Shin Osaka station to universal studios
Shin Osaka station to universal studios
Hi!
I’m looking for some pratical advice on travelling around Tokyo and also getting from the Bullet train in Osaka to Universal studios.
My 15yr old has the possibility of going on a school trip to Tokyo in the summer, she is mostly wheelchair bound but can walk a few steps to transfer etc. Most of the travel around will be by coach, but they are doing a few trips that will involve the train and the travel agent is suggesting that she would need an extra 40minutes at the stations to get to the train etc. Is this correct?
Also does anyone know how easy and costs to get taxis around Tokyo or from the station in Osaka. Her wheelchair is a manual foldup one and fits in a car boot.
thanks for any insights!
- 9 Replies
If your daughter uses a wheelchair to ride the train, I would say 40 minutes is a normal margin for them to make sure the successful assistance. Could probably be later than that, but if something goes wrong, you could miss the train. A lot of wheelchair users sigh about the situation though…
The cost of the taxi to Tokyo Station depends on the distance of the hotel from the station, mostly below JPY4,000 (10km), but it depends on the traffic. If you take a taxi from Shin-Osaka Station to Universal Studio Japan, JPY5,000 is the quick google search result. If the wheelchair is foldable and the passengers are two, I think you can take any taxis in Tokyo or Osaka.
thanks for the useful insight!
Also can i ask, do you know how easy is it to get a taxi from disneyland or universal
I do not have good knowledge on that. Maybe someone in this Group… You could perhaps pick one at the taxi pool with no waiting time, but I am not sure.
Hi,
For local trains and subways, there’s no need to be there in advance. For long distance trains, as the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka, 30 minutes in advance is what’s usual if you’ve booked the assistance when buying the ticket. 40 minutes is a safe bet if you don’t know how to get to the ticket gates where you usually go to say that you’ve arrived.
Nevertheless, if it’s a folding wheelchair and your daughter may sit on regular seating and manage the gap between the train and the platform, she may be able to do without the assistance. If I remember correctly, there’s a small space behing the last row of seats of some train cars (at least car 11 does), where you can store a folded wheelchair. Either way, the assistance is useful if you don’t know the station as they lead the way.
To go from Shin-Osaka to Universal Studios, local trains are a good option. For local trains, you don’t need to be there in advance to ask for assistance. You just talk to any of the staff and ask for a “slope” (the way portable ramps to access trains are called in Japan) and tell them you destination. They will help you get to the correct platform, wait for you when getting off and help you at the station if you need to do any transfers. So, from Shin-Osaka to Universal Studios, if the rest of the students are using local trains (or subway + local train [Osaka’s Loop Line direction Sakurajima from Umeda station], which is the other option), it’s ok to do it on a wheelchair (just ask any station staff for the assistance). I lived a year in Osaka using a wheelchair and that’s what I’d do, as accessibility on local trains and subways is really good (if you ask for the “slope” when getting to the station or reaching the ticket area) and as taxis are expensive and may not stop if they see you on a wheelchair.
On that note, if in the end you decide on taxis, I’d recommend folding the wheelchair before stopping the taxi. If they see that it’s a foldable wheelchair, you usually have a better chance of regular taxis stopping. At least, that’s my experience both in Japan and in other countries.
Anyway, if she eventually comes, I’m sure that your daughter will really enjoy the trip!
Thank you Joan.
I just read that Tokyo station has barrier free access to the train doors, does anyone know if that has been done at Shinagawa station?
Hi
Yup, Shinagawa has wheelchair access to all lines. When your daughter gets to the ticket gate, ask for assistance from the staff and they will take her to the correct spot.
Just want to add one thing about timing. While no reservations are needed for local trains/subways and you can just show up as Joan mentioned, some waiting can be required. This is particularly true for big stations, and with JR stations.
While it is just a bit of inconvenience in most cases, I would be careful and plan this in if you are taking another train to get to the Shinkansen. If you are getting on at Station A to go to Tokyo Station for the Shinkansen and they make you wait at Station A for assistance, you may not make it to Tokyo Station as fast as you expected and therefore may be in a rush, or not make it.
That’s true. Assistance at JR stations is not usually as fast as in subway stations. At smaller stations you have to wait a train at most, but at bigger stations you may have to wait more. Once at Shinjuku, as I was used to smaller waiting times, I got really worried that I’d miss the connection with my Shinkansen, as I was left waiting for nearly 30 minutes…
thanks Josh.
We’re just trying to figure out that exact complication. Is it easier to get a taxi to the Shinkansen station (hotel is close by) in Shinagawa and the same in Osaka rather than connecting trains. looks like it would be easier to get a taxi.
Log in to reply.