooms have bathrooms where a disabled guest can sit on a shower chair next to a bathtub, and wash themselves with a handheld showerhead they pull towards them, away from the tub. Water drains away in the plug hole situated in the centre of the bathroom floor. It essentially turns the bathroom into a makeshift wet room, but the setup is less than ideal.

We’ve compiled a list of all hotels featured on the Accessible Japan website that are verified as having roll-in showers in their accessible guest rooms.

View that list!

Did you know? In Japan, falling asleep at your desk isn't always seen as unprofessional. In fact, the practice of inemuri—which means "sleeping while present"—can be viewed as a sign that you've been working so hard you're simply exhausted. It's not an invitation to take a long nap, but rather a brief doze while remaining available and engaged. You'll often spot commuters nodding off on trains or office workers taking a quick power nap during the day. While attitudes are changing in some workplaces, inemuri remains a fascinating example of how cultural norms around work and rest can differ.

Have you ridden the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) before?

The Shinkansen is on almost every traveler's list when visiting Japan — and with strong wheelchair accessibility throughout the network, visitors with disabilities can experience the bullet train's famous speed for themselves.

Find everything from general advice to how to book a ticket, all on our website.

Get the full run down

Planning your trip: The Japan Accessibility Travel Kit (2026) brings together everything in one place: hotels, tours, transport, medications, equipment rentals, and more.

Welcoming Ohana Support Care Taxi

We are thrilled to welcome Ohana Support Care Taxi to the accessible travel family! Based in Chiba, this friendly service is run by a certified care worker who operates a lift-equipped Toyota Hiace capable of carrying up to two wheelchairs (including electric and reclining models) or a stretcher. It’s the perfect, stress-free option for English-speaking travelers heading to Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, or Tokyo Disney Resort. Just remember to book in advance, ensure your trip starts or ends in Chiba, and carry cash for payment.

Book a taxi now

Mt.Fuji Viewing and Lake Kawaguchi Accessible Tour

Spend your time exploring Lake Kawaguchi and its surroundings while viewing the spectacular Mt. Fuji. Journey out from Tokyo on a specialized vehicle with your friendly English-speaking guide for a memorable time.

View schedule and find out how to book

That’s all for this edition! Until next time…

The Accessible Japan Team

Planning for any trip can be exciting, and planning for a trip to Japan is no different, even if you’re someone who uses a wheelchair. The country has made huge strides in accessibility in the last decade, with particular attention paid to train stations, smoother sidewalks, and attractions that are welcoming for everyone. However, there is still one ma…

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We’re going to keep the intro brief this issue — because there’s something we need to ask you before anything else.

Our survey in partnership with Tokyo’s volunteer tourism program is closing very soon, and we still need more responses. It takes just a few minutes, and your answers will directly shape how accessible guided tours in Tokyo are designed going forward. If you haven’t filled it in yet, please do — and if you have, thank you. Please consider sharing it with anyone you know who has experience traveling with a disability.

👉 Take the survey here

Your voice matters here. These are the kinds of surveys that actually get read by the people building the programs. We’d love to see as many responses as possible before it closes on the 16th of June, so please don’t leave it until later.

Now, on to some exciting new content...

🌋 NEW LISTINGS: Kagoshima — Japan’s Volcanic South

Joan, one of our fantastic contributors, has been busy exploring Kagoshima, a city in the far south of Kyushu that often gets overlooked in favor of the big-name destinations further north. We think that’s a mistake — and our two new listings make the case.

Sengan-en Garden

There aren’t many gardens in the world where you look up from a koi pond and see an active volcano. Sengan-en is one of them.

This former Edo-period villa, once home to the rulers of southern Kyushu, is designed as a “borrowed landscape” garden — meaning the view of the bay and Sakurajima’s volcano across the water is considered part of the composition itself. It’s genuinely beautiful, and about half of it is wheelchair accessible.

We won’t pretend it’s without limitations — the most traditional parts of the garden, including the main house and bamboo grove, involve stairs, and some routes include gravel and steep slopes. But the accessible portion is substantial, there are three accessible restrooms throughout the grounds, and there’s even a Japanese restaurant on the second floor of the main gift shop building with views of the volcano. The admission price (1,600 yen, or 800 yen for disability certificate holders) also includes the museum next door.

We cover the transport options in detail — including a tip on which station to travel from to avoid getting stranded at an unstaffed stop.

👉 Read our Sengan-en accessibility guide

Sakurajima Volcano Island

Visible from all over Kagoshima, Sakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes — sending ash plumes into the sky almost daily. And while summiting it is off the table for wheelchair users, getting there and exploring its shores is far more accessible than you might expect.

The ferry over is largely accessible (three of the four vessels have elevators, accessible toilets, and a designated wheelchair space), the coastal trail is a smooth boardwalk for its first kilometer, and the outdoor foot bath along the way — with views across the sea — has a dedicated priority spot with grab bars specifically for people with disabilities. It’s one of those genuinely lovely details that makes you feel genuinely welcome.

A calm, quieter alternative to Japan’s busiest cities, Sakurajima makes for an unusual and memorable day out.

👉 Read our Sakurajima accessibility guide

🦁 NEW LISTING: Namba Yasaka Shrine, Osaka

Namba Yasaka Shrine has one of the most striking pieces of architecture you’ll find at any shrine in Japan: a giant lion-head building, several storeys tall, whose open mouth is said to swallow evil spirits and bring good fortune. It’s the kind of thing that stops you in your tracks.

The good news for wheelchair users is that the stone-tile paths leading right up to the lion-head pavilion are smooth and accessible, and the south and west entrances to the grounds are both step-free. There are limitations elsewhere in the complex — the main shrine building requires steps, the goshuin counter involves deep gravel, and the on-site toilets aren’t accessible — but as a brief stop on an Osaka itinerary, it’s entirely worth it.

A short walk from Namba station, it’s easy to combine with a wider day out in one of Japan’s most wheelchair-friendly cities.

👉 Read our Namba Yasaka Shrine accessibility guide

🔗 USEFUL REMINDERS

Planning your trip: The Japan Accessibility Travel Kit (2026) brings together everything in one place: hotels, tours, transport, medications, equipment rentals, and more.

Looking for an accessible hotel in Osaka? Our Osaka accessible hotel guide covers the city’s best options across all budgets.

In Osaka, need a specialist travel agent? Browse our Accessible Travel Agents directory for agencies that handle everything from wheelchair-accessible tours to custom itineraries in Osaka and beyond, throughout Japan.

💡 DID YOU KNOW?

Kagoshima is often called the “Naples of the East”, a nod to its warm climate, its dramatic bay setting, and the active volcano visible across the water. Whether you’ve been to Naples or not, once you see Sakurajima from the ferry, you’ll understand the comparison.

That’s all for this edition! And please — if you haven’t taken the survey yet, there’s still time. Your answers will genuinely make a difference.

👉 Take the survey

Until next time, The Accessible Japan Team

Welcome back to The Access Dispatch! We’ve had a busy few weeks at Accessible Japan, with new articles, new hotel content, and some genuinely exciting news to share about eating safely in Japan.

June means two things in Japan: tsuyu — the rainy season — and the start of the summer festival calendar. If you’re visiting or planning, there’s plenty to look forward to. And if you’re at home daydreaming about Japan, there’s plenty of fresh content on our site to help you get those plans moving. Let’s dive in!

Help shape accessible tourism

Tokyo’s Building Better Accessible Tours

Tokyo’s volunteer guide program wants to know what travelers with disabilities actually need from an accessible guided tour. Your answers shape what they build next.

Take the survey

🌧️ SEASONAL NOTE: Tsuyu (Rainy Season)

June marks the arrival of tsuyu, Japan’s annual rainy season, which typically runs from early June through mid-July across most of Honshu. If you’re heading to Japan this month, don’t let it put you off — it’s rarely a constant downpour, and the cooler, quieter atmosphere it creates can actually make sightseeing more pleasant for wheelchair users navigating usually crowded attractions.

A few quick tips:

• Pack a compact umbrella — most convenience stores (konbini) stock them cheaply if you forget.

• Wet floors can be slippery. Many indoor venues increase their floor-wiping frequency during the rainy season, but it’s worth slowing down in the entrance areas.

• Crowds thin out. Many tourists avoid Japan in June, which means shorter queues, more space at popular sites, and easier navigation.

🎉 FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT: Sanno Matsuri — Tokyo’s Great Summer Festival

2026 is a big year for this one!

One of Tokyo’s three great festivals, the Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine in Nagatachō runs through mid-June. Crucially, the full grand festival — including its spectacular Sanno Grand Parade — only takes place in even-numbered years, which means 2026 is the real deal.

The parade features over 500 people dressed in traditional Edo-period costume, carrying elaborate floats along a route that winds through central Tokyo. It’s an incredible piece of living history — and the route passes through some of Tokyo’s most accessible areas, making it watchable from street level.

What about the shrine itself? Our listing on Accessible Japan covers this with honesty. Hie Shrine’s steep hill makes it very challenging for wheelchair users and those with mobility aids. However, escalators are available at some entrances, and much of the festival activity — including food stalls, communal dances, and the parade itself — takes place on surrounding streets where access is considerably easier. The Sanno Ondo bon odori dance event in the public square at Sanno Park Tower (nearby) is a particularly accessible option. The square is flat, open, and accompanied by taiko drums and food stalls — a genuinely inclusive festival experience.

👉 Read our Hie Shrine accessibility guide

🍽️ NEW ON THE SITE: Eating Safely in Japan — The FOOD SAFE PASS

Food allergies and dietary restrictions don’t always come up in conversations about accessible travel — but maybe they should. A recent survey found that nearly half of travelers with allergies or dietary restrictions have given up on a trip entirely because of food concerns. Japan’s restaurant scene, for all its brilliance, presents some specific challenges here that are worth understanding before you go.

We’ve written up a full breakdown of a new initiative from MIMARU and matoil that we think is genuinely worth knowing about — particularly if food safety is a factor in your travel planning.

👉 Read the full article

📖 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: “Yes, You Can Visit Japan.”

We know Japan can feel like a daunting destination — especially when you’re not sure how the accessibility stacks up. That’s why we love this recent piece on our site: “Yes, You Can Visit Japan: How to Navigate Tokyo and Beyond with a Disability.”

It’s the kind of article that’s perfect to send to a friend, family member, or carer who needs convincing — or reassurance — that Japan is genuinely worth it. Because it is.

👉 Read the article

🔗 USEFUL REMINDERS

A few resources worth bookmarking if you haven’t already:

Planning your trip: Our Japan Accessibility Travel Kit (2026) pulls together every essential resource in one place — SIM cards, transport, accessible hotels, tours, medications, equipment rentals, and community support. Think of it as your pre-trip checklist.

Need a specialist travel agent? Our Accessible Travel Agents directory lists agencies specialising in wheelchair-accessible tours, deaf-friendly travel, and support for a range of mobility and sensory needs.

Arriving by air? Our Haneda Airport accessibility guide covers everything from assistance services to getting into the city.

💡 DID YOU KNOW?

Japan is the only country in the world where a reigning emperor has voluntarily abdicated in living memory — Emperor Akihito stepped down in 2019, ushering in the Reiwa era under Emperor Naruhito. The word Reiwa (令和) is often translated as “beautiful harmony” — not a bad motto for a country that’s been quietly making enormous strides in accessible travel.

That’s it for this edition! Whether you’re already in Japan enjoying (or enduring) tsuyu, or planning your trip from afar, we hope there’s something in here that makes your adventure a little easier and a lot more enjoyable.

As always, if you have a hotel you’d like us to look into, or a story to share from your own accessible travels in Japan, drop us a comment or head over to tabifolk.com — our community is always happy to hear from fellow travelers.

Until next time, The Accessible Japan Team

Last summer I joined a test run of the Tokyo Volunteer Guides’ accessible tour at the Imperial Palace. I’ve lived in Tokyo for over 18 years and figured I knew the route well enough - but I still picked up things I’d never heard before, like the history of the moats, and I appreciated how much advance work the guides had put into finding the most accessible path through the palace grounds. Full write-up here: Testing Tokyo’s Accessible Tour at the Imperial Palace.

It was a great tour. It’s also great to see Tokyo being proactive and actively asking travelers with disabilities what they want before building the program out further.

Which is where I’d like to ask a favor. The team behind the tour has put together a short survey, and I’d really appreciate it if you’d fill it out. Your answers feed directly into improvements to Tokyo’s accessible tours page. They also help make the case that accessible travel is a meaningful audience that has to be part of how the city plans tourism — which is what shapes future tours and programs.

You don’t need to have been to Tokyo to take this. The survey asks about your accessibility needs, what information you’d want before booking a tour, and what you think of the current accessible tour page - questions you can answer whether Tokyo is somewhere you’ve already visited or somewhere you’re still thinking about. Every answer helps.

Take the Survey

Thanks!

— Josh

This month, we’re sharing our brand new Haneda Airport guide, or should we say, hub piece, with everything you need to know when passing through.

Haneda Airport: Your Accessible Gateway to Tokyo

Everything you need to know about getting through Haneda and into the city, as a wheelchair user or traveller with a disability.

Get your guide

We’re currently in Golden Week here in Japan, a time synonymous with domestic travel due to multiple public holidays occurring within a short period. Check out our guide to Golden Week and important tips for wheelchair users when planning travel during this time.

Golden Week Japan: What Wheelchair Users Need to Know Right Now

Read more

Did you know, we often receive messages from folks wanting to know how to go about renting a wheelchair while in Japan. So, we thought it might be prudent to point you guys in the direction of the following article on our site:

How to Rent a Wheelchair in Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide (Plus Other Mobility Equipment Rentals)

Get your guide

FUN FACT: 🍉 In Japan, some farmers grow square watermelons! They place the melons into square glass boxes while they’re still growing, so they take on the shape of the mold. They were originally invented in the 1970s by a farmer who wanted them to stack more easily in refrigerators. They’re now also grown in heart shapes, pyramids, and even face shapes!

The funny twist? They’re usually too expensive to eat, sometimes selling for over US$100 each, so most of them end up as decorative display pieces or luxury gifts rather than actual food.

Need help with that planning? See our Travel Agents & Custom Tour Planners page.

Finally, don’t forget, if you’re looking for a hotel in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, or beyond, check out our dedicated hotels page for inspiration and to find somewhere accessible to rest your head while in Japan!

This month, we have a flurry of fresh activity on our website to share with you, plus some important reminders of pages that have been fixtures for a while!

We’ll start, however, with a number of brand new hotel listings — three from Tokyo and one from Kyoto…

1. HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, TOKYO ↗
   Mid-century, modern style. 538 guest rooms spread across floors 18 and 20-38 of Kabukicho Tower. The hotel offers fantastic views of the city. There is one accessible (twin) room.

2. BELLUSTAR TOKYO ↗
   The Bellustar is also housed within Kabukicho Tower, spread over floors 18 and 39-47, with 97 rooms. There are four dining venues on floor 45.

3. MIMARU KYOTO SHINMACHI SANJO ↗
   An apartment-style hotel in central Kyoto’s Nakagyo ward, about a five-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line. The Accessible Japanese Apartment sleeps up to four guests with two single beds and two futons.

4. MIMARU TOKYO KINSHICHO ↗
   The Mimaru Tokyo Kinshicho is also an apartment-style hotel in Tokyo’s Sumida ward. The property has 82 non-smoking rooms, each designed for groups of up to seven guests. There is one accessible apartment with four single beds.

For more hotel options across various cities in Japan, head to our ‘Accessible Hotels in Japan’ page.

Next up, we have an older piece but with fresh information — ‘Charging Your Wheelchair or Scooter in Japan’.

Keeping your power wheelchair or scooter charged while traveling in Japan is essential — and for most people, it's as simple as checking a label on your charger and picking up a cheap plug adapter.

For more must-know information that will assist you when organizing your trip to Japan, head to our ‘Planning Your Accessible Trip to Japan’ page on our website.

We have a couple of accessible tour options to share with you, perfect if you want to see more of Japan, with an expert guide.

1. RETRO KARAHORI FOOD TOUR, OSAKA ↗
   Visit nostalgic neighbourhoods, try authentic local eats, venture off the beaten track, and enjoy the laid-back pace. All while making sure everything is accessible.

2. KYOTO CASUAL PONTOCHO EVENING FOOD TOUR ↗
   This accessible tour features highlights such as Lantern-Lit Alleyways, 10–12 Curated Dishes, Geisha Culture Stories, and Local Sake Tasting.

For more accessible tours, head to our dedicated ‘Accessible Tours in Japan’ page on our website.

Fun fact: During Japan's feudal period, wealthy lords built homes with deliberately squeaky floors — known as Nightingale Floors — as a defense against ninjas. The floors were engineered to chirp like birds underfoot, making it impossible to sneak through undetected.

Spring is right ahead of us on the horizon, with Shunbun no Hi (a national holiday in Japan where the lengths of day and night are equal) marking the official commencement of the season. The holiday usually occurs on either the 20th or 21st of March, and is a wonderful time of year to visit Japan, especially for those seeking a little less snow and a little more cherry blossom!

It’s also the perfect time to start planning potential trips to Japan, which is why we’re excited to share more details about our new accessible travel agency directory.

The agencies listed on our new directory specialise in accessible and disability travel. They offer services such as wheelchair-accessible tours, deaf-friendly travel, and specific support for those with mobility needs. Whether you want a fully guided accessible tour, a custom itinerary, accessible cruise excursions, or a complete travel package that manages all accessibility details, you’ll be able to find it!

Keeping the theme of travel planning, this month’s edition of The Access Dispatch is inspired by an article from The Times’ website, titled: ‘12 of the most beautiful places in Japan’. We thought it might be a nice idea to highlight a couple of the places they mentioned and share links from our website where you can find out more information, plus a hotel suggestion near one of those locations.

Make your Japan trip easier and more meaningful — choose Mobal for SIMs, eSIMs, or pocket Wi-Fi. Your purchase helps support Accessible Japan’s mission and education projects in Malawi - and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.

Kenrokuen, Ishikawa prefecture

What The Times said:
“Originally, the garden was a private pleasure ground that belonged to nearby Kanazawa Castle and could only be enjoyed by the ruling Maeda clan. It was opened to the public in the 1870s and is now famous for its pretty ponds, pathways, fountains, and decorative features, such as the famous Kotoji Toro stone lantern.”

What we’re saying:
The garden is quite beautiful, but there are certainly limitations due to the hills – particularly for those in manual wheelchairs or using walkers. Since it is located next to Kanazawa Castle, though, it is definitely worth checking out both places at the same time.

Find out more >

Need to rent a powered chair or scooter whilst in Japan? Rent a WHILL power chair or scooter and get moving with ease. Booking via our link helps support what we do at Accessible Japan!

Nikko Toshogu

What The Times said:
”In the mountains north of Tokyo, Nikko combines a striking natural setting with elegant and historic shrines and temples. Chief among them is the ornate Toshogu, where each building is adorned with complex, brightly painted wood carvings by the best 17th-century artisans.”

What we’re saying:
As a UNESCO site, Nikko Toshogu Shrine is historically significant, but visitors should note its distance and limited accessibility, especially for wheelchair users. Being a heritage site, accessibility likely won't improve. Most of the site is viewable on Google Street View, allowing visitors to see inaccessible areas before visiting. The good news is that you CAN definitely visit and see the famous ‘See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil’ monkeys!

Find out more >

Hotel Rec: Hotel Intergate Kanazawa

Hotel Intergate Kanazawa offers a spacious Universal Twin Room designed for full wheelchair maneuverability, featuring a comfortable seating area and twin beds. The accessible bathroom is thoughtfully equipped with a wide entrance, roll-under sink, and comprehensive grab bars for the toilet and tub, which also includes a handheld showerhead and space for a shower chair. For added convenience, guests also have access to a public accessible restroom located on the first floor.

See more details >

Fun Fact: Japan actually has a "Century-Old Shops Association." It’s basically the ultimate "Old Boys Club," but you have to wait 100 years just to get an invite.

Stay warm

It can get really cold in the winter. Be sure to pack warm, especially if you have issues in the cold. It can also get windy near the station and that can make the cold even worse.
If you get too cold, I would recommend going to cafes, restaurants or museums to warm up. The city has a lot of cafes around and one wouldn’t be too far from anywhere in the city.

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This post is sponsored by Tokyo Hotel Express, but all opinions and experiences shared are my own.

Travel is physically demanding. And when you add mobility challenges into the mix, those demands multiply. You already know that if you’re reading this site.

I travel with a companion who helps me navigate Japan. Doors, elevators, the thousand small accessibility challenges that come up every day. The thing is, we’ve got two people’s worth of luggage and I can’t help carry any of it. So my companion deals with doors and elevators (often requiring two trips as elevators here in Japan are small!), plus pushing, pulling, or carrying double the bags through train stations, onto buses, up to hotel counters, etc.

It’s difficult physically. But it also adds stress to situations that are already stressful – arriving in a new city after a long flight, making a tight connection between airports. Every extra bag is another thing to manage when you’re already managing a lot.

Which is why I wanted to tell you about Tokyo Hotel Express.

About the Founder

Hitoshi Asami runs Tokyo Hotel Express. His background is banking and went overseas to get an MBA. When he came back to Japan and was figuring out what to do next, he took various jobs. One of them was working at an airport delivery counter.

That’s where he saw a need. Travelers struggling with heavy bags. Families juggling kids and suitcases. Elderly visitors trying to make connections. People in wheelchairs who couldn’t manage their luggage on top of everything else. The existing services helped, but there were gaps.

So he started Tokyo Hotel Express to fill them.

More than a luggage delivery company, his stated mission is to be a “concierge and rest stop for people with mobility restrictions at airports” and help them maximize their time in Japan. His vision is a society where everyone can enjoy their stay in Japan seamlessly, regardless of their mobility situation.

He’s also thinking long-term about employing people with disabilities in the airport operations side of the business. Creating opportunities while providing a service that helps travelers with similar challenges. Something that resonates with Accessible Japan’s vision.

A Real Example

Mr. Asami told me a story that shows what this service does in practice.

An elderly Japanese woman living in the US used the service at Haneda. She needed to get to Hakone immediately to meet family, but her luggage needed to go to a hotel she wouldn’t reach for a few days. Tokyo Hotel Express handled it. She was able to travel light and the luggage showed up at her hotel when it was needed.

Two months later, the same customer came back to Japan for New Year’s with her partner who uses a wheelchair. They were landing at Narita with large bags and had a two-hour connection to a domestic flight to Kansai. Their flight got delayed 40 minutes due to strong winds, which meant they’d have to move fast through the airport. The customer messaged Tokyo Hotel Express from her phone while still on the plane and asked Mr. Asami to take all four bags instead of the originally planned three. When the couple landed and cleared immigration, Mr. Asami was waiting at the arrivals exit in his bright orange shirt with the company’s fox character on it. They handed over their bags and headed straight to their connecting flight.

They made their connection in time and the luggage arrived in Kansai the next day.

Without that instant communication and someone ready to take the bags at the exit, an elderly traveler helping a wheelchair user navigate four large bags through a Japanese airport in under two hours wouldn’t have been realistic.

The Basics

You can contact Tokyo Hotel Express via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or by their inquiry form. Before you fly, give them your name, arrival details, and where you want your bags delivered. They’ll create a shipping label and send it to you for confirmation, then send you a payment link. Everything’s handled online before you land.

On arrival day, you’ll meet them at the airport exit. Look for the orange shirt with the fox character, hand over your bags, and you’re done.

Your luggage goes through Yamato Transport, so you’ll get a tracking number and can follow everything with delivery notifications. If you have questions along the way, you can message them on whatever platform you’re using.

Pricing:

Next day delivery anywhere in Japan: ¥6,000

Same day to Tokyo hotels (23 wards, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki): ¥8,000. Deadline is 7:00 PM so most international arrivals work.

They also help with getting Suica cards if you need one and save you from figuring out ticket machines when you just want to get into the city.

Why I’m Recommending This

For me and my companion, this means the difference between a stressful arrival and a manageable one. My companion can help me get to where I want to go instead of wrestling with luggage. We save energy for actually enjoying the destination instead of burning it all getting there.

If you’re traveling solo with a disability, you don’t have to ask strangers for help with your bags. If you’re elderly or traveling with kids, you have one less thing to manage. The service makes Tokyo more accessible from the moment you land.

Questions You Probably Have

How much does luggage delivery from Tokyo airports cost?

¥6,000 for next-day delivery anywhere in Japan. ¥8,000 for same-day delivery to hotels in Tokyo (23 wards, Chiba, Yokohama, and Kawasaki). You pay online with a credit card before arrival.

How do I arrange luggage delivery from Haneda or Narita?

Contact Tokyo Hotel Express via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or their inquiry form before your flight. Give them your arrival details and hotel address. They create your shipping label and send a payment link. On arrival, meet their staff at the airport exit - they’re wearing an orange shirt with a fox logo. Hand over your bags. That’s it.

Can I track my luggage after I hand it over?

Yes. They use Yamato Transport for delivery. You get a tracking number and can follow your luggage through the Yamato system with real-time updates and delivery notifications.

How far in advance do I need to book?

You can book up until you board your flight to Japan. Some customers have contacted them while already in the air and arranged pickup. However booking a few days in advance is best if you want confirmation before traveling.

Is this service actually good for wheelchair users or travelers with mobility challenges?

That’s what it was designed for. Mr. Asami worked at an airport counter and saw travelers with disabilities struggling with luggage on top of navigation challenges. Meeting at the arrivals exit means no need to find counters or navigate airport facilities with heavy bags. The whole point is removing that barrier.

What if my flight is delayed?

They’ll wait up to about 3 hours for delayed flights. You can message them through WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger with your updated arrival time. They monitor flights and can adjust pickup times. Keep in mind that if your flight is significantly delayed, your luggage might not arrive at your destination on the originally scheduled date.

Do they deliver to Airbnb or private addresses?

Yes, they deliver to hotels, Airbnb addresses, and private homes anywhere in Japan. Just provide the complete address when booking. Important: in the case of an Airbnb or private home, someone needs to be there to receive the luggage. Most delivery companies don’t do porch or doorstep drop-offs - if no one is home when the driver arrives, they’ll take the luggage back and you’ll need to arrange redelivery.

How to Book

If you’re planning to land at Tokyo and this would help:

• Website: tokyohotelexpress.com

• Inquiry form: forms.gle/Pr2Q3DzSDKRZBHeg6

• Or contact them on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger for quick questions.

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