University Accessibility in Japan?
University Accessibility in Japan?
Hi all!! I’m Bella!
Im in my first year of university and looking at doing a trimester exchange to Japan! I would love to be near Tokyo but i’m not sure how their univerisities go accessibilty wise when it comes to international students? While I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user I heavily rely on my chair to keep my chronic illnesses bearable.
I think Akita International Univeristy is acessible but that is so far away from Tokyo! My home univeristy here in Australia has partnerships with the following; Soka University, Seikei University, Daito Bunka University, Komazawa University, Waseda University.
I know this is such a vauge and big question… but does anybody know if these universities are accomodating/accepting? Or if you already know of a uni could you mention it below?I greatly appreciate any and all information!! 🙏
(my university has partnerships with others, but these are just the closest to Tokyo)
- 3 Replies
My concern for Akita is I believe they get a lot of snow which makes it difficult to navigate. Trust me, I live in Canada. Otherwise, hit their websites and Google maps to check the street conditions around the university, could be deciding factor.
Yes, snow will be a big issue for Akita (or any university on the Sea of Japan side of Japan as the cold winds come across the sea, pick up moisture, then dumps massive amounts of snow when it hits the mountains).
I think any university in and around Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto will likely be fine for accessibility especially now that there are anti-discrimination laws in effect and they would need to provide “reasonable accommodation” for your disability.
I know of two others who came and they had people at the campus help them find housing etc. I’m not sure if she is still in Japan but @zeng went to University of Tokyo and is a wheelchair user.
@baiefroggie Hi Bella-san,
We are glad you are interested in studying in Japan!
As for the Japanese university buildings themselves, wheelchair accessibility is almost no problem.
However, considering that you will be commuting to university and living in Tokyo every day, the “distance of the university campus from the station” will be an issue. Using public buses in Tokyo with a wheelchair is actually quite difficult, although not impossible.
Therefore, in my opinion, it would be more comfortable to study on a campus closer to a local train or subways station.
Answering only from that perspective, in your list,
Waseda University – Very close
Seikei University, Komazawa University – Fairly close
Daito Bunka University – Depends on which campus
Soka University – …
Of course, you can also consider the studies you would like to study. For your reference!
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