The Access Dispatch: Earthquake Preparedness & New Tokyo Travel Guides
From earthquake preparedness and accessible Fukuoka to a step-by-step Haneda–Shinjuku route, plus what makes Japan’s cities so liveable.
こんにちは from Tokyo!
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.
💡 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.