Wheelchair-accessible public transportation from Hakone to Lake Kawaguchi
Wheelchair-accessible public transportation from Hakone to Lake Kawaguchi
Hi dear travelers,
After two years of complete shielding, I plan another trip to Japan in 2023 (hopefully). I wonder if anyone would know if there is public transport from Hakone to Lake Kawaguchi for a person in a power wheelchair? I didn’t find any info online. I guess the buses are coaches and therefore aren’t accessible for a person with an electric-wheelchair?
- 6 Replies
Yikes… not finding anything either.
Actually the buses I’m finding are local buses (two transfers) with lots of stops. The first bus In Hakone should be accessible but not sure about the other two…
I don’t think it is really a common route as most buses go between Tokyo and Kawaguchiko or Tokyo and Hakone etc. Unfortunately the vast majority of coach buses are still inaccessible. Google suggests going back to Shinjuku by train and then coach to Kawaguchiko if you put in “accessible route”. Though not sure the bus to Kawaguchiko is accessible….
It is about an hour by car, and the taxi price would be a bit over ¥20,000.
It may be an option:
Kawaguchiko Station –(Fuji Kyoko Bus)– JR Gotenba Station — (JR Train)–Matsuda Stn. –(walk 3 min.)–Shin-matsuda Stn. –(Odakyu Train) — Odawara Stn. –(Hakone Tozan Train)– Hakone Yumoto
Reference
https://bus.fujikyu.co.jp/pdf/rosen/gotemba/2022/timetable_2.pdf
Thank you so much 😊! I think I’ll choose either Hakone or Lake Kawaguchi instead of visiting both.
Yeah, unless you have a car, it is actually difficult to get between the two places.
When you decide which place you will go to, let us know and we can help you plan or answer your questions!
How about a plan via “Gotemba Premium Outlets”?
“Gotenba Premium Outlets” is a large shopping mall, so you can enjoy shopping and lunch, and it should be easy for wheelchair users to access. https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/
There is a bus that goes to Gotemba Premium Outlets from Hakone’s Hakone Yumoto Station or Gora Station.
(There are few buses from Hakone Yumoto. https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/access/detail20.html)
(There are many buses from Gora. https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/access/detail48.html)
And there is a bus heading to Kawaguchiko from “Gotenba Premium Outlet”. (There are only three trains per day. It takes nearly two hours. https://www.fujikyumobility.com/rosen/fu71ji00000000df-att/a1648972497645.pdf)
Both buses are fixed-route buses, so wheelchair users can ride them. However, buses in Hakone have many curves, so wheelchairs must be secured with belts. If the wheelchair is too big to turn the belt, you may be refused boarding.
Definitely use the trains as staff are much more helpful & a lot easier to use.
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