Group Description
Looking to travel to Japan and need accessibility information? Join our group discussion on accessible travel in Japan and discover the best tips and tricks.
The Japan group is a community of travelers who are passionate about exploring Japan and sharing their experiences with others. This group is dedicated to discussing all aspects of accessible travel in Japan, including accommodations, transportation, tourist attractions, and cultural experiences, as well as links to accessible travel companies and organizations.
Whether you have been here a million times or planning your first visit, the Japan group is a welcoming community that offers support and encouragement for travelers of all abilities. By sharing their experiences and knowledge, members of the group are helping to make travel in Japan more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Reply To: Mobility scooter and JR itineraries
Hi Rob,
I would just start with Google Maps to get the route (including transfers etc) and then use the following website to see if scooters are ok or not.
https://www.ecomo-rakuraku.jp/en
You can enter in a station name and in the details there is a section called “Movement information in handle type electric wheelchair” (which is what they call scooters). It says the answer in Japanese (I guess they made images instead of text) but if it is a circle, you can use your scooter there. If you get an “X”, then you would maybe need to adjust your route to avoid that station.
As for requesting help from JR, if it is just a local line or a train without reserved seating, you can just show up at the station and tell them where you want to go and they will assist you (though you might need to wait a bit). If it is a train with reserved seating (like the Shinkansen or Odakyu’s Romance Car etc) then you will need to to go in advance and book your tickets. How far in advance depends on the train line, etc. But reserving accessible seating on the shinkansen can take up to an hour, so I wouldn’t recommend going the day-of.
Hope this helps!