こんにちは from Tokyo!
How are we all? I hope you’re all doing well.
You may have seen a couple of days ago that Josh shared a brand-new article about BridgeMAIT titled ‘The Racing Driver Who Runs an Accessible Taxi in Yokohama’. It’s a really lovely interview, and we’d like to recommend taking some time to read it. Yoshio Suzuki-san’s love for what he does is self-evident, and the service he provides is like nothing we’ve come across before.
In a new section we’re calling ‘Care for a Re-Share?’, we felt it might be a good idea to occasionally re-share old posts and articles from our website, for those who are new to the site or who may have missed it when it was originally posted. We’re starting with this, from November 2024:
Are Travel Sites in Japan Accessible?
The article in question actually forms part of a series of three. The other two are titled ‘Are There Accessible Hotels and Accommodations in Japan?’ and ‘How Accessible is Public Transportation in Japan for Wheelchair Users?’ All of these articles are from our ‘Answering the Top Google Searches About Disability Access’ series.
Hotel Recommendation: Bellustar Tokyo
Situated between floors 39-47 and floor 18 of the Tokyo Kabukicho Tower, the Bellustar Tokyo has 97 rooms, including an accessible studio room with premier twin beds.
Unlike many hotels in Tokyo, the accessible room at the Bellustar offers guests both a bathtub and a separate shower. The hotel is also able to provide guests with a shower chair upon request.
Pro Tip: Check out the famous Godzilla head near the hotel, less than a five-minute walk/roll.
Did you know this?
Forget the superstition you grew up with: in Japan, black cats are considered good luck, not bad. So if one crosses your path here, take it as a sign your trip is off to a great start. Meow! 🐾
The Kyoto Imperial Palace
The Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Emperor's former residence, now sits at the heart of a sprawling 1,300m x 700m public park dotted with historic buildings, shrines, and cherry blossom gardens. Wheelchair users will find accessible toilets, ramps, and plenty of benches throughout the grounds, with the Kaninnomiya Mansion standing out as a particularly accessible highlight — though the park's gravel paths and sheer scale make it more manageable for power wheelchairs than manual ones. It's an easy add-on to a Kyoto itinerary too, just a 10-minute subway ride from Kyoto Station, with both nearby stations offering elevators and accessible toilets of their own.
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.
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