The Access Dispatch: May 2025
Beautiful Chaos at Sanja Matsuri
Visiting Tokyo this month? Why not check out Sanja Matsuri, one of the city’s most exciting festivals! Held in Asakusa from May 16-18, Sanja Matsuri celebrates the founders of Sensō-ji Temple with an energetic display of tradition. Over three days, almost two million people will fill the streets to watch hundreds of mikoshi (portable shrines) get carried by shouting, swaying locals.
The festival begins Friday with an Edo-style grand parade of geisha, dancers, and musicians in traditional dress. On Saturday, nearly 100 mikoshi fill the streets, carried with energetic chants of “wasshoi” and “oisa,” as participants shake the shrines to invite good fortune. Sunday’s finale features three large, gold-adorned mikoshi leaving Asakusa Shrine at dawn, each taking a different route before returning in the evening.
Read more about this year's details at www.matcha-jp.com.
Accessibility Tips for Sanja Matsuri: The festival can get busy, so visit in the morning for fewer crowds. Side streets are easier to navigate. Check out the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center for great views and elevator access. Sensō-ji also has an elevator and accessible toilets, though the cleanest at the Tourist Center.
Accessible-Japan.com Receives a Springtime Spruce Up!
We’ve been busy behind the scenes and we’ve made some subtle changes to the website, here and there. Why not come on over and take a look around? See what’s new and let us know what you think on social media!
Handling Wheelchair Breakdowns While Staying in Japan
What happens when your wheelchair breaks in Japan? 😱
Don’t panic. This blog post has your back and your wheels! From prepping the perfect travel toolkit to finding repair help in Japan (even down to inner tubes and voltage quirks), this guide covers it all. Whether you're a DIY fixer or need to phone a friend, we’ve gathered tips, brand contacts, and a secret weapon: our tabifolk community, so you’re never stuck for long.
Can you crack the landmark code?
Last month, we asked: What traditional Japanese garment is often worn during festivals and ceremonies, especially by young women, and starts with the letter F? Did you get it right? We hope so—and hopefully you’ve jotted it down, because each month’s answer will help you uncover the name of a famous Japanese landmark!
Ready for Question 2?
Which slippery, snake-like fish is a popular (and pricey) delicacy in Japan, especially when grilled with sweet soy sauce and served over rice?
Sharp-eyed readers may have spotted that we accidentally revealed the first letter of last month’s answer—so even if you didn’t know it was Furisode, you still got the letter F!
Keep track of your answers, and remember: the first person to submit the final correct landmark wins an Accessible Japan T-shirt! 😀
Support Accessible Japan while you travel! When you book hotels, tours, and SIM cards or Wifi through the links on our site, a small portion goes toward helping us continue sharing accessibility information, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
