Accessible travel in Japan
"As a disabled traveller with very special needs, travelling can be stressful. InsideJapan's attention to detail and research was incredibly reassuring, and everything worked like clockwork." - David, UK
It's always been our dream to make Japan accessible to all, and this of course extends to travellers with disabilities or mobility issues. Getting it right for you really matters to us, so let us know your requirements and we'll do all the planning to make your Japan travel dreams come true.
But don't just take our word for it! Visit our blog here to read all about the travels of Peter & Suzy who took a tailormade wheelchair accessible trip with InsideJapan Tours.
Recommended Accessible Travel Experiences
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Kyoto craft centre
Try your hand at origami, ikebana flower arranging or calligraphy at this wheelchair accessible craft centre.
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Insider Experience: Izakaya night
Get the inside track on the Japanese gastropub on a fun-filled night out with one of our "Insiders".
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Tokyo Skytree
The magnificent, fully accessible 634 metre tower in the Asakusa area of Tokyo.
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Gion walking tour at dusk
Gion comes alive as night falls and the geisha go out to entertain at tea house parties.
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Taiko drumming lesson
Take a break from Tokyo sightseeing and beat a drum to your heart's content
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Half day private guide service in Tokyo (wheelchair accessible)
There is no better way to get to get that extra insight into Tokyo than to have the company of an expert local guide.
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Accessible Travel itineraries
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Wheelchair Accessible Golden Route (Classic)
Welcome to one of the most wheelchair-friendly countries in the world. Explore Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more on this exciting 10-night adventure.
Accessible Travel accommodation across Japan
Shiba Park (Accesssible Room) (Tokyo)
The Shiba Park Hotel is a mid-range hotel in Tokyo's downtown area. What sets it apart is the hospitality and service of the staff who speak great English.
Richmond Premier Asakusa International (Accessible Room) (Tokyo)
A brand new hotel in a perfect location - just a few minutes from Senso-ji Temple and the restaurants, souvenir stalls and vintage kimono shops of the Asakusa district.
Intergate Hiroshima (Accessible Room) (Hiroshima)
This modern, stylish mid-range hotel is a great choice for your stay in Hiroshima.
Daiwa Roynet Hachijo-Guchi (Accessible Room) (Kyoto)
The Daiwa Roynet is a modern Western-style hotel located just 5 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station's south exit.
JR Kyushu Blossom Shinjuku (Accessible Room) (Tokyo)
Blossom Shinjuku is a lovely mid-range hotel in a great location just a short distance from JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba (Accessible Room) (Osaka)
If you like to be in the thick of the action, Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba is for you. It's just two minutes from Dotonbori - Osaka's neon-lined canal street, home of the famous Glico running man sign, not to mention hundreds of shops, restaurants and street food stalls.
Shiba Park (Accesssible Room) (Tokyo)
The Shiba Park Hotel is a mid-range hotel in Tokyo's downtown area. What sets it apart is the hospitality and service of the staff who speak great English.
At the hotel's "Experience Salon" staff offer daily hands-on lessons in Japanese arts such as calligraphy and origami, for no extra charge. Location wise, the hotel is a short walk from Tokyo Tower and Zojo-ji Temple as well as numerous restaurants.
The barrier-free room is in the hotel's newer building, and is a 30sqm room with twin beds. There's ample space to move a wheelchair around, and a sliding door to the large bathroom with no step up. It's possible to take a shower outside the bathtub in the centre of the bathroom which has a drain in the floor.Richmond Premier Asakusa International (Accessible Room) (Tokyo)
A brand new hotel in a perfect location - just a few minutes from Senso-ji Temple and the restaurants, souvenir stalls and vintage kimono shops of the Asakusa district.
Opened in December 2015, the Richmond Asakusa Premier International is a great hotel in a fantastic location in the centre of Asakusa, Tokyo's historic district. An elevator takes you from street level to the 5F lobby which has an outdoor terrace and fantastic views of the Senso-ji Temple pagoda (just a five minute walk away) as well as the Tokyo Skytree. The dining room also looks out across this view - a great place to enjoy one of the best breakfast buffets we've ever experienced in Tokyo.
The hotel has one wheelchair accessible room on the 6th floor. It's 27sqm and has twin beds placed side-by-side. The large bathroom has a sliding door, hand rails and a wheelchair accessible sink. Please note there is a bathtub which may not be accessible for everyone, but there's a drain in the centre of the bathroom so it's possible to place a shower chair next to the bathtub and pull the shower hose across.
Free wifi is available throughout the hotel, and there is a handy coin-operated washing machine. Staff at the hotel speak good English and can provide sightseeing information. There's a wealth of restaurants, souvenir and antique shops on your doorstep plus the wonderful Senso-ji Temple complex. Numerous subway lines are just a couple of minutes away giving easy access to all of Tokyo's main sightseeing districts: Shibuya, Akihabara, Shinjuku and the Ginza.Intergate Hiroshima (Accessible Room) (Hiroshima)
This modern, stylish mid-range hotel is a great choice for your stay in Hiroshima.
There is one 24sqm universal Hollywood twin room (two single beds joined together in the middle). As is often the case in Japan, there's no roll-in shower, but the entire bathroom is a wet room with a drain in the middle so you can take a shower outside of the bathtub. A shower chair with a back rest can be provided.
The breakfast buffet has a wide range of healthy Japanese and Western dishes including a regional seasonal menu. There isn't an on-site restaurant open for lunch or dinner, but handily there is a lounge with free snacks and drinks available all day, not to mention a daily Happy hour from 5 to 7pm with complimentary wine and cocktails - what's not to like?
The Intergate Hiroshima is a short walk from the nearest tram stop, Hatchobori, which provides direct access to Hiroshima Station and the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park.Daiwa Roynet Hachijo-Guchi (Accessible Room) (Kyoto)
The Daiwa Roynet is a modern Western-style hotel located just 5 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station's south exit.
The hotel's accessible room is 28sqm and has twin beds that are 122x203 cm. The widened bathroom has a shower over the bathtub, so please note this hotel room might not be suitable for everyone. The hotel can provide a shower chair.
WiFi is free throughout the hotel and there are handy coin-operated washing machines. Breakfast is served in the on site Roynet Cafe.JR Kyushu Blossom Shinjuku (Accessible Room) (Tokyo)
Blossom Shinjuku is a lovely mid-range hotel in a great location just a short distance from JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
The hotel's "universal" room is a 25sqm twin with a large roll-in bathroom. There is no roll-in shower, but a shower chair can be placed next to the bathtub as there is a drain in the floor and the entire bathroom is waterproof. We've found the staff here to be very flexible and accommodating to disabled guests and they speak reasonable English.
Free wifi internet available throughout the hotel. There are a myriad dining options on your doorstep in Shinjuku, but should you prefer to eat in – the hotel's restaurant is a branch of the well-regarded Akasaka Umaya chain, and serves a range of Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner, as well as a good buffet breakfast.
In terms of location, you really couldn't be better placed to make the most of Japan's enthralling capital. The Shinjuku district is Tokyo's business and entertainment hub, with more bars, restaurants, shops and karaoke joints per square metre than pretty much anywhere else. What's more, you'll be staying right next to Shinjuku Station – which is not just the biggest and best-connected station in Japan, but the entire world. Tokyo is your oyster!Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba (Accessible Room) (Osaka)
If you like to be in the thick of the action, Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba is for you. It's just two minutes from Dotonbori - Osaka's neon-lined canal street, home of the famous Glico running man sign, not to mention hundreds of shops, restaurants and street food stalls.
The hotel's wheelchair accessible room is 39sqm with a king bed. The spacious bathroom has a bathtub, but a shower chair can be placed next to the tub as there is a drain in the middle of the bathroom and the entire space is waterproof. There are handrails around the bathroom and the sink is wheelchair accessible.
Staff speak reasonable English at this hotel and wifi is free throughout the building. The hotel has an all-night restaurant and there is a 7-11 convenience store in the lobby.
The hotel is a couple of minutes from Nanba Station which is on the subway and JR train line giving you easy access to all of Osaka.