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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: Moving to Japan.
Hi Tanya,
I came to Japan last January for one year to study Japanese. In my case the school made all the paperwork to get the hokensho (national healthcare card), which is different from the disability card (I didn’t go through all the paper work, as the school didn’t have any experience there). Once I got to Japan, I had to register at the Ward Office of my neighborhood to get the residents card sealed and the hokensho (I can’t remember if I got a provisional one at the airport).
As for apartments, my school had some agents with whom they would have acted as guarantors, but my accessibility needs are down to no stairs, no steps and doors wide enough for the wheelchair, so their agents had a couple of “manageable” apartments. I don’t need an accessible bathroom, but even with this I didn’t have many options. One of this “manageable” apartments had a couple of steps at the entrance. I ended up with an AirBnB apartment for six months (as I could ask the accessibility info directly to the owners). Nevertheless, I’m based in Osaka, so I don’t know how things are in Tokyo, but I wouldn’t expect many differences.
Another important aspect is to know whether your classes are in the morning or in the afternoon. I decided to rent something as close as possible to the academy to avoid rush hour, but it reduced the options even more and made the rent quite expensive.
Anyway, I hope that you have a great stay in Japan. Don’t let the paperwork put you off!