For so long as I can bear in mind, I’ve wished to go to Tokyo, Japan. It’s a vacation spot that has piqued my curiosity for years for quite a few causes. First, it appeared extremely distinctive as a consequence of its many cafes and different points of interest that may’t be discovered wherever else on the planet. And secondly, I’ve solely heard good issues about accessibility in Japan. I’ve talked with many different wheelchair customers about their experiences in Japan, and everybody raves about how inclusive and wheelchair accessible Tokyo is for folks with disabilities. So, I used to be decided to seek out out for myself if Tokyo might really reside as much as the hype.
In October 2024, my mother, our pal Kayla, and I boarded a nonstop flight from Atlanta to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND). It was a loooong journey (over 14 hours), however I’m comfortable to say that it was properly value it. We spent about one week in Tokyo and we spent some days in Kyoto and Nara as properly, which I’ll be writing about quickly, however on this article, I wish to inform you all about our experiences in Tokyo. From visiting the DisneySea theme park to exploring iconic areas like Harajuku and Akihabara and testing numerous cafes, our time in Tokyo was action-packed and we actually tried to see as a lot as potential.
After we began planning our Japan journey, we knew that we wished to do a guided accessible tour as a substitute of organizing all the pieces ourselves. I contacted just a few corporations to inquire about wheelchair accessible excursions and Inside Japan Excursions appeared essentially the most useful, so we finally selected them to plan our journey. The workforce at Inside Japan Excursions organized our wheelchair-friendly motels, accessible transportation, tickets to fashionable points of interest, and so they organized educated non-public guides for our many day journeys and excursions. They did an exceptional job and made our time in Japan largely stress-free. I’d positively advocate Inside Japan Excursions when you’d like for another person to deal with the logistics.
Now, let’s dive into what made our journey in Japan so spectacular! I’ll begin by telling you about a number of the greatest wheelchair accessible Tokyo points of interest and issues to do, then I’ll speak about accessible transportation choices in Tokyo, and at last I’ll finish by telling you all concerning the great resort we stayed at whereas in Tokyo. By the point you end studying this wheelchair accessible Tokyo journey information, you have to be totally ready to plan your personal journey to this unimaginable metropolis!
Wheelchair Accessible Tokyo Japan Sights & Issues to Do
Tokyo has 1000’s of issues to do and points of interest to take pleasure in, and plenty of of them are wheelchair accessible. Whereas I didn’t have sufficient time to do all the pieces town has to supply (it might take years!!), I used to be capable of uncover some fairly superior locations. Twelve of my favourite wheelchair accessible Tokyo points of interest and experiences are listed for you under –
Go to a few of Tokyo’s accessible shrines and temples
Some stories say that there are greater than 150,000 shrines and temples throughout Japan and simply inside Tokyo, there are 1000’s. In case you aren’t acquainted, shrines are for the Shinto faith and temples are for the Buddhist faith. I couldn’t go to the 1000’s of shrines and temples in Tokyo, however I did go to one of the vital accessible shrines and one of the vital accessible temples, so I’d like to inform you about them.
Meiji Jingu Shrine is a serene oasis within the coronary heart of Tokyo. Upon getting into the grounds of this shrine, you’ll instantly escape the hustle-and-bustle surrounding the Meiji Jingu Shrine. I used to be so impressed with how scenic it was and I felt like I used to be in the course of a gorgeous forest.
The shrine was accomplished in 1920, however right this moment, Meiji Jingu Shrine stands as a logo of the Meiji period and a reminder of Emperor Meiji’s legacy. It’s a spot the place folks can come to pay their respects, find out about Japanese historical past, and benefit from the peaceable pure environment.
Accessibility at Meiji Jingu Shrine is superb. There are clean paths all through and I used to be comfortable to see numerous ramps to simply entry the shrine. As a result of nice accessibility, I used to be capable of totally take pleasure in my go to and I didn’t really feel like I missed out on something. Regardless of being over 100 years outdated, this shrine is wheelchair accessible, making it a must-visit in Tokyo.
In case you get hungry when you’re at Meiji Jingu Shrine, think about eating at Restaurant Yoyogi, which is on-site. I actually loved some shrimp tempura right here and the restaurant had an accessible restroom as properly. It was a very nice accessible restroom and fairly spacious, so it was excellent for my wants.
Now that you just’ve visited a shrine, you should go to a temple, and Sensoji Temple is unquestionably the one to take a look at when you’re a wheelchair person. It’s an historical Buddhist temple and it’s situated in one of many metropolis’s hottest areas, Asakusa. On this space, there are numerous memento outlets, so this may very well be a great place to seek out that excellent memento to your family and friends again dwelling.
Sensoji is definitely the oldest temple in Tokyo, however they’ve made accessibility a precedence in recent times. An elevator is on the market, so wheelchair customers can go within the temple. I didn’t have sufficient time to go inside (I had a reservation proper after this and was working late), so I simply admired Sensoji from the skin. However I used to be very comfortable to see that an elevator was there.
When you’re in Tokyo, each the Meiji Jingu Shrine and Sensoji Temple are must-visits. They’re each surprisingly wheelchair accessible, regardless of being older, and so they’re simply stunning locations to find out about and expertise the tradition of Japan. I’d extremely advocate visiting when you’re within the metropolis.
See town from above on the Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo is a gorgeous metropolis and among the best methods to see its magnificence is from above. There are a number of locations the place you’ll be able to take within the views, however I selected to go to the Tokyo Skytree and I’m so glad I did. It’s pretty near Sensoji Temple, so you could possibly simply do them back-to-back to expertise each historical and trendy Tokyo.
At 2,080 ft tall, the Tokyo Skytree is the tallest freestanding tower in all the world and it’s the third tallest construction on the planet. From the statement deck right here, you’ll be able to see the entire metropolis and it truly is a shocking sight. We stayed for about one hour admiring the views, however you could possibly definitely keep longer.
Tokyo Skytree is totally wheelchair accessible, as there are elevators to succeed in the statement deck and accessible restrooms are extensively out there. You too can borrow a wheelchair to your go to when you want one. Actually, the one accessibility difficulty that I encountered was the large variety of folks on the statement deck. It was so packed that it was difficult to discover a viewpoint, however after preventing for a spot and squeezing in with my wheelchair, I used to be in a position to absorb the views.
If you need to go to Tokyo Skytree, positively get your tickets upfront. Tickets will be booked on-line 30 days earlier than arrival and since this is without doubt one of the hottest points of interest in Tokyo, it often sells out. In case you e book your tickets as far upfront as potential although, you’re positive to take pleasure in this wheelchair accessible Tokyo attraction!
It’s additionally value noting that there’s a massive shopping center on the base of Tokyo Skytree, so when you really feel like buying or wish to seize some meals, it is a excellent place to spend a while. The mall is known as Sola Machi and also you’ll discover a mixture of Japanese shops and extra well-known shops like Disney, Calvin Klein, and Zara.
Scramble throughout Shibuya Crossing
You will have most likely seen Shibuya Crossing in films and TV reveals, because it’s one of the vital well-known locations in Tokyo. Nevertheless, nothing can put together you for the sheer vitality of being right here in-person. It’s like a scene out of a film, with 1000’s of individuals crossing the road in each route.
As I crossed the busiest pedestrian crossing on the planet for the primary time, I felt like I used to be in the course of a human wave, and I couldn’t assist however get swept up within the pleasure. A mean of three,000 folks cross Shibuya at any time, so it’s an extremely busy place.
The crossing is surrounded by towering video screens and neon commercials, creating a stunning show of sunshine and colour. It’s a feast for the senses, and it’s straightforward to get misplaced within the second. We spent about half-hour simply watching the folks and taking all of it in.
I had a good time in Shibuya, and I’d positively advocate it to anybody visiting Tokyo. There are tons of retailers and eating places on this space, so you’re positive to be entertained for so long as you would like. Shibuya is a vibrant and thrilling place with one thing for everybody.
Be served by robots at DAWN Avatar Robotic Cafe
Visiting the DAWN Avatar Robotic Cafe was one of many high issues on my Tokyo bucket checklist, and after visiting, I can say that it completely surpassed my expectations. At this cafe, you may be served by robots. Cool, proper? However what’s even cooler is that the robots on this cafe are managed remotely by folks with disabilities from their very own houses.
DAWN offers folks with disabilities, lots of whom are bedbound, an opportunity to work by way of these outstanding robots. It’s such a superb idea and it actually confirmed me simply how inclusive society will be with some creativity.
On your go to to the DAWN Avatar Robotic Cafe, you don’t want a reservation to take pleasure in a drink on the bar or by way of the tele-barista (a robotic barista that may serve your favourite espresso drinks). Nevertheless, when you’d prefer to take pleasure in a full meal, you do want reservations for the “Orihime Diner”. Reservations will be made beginning about 60 days upfront of your go to.
At our dinner desk, there was a small robotic and it was managed by an individual with a incapacity in Belgium (she was initially from Japan although). Through the robotic, she took our orders and talked to us all through the meal. She might see us, however we might solely see a photograph of her. It was great studying about her and speaking together with her about our travels in Japan.
As soon as our meals was prepared, a bigger robotic introduced it to our desk and we have been capable of chat with the individual controlling it as properly. I loved a shrimp & avocado sandwich with soup, and my mother and Kayla had pizza. Every thing was scrumptious!
By way of accessibility, DAWN Avatar Robotic Cafe has considered all the pieces. It’s very wheelchair accessible and the accessible companion care restroom is without doubt one of the greatest I’ve seen. It even had an adult-sized altering desk. I used to be so impressed with the accessibility on this cafe and it’s a shining instance of what inclusion can seem like.
If you may be in Tokyo, visiting the DAWN Avatar Robotic Cafe must be on the high of your to-do checklist. By far, it’s essentially the most distinctive cafe I’ve ever visited and I’ve by no means felt extra welcomed. This cafe actually is one among my favourite locations I’ve ever been… and I imply that from the underside of my coronary heart.
Discover the long-lasting Harajuku space
Harajuku is without doubt one of the most vibrant districts in Tokyo. It’s a haven for vogue fanatics, meals lovers, and anybody in search of a singular cultural expertise. The realm can definitely be crowded, particularly on weekends, however it’s a fascinating vacation spot that’s value exploring.
One of the vital well-known streets in Harajuku is Takeshita Avenue. It stretches for a couple of quarter of a mile and is closed off to automobiles through the day, making it excellent for pedestrians. The road is lined with quirky outlets, promoting all the pieces from fashionable clothes to colourful equipment. Whereas most of the outlets are tough to entry with a wheelchair as a consequence of slender aisles and steps to enter, I used to be capable of finding a number of nice accessible outlets throughout my time in Harajuku.
Along with the various outlets, meals is a serious attract Harajuku as properly. Together with the quite a few cafes and eating places, you’ll discover distinctive road meals distributors providing all the pieces from crepes to takoyaki. One of the vital iconic treats in Harajuku is the colourful candy-coated fruits, like strawberries and grapes. Rainbow cotton sweet is one other fashionable deal with!
Harajuku is understood for its youth tradition and vogue, and it affords a singular and thrilling expertise for guests of all skills. Whereas some areas could also be tougher to navigate, with a bit of planning and adaptability, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the vibrant tradition and scrumptious meals that this district has to supply.
Grow to be a ninja (and revel in dinner) at Ninja Tokyo
In case you’re searching for the last word eating expertise in Tokyo, look no additional than Ninja Tokyo! Right here, you’ll take pleasure in a scrumptious dinner and be served by ninjas, which can carry out magic tips and educate you how one can turn out to be a ninja all through the method.
Upon arrival to Ninja Tokyo, I used to be advised that the primary entrance wasn’t wheelchair accessible. By going by way of the primary entrance, you should stroll up and down just a few steps, and stroll over a lure door. Nevertheless, an alternate entrance is accessible, so whereas my mother and Kayla risked life and limb by going over lure doorways, a pleasant ninja guided me to the accessible entrance. I used to be capable of meet again up with my mother and Kayla at our eating desk just some minutes later.
The complete restaurant is completely designed to make you are feeling like you’re in a ninja’s cave or a secret hiding spot. It was actually cool to see all the pieces and the entire waiters and waitresses are dressed as ninjas, so it actually felt like we have been in an extremely distinctive place. By way of the meals, most of it was actually good. We had steak, potatoes, dessert, and extra. I additionally had some sake with my meal.
A ninja introduced out every course and carried out some type of phantasm or magic trick with every course. A few of them have been thoughts blowing, to be sincere, however the ninjas made us promise to not inform any specifics concerning the magic tips, so that you’ll simply need to dine at Ninja Tokyo for your self to expertise what it’s like.
In whole, this dinner expertise took about 2.5 hours, but it surely was completely entertaining and I’d completely do it once more in a heartbeat. If you need to dine at Ninja Tokyo, simply remember to get reservations forward of time on their web site.
Spend the day at Tokyo DisneySea
In case you’ve adopted my adventures for any period of time, you then most likely know that I’m a Disney addict. I go to Walt Disney World in Florida a pair occasions per 12 months and I like Disneyland in California as properly, so I knew that I needed to go to Japan’s model whereas in Tokyo!
There are two parks in Tokyo, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Disneyland has most of the similar rides and points of interest as Magic Kingdom and Disneyland (within the U.S.), and the DisneySea theme park is extra distinctive with rides, reveals, eateries, and extra that may solely be present in Tokyo. So, we selected to spend a full day on the DisneySea theme park throughout our journey and we opted to skip Tokyo Disneyland.
We rode the metro from our resort in Tokyo to Disney, after which we rode Disney’s monorail from the metro station to DisneySea. The monorail was wheelchair accessible, however I did request a ramp to bridge the hole between the platform and the monorail. You’ll be able to request the ramp by talking with any of the monorail workers.
As soon as at DisneySea, I used to be excited to expertise the entire Disney magic! One of many highlights of my go to was exploring the completely different themed ports of name. From the Mediterranean Harbor to the Arabian Coast, every space is meticulously designed and affords a singular immersive expertise. The pathways all through the park are vast and clean, making it straightforward to navigate with a wheelchair, and there are many benches and relaxation areas alongside the best way.
I attempted to take pleasure in a number of the rides, however was upset to study that until you’ll be able to independently get off the experience within the occasion of an emergency (with out the help of anybody you’re touring with), you can not get on any experience. So mainly what which means is that when you can’t stroll off the experience, you’ll be able to’t experience. It was positively disappointing as a result of a number of the rides, like Toy Story Mania, stated they’re wheelchair accessible, however they nonetheless wouldn’t let me really get on the experience.
Whereas I couldn’t experience something at DisneySea, I used to be capable of take pleasure in a present referred to as “Massive Band Beat”. I had an important view of the stage from the wheelchair accessible seating space and the present was completely entertaining. For the reveals, it’s best to order your seat at them upfront of your go to to the park. In any other case, it’s a must to enter a “lottery” and chances are you’ll not get to see the present. We didn’t know that reveals had a reservation course of, so we needed to undergo the lottery system and we really misplaced. Ultimately although, I talked one of many staff into letting us see Massive Band Beat, however they completely wouldn’t permit us to see some other reveals on the day that we have been at DisneySea.
Many elements of DisneySea have been a letdown as a wheelchair person, however general, I nonetheless loved my go to. I liked attempting the entire distinctive meals within the park, together with Toy Story mochi, the Donald Duck ukiwa bun (stuffed with shrimp), and the entire completely different sorts of popcorn all through the park. You’ll discover extremely distinctive flavors of popcorn, akin to curry popcorn, black pepper popcorn, and soy sauce popcorn, to call just a few. Since I couldn’t experience any of the rides, my day at DisneySea was a foodie journey for me and I really actually loved it.
I additionally met numerous characters at DisneySea, together with Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, and Goofy, and people-watching was one among my favourite actions of the day. Japanese guests go ALL OUT with the costumes that they put on to DisneySea, so it was enjoyable to see most of the outfits. Actually, it felt like I used to be at a vogue present as I rolled all through the park.
Whereas I most likely wouldn’t return to DisneySea on a future journey to Tokyo, as a result of lack of accessibility for rides, I’m glad that I visited. It was a enjoyable day and I used to be nonetheless capable of finding the Disney magic, despite the fact that DisneySea wasn’t as wheelchair accessible because the U.S. parks. In case you’re in Tokyo as a wheelchair person and also you’re a Disney addict like me, I feel you’ll be able to have an pleasurable expertise within the park so long as you already know what to anticipate.
Be immersed in artwork at teamLab Borderless
teamLab Borderless in Tokyo is an immersive digital artwork museum that really lives as much as its title. Neglect conventional white partitions and roped-off displays as a result of right here, the artwork spills out past frames, flows freely between rooms, and interacts with guests in mesmerizing methods. I used to be in awe all through my total go to and simply couldn’t consider what I used to be experiencing.
What blew me away about teamLab Borderless was the way it completely immersed you within the expertise. It’s not nearly what you see, however what you hear and even really feel. In every single place you look, there are colours and patterns swirling round, and the music provides to the entire vibe. I used to be actually rolling by way of fields of digital flowers, chasing waterfalls down the partitions, and even turning into a part of the artwork itself! It’s like an enormous playground for adults, and since there are not any ropes or boundaries, you actually be happy to discover and simply let your creativeness run wild.
As a wheelchair person, I used to be delighted to seek out the whole thing of teamLab Borderless extremely accessible. Vast ramps, spacious elevators, and thoughtfully designed pathways ensured I might easily navigate from room-to-room and totally immerse myself within the expertise. I used to be additionally comfortable to seek out an important companion care restroom on-site!
Whether or not you’re a seasoned artwork fanatic or just searching for a singular and unforgettable expertise, teamLab Borderless is a must-visit in Tokyo. Simply remember to permit loads of time, because it’s straightforward to get misplaced within the magic of this digital wonderland. We stayed for about two hours, however might’ve simply stayed longer.
I’d extremely advocate getting your tickets for teamLab Borderless upfront of your go to on their web site. As among the best wheelchair accessible Tokyo points of interest, this can be very fashionable and might often promote out, so e book your tickets as far upfront as potential.
Take pleasure in anime, maid cafes, and extra in Akihabara
The Akihabara district in Tokyo is sensory overload! It’s like stepping/rolling into one other world, one which’s overflowing with anime, manga, and electronics. In case you are a fan of anime, this space must be a must-visit! However truthfully, I don’t know something about anime or manga and I nonetheless extremely loved my time in Akihabara.
As a wheelchair person, I used to be a bit of apprehensive about how accessible this space can be, however I used to be pleasantly shocked for essentially the most half. Many of the fundamental streets have been fairly accessible with clean curb cuts and vast sidewalks, and most of the outlets had ramps or elevators. In fact, there have been loads of outlets that weren’t wheelchair accessible, however I discovered a number of enjoyable issues to do throughout my time in Akihabara.
One among my first stops was Sport Panic Akihabara. This place is a gamer’s paradise! They’ve partitions upon partitions of basic video games, consoles, and equipment. I used to be like a child in a sweet retailer enjoying numerous video games, and I particularly favored attempting my hand at a number of the claw machines. The aisles have been a bit of slender in some spots, however I used to be capable of maneuver my wheelchair with out an excessive amount of hassle. Sport Panic has 9 ranges and an elevator is on the market, so I might attain each flooring.
After enjoying some video games, we headed down the road additional to Don Quijote, or “Donki” because the locals name it. This place is mainly an enormous low cost retailer with all the pieces below the solar, from groceries and electronics to cosplay outfits and quirky souvenirs. It’s a little bit of a maze inside, however that’s a part of the enjoyable. I discovered some cool anime merch and even picked up just a few snacks, together with many wildly flavored KitKats.
Don Quijote is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator to entry the assorted flooring, however the elevator is situated in a “employees solely” space. If you should use the elevator, simply let one of many staff know and they’ll escort you to it. As soon as inside, a number of the aisles are fairly slender, however I nonetheless managed to get round and revel in a little bit of a buying spree.
No journey to Akihabara is full with no go to to one of many space’s well-known maid cafe. I made a decision to take a look at Maidreamin, and it was positively an expertise! To enter Maidreamin, they supplied a transportable ramp, so simply request it upon arrival when you want the ramp.
The maids have been tremendous pleasant and welcoming, and so they made positive I had a snug spot at a desk with loads of house for my wheelchair. The entire efficiency facet was a bit over-the-top, but it surely was all in good enjoyable. They even sang me a particular music and we had some drinks. It was a singular cultural expertise, and I’m glad I acquired to expertise it in Akihabara.
Akihabara is one among Tokyo’s most unusual areas and affords a lot to do and see. We spent about 4 hours wandering round Akihabara attempting to see as a lot as we might, however I’d truthfully plan for extra time on a future journey, as it is a enjoyable space that you just shouldn’t rush by way of. You’ll wish to have loads of time to take pleasure in the entire distinctive choices in Akihabara.
Style your manner round Tokyo on a ramen tour
Town of Tokyo has over 8,000 ramen outlets, so that you’ll have loads of probabilities to do that scrumptious meals throughout your journey. Nevertheless, for the last word ramen expertise, you’ll be able to go on a ramen tasting tour. I like ramen and wished to strive as many various kinds of it as potential whereas in Tokyo, so we booked a tour with Tokyo Ramen Excursions.
My mother, Kayla, and I met our information at a chosen spot for our non-public tour. This tour lasted about 3.5 hours and took us everywhere in the metropolis, attempting ramen at three of Tokyo’s greatest ramen outlets. The tour was wheelchair accessible, however you do must let the tour firm know upfront when you use a wheelchair. They’ll plan the route and ramen outlets accordingly.
Throughout our ramen tasting tour, we visited three completely different ramen outlets and discovered about how ramen is made, the completely different sorts of ramen, and the way completely different areas of Japan make ramen in their very own distinctive methods. It was fascinating to find out about ramen and listen to from our information why it’s such a particular dish in Japan. I definitely gained a larger appreciation for ramen throughout this tour.
Whereas we discovered so much, the very best a part of the tour was consuming the ramen, in fact. At every restaurant, we got a menu with 4 completely different choices. Every possibility was completely defined after which we might select two sorts of ramen to strive. In whole, every of us had six mini bowls of ramen (two at every restaurant). Every bowl was distinctive, filled with taste, and out-of-this-world scrumptious! A few of my favourite bowls included a spicy miso ramen, an Italian fusion ramen with pesto, and a chili oil ramen, which had simply the correct amount of spice.
In case you are searching for a enjoyable meals expertise in Tokyo and you want ramen, a tour with Tokyo Ramen Excursions is the proper method to benefit from the metropolis. And truthfully, even when you aren’t at present an enormous fan of ramen, I’m positive you’ll find it irresistible by the top of this tour. I’m completely satisfied that it might make a fan out of anybody!
Nerd out on the Harry Potter Cafe
I’ve been an enormous fan of Harry Potter since I used to be eight years outdated. I learn the entire books, noticed the entire films on opening day, and I’ve visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common Orlando Resort a number of occasions. So, as quickly as I discovered that there’s a Harry Potter Cafe in Tokyo, I knew that I needed to test it out throughout my journey.
As quickly as we arrived, we seen an enormous Harry Potter present store and determined to browse round earlier than our reservation time on the cafe. The store had each Harry Potter merchandise which you can presumably think about and it was totally wheelchair accessible. There was a ramp contained in the store to entry one other degree and it was a bit steep, however my wheelchair dealt with it properly.
Now that I had purchased as a lot as humanly potential within the present store, it was time for our reservation on the Harry Potter Cafe. We met up with Josh Grisdale, who runs Accessible Japan and TabiFolk, and his pal, and it was so good to lastly meet after following Josh on-line for years. I additionally used his web site so much within the planning course of for our journey to Japan, so I used to be glad they might be a part of us on the Harry Potter Cafe.
The cafe was exquisitely designed and I actually felt like I used to be on the planet of Harry Potter. The cafe had themed meals and drinks to select from, and I wished to strive all of it, however I ended up selecting the Hedwig cake to eat (it actually regarded like Hedwig the owl!) and the Expecto Patronum drink. Each gadgets have been actually good and when you’d like a bigger meal, there are a number of choices.
If you need to dine on the Harry Potter Cafe whereas in Tokyo, remember to get a reservation forward of your go to. This cafe is kind of fashionable, however for good cause. In case you are a Harry Potter fan like me, I’m positive you’ll completely love your expertise right here.
Meet owls (and different animals) at Oz Owl Cafe
From capybara cafes to pig cafes to cat cafes and extra, there are various animal cafes in Tokyo. Nevertheless, as I researched, I spotted that not lots of them are wheelchair accessible, sadly. However fortunately, I lastly found the Oz Owl Cafe on-line and realized that it’s accessible, so we determined to go to whereas we have been in Tokyo.
On the Oz Owl Cafe, you’ll be able to meet quite a lot of animals, together with many owls. It prices 2,000 yen per individual (about $13) and for that worth, you get a drink and might work together with the animals for 60 minutes. In case you’d like extra time, it prices additional, however in my view, 60 minutes is loads.
My energy wheelchair really couldn’t match within the room the place the entire owls are, so one of many sort employees members introduced every owl to me one-by-one. I used to be capable of pet them and find out about each, which was a lot enjoyable. The owls have been stunning and a few them gave the impression to be fascinated by my wheelchair, intently watching my each transfer.
Along with the owls, you too can meet and maintain a snake, a sugar glider, an iguana, and a hedgehog. I held the hedgehog, iguana, and sugar glider, however fortunately opted to skip the snake. Earlier than visiting Oz Owl Cafe, I assumed they solely had owls, so I used to be actually excited that another animals have been out there as properly.
We had such a enjoyable expertise at Oz Owl Cafe and I used to be thrilled that we have been capable of finding a wheelchair accessible animal cafe in Tokyo. In case you’d like to satisfy and work together with some cute animals within the metropolis, I’d completely advocate this cafe. You may make a reservation on-line upfront of your go to.
Wheelchair Accessible Transportation in Tokyo
Tokyo, as soon as thought-about a difficult metropolis for wheelchair customers, has undergone a outstanding transformation in recent times. Right this moment, it boasts a public transportation system that’s more and more accessible, permitting everybody to expertise the colourful vitality and cultural richness of Tokyo. Whereas there’s nonetheless room for enchancment, town’s dedication to inclusivity is obvious within the quite a few accessible options out there on the metro and within the rising variety of wheelchair accessible Tokyo taxis. I’ve additionally heard good issues concerning the bus system in Tokyo, however I didn’t get an opportunity to strive it out.
Inside Japan Excursions did organize a few of our accessible transportation throughout the metropolis, together with our transfers from/to the airport, however in any other case we trusted public transportation. We have been all extremely impressed by how straightforward it was to navigate!
Tokyo Metro
The Tokyo Metro, town’s intensive subway community, has made important strides in turning into wheelchair pleasant. Most stations now characteristic elevators and ramps, making it potential for wheelchair customers to navigate platforms and entry trains with ease. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to keep in mind that not all stations are totally accessible, particularly older ones constructed earlier than accessibility requirements have been extensively adopted.
To make sure a clean journey, it’s essential to plan your journey upfront. The Tokyo Metro web site and app present detailed accessibility info for every station, together with the situation of elevators, ramps, and accessible restrooms. These assets additionally assist you to map out barrier-free routes, making certain a hassle-free commute. I additionally discovered the data on Google Maps to be correct when you simply select the “accessible route” possibility.
When touring on the metro, don’t hesitate to tell station employees of your wants. They’re skilled to help passengers with disabilities and might present steerage on navigating the station, boarding the practice, and discovering your method to the proper exit. Many stations even have designated ready areas for wheelchair customers, providing a snug house to attend to your practice.
Many of the metro trains have a small hole between the platform and the metro, however I all the time advised the employees that I wanted a ramp to board the trains and so they have been comfortable to supply it. You’ll be able to request the ramp to bridge the hole as quickly as you enter a metro station.
Accessible Taxis in Tokyo
Past the metro, Tokyo affords a rising variety of accessible taxis, offering a handy and comfy manner for wheelchair customers to journey across the metropolis. These taxis are specifically designed with ramps or lifts, permitting for straightforward entry and exit for passengers in wheelchairs.
One fashionable mannequin is the “JapanTaxi,” a spacious automobile modeled after London’s iconic black cabs. These taxis can accommodate one wheelchair person and a companion, making certain a snug and handy experience. You’ll be able to hail these taxis on the road or e book them upfront by way of the JapanTaxi app.
Along with JapanTaxi, different taxi corporations in Tokyo supply accessible automobiles. It’s advisable to name forward and e book your experience to make sure availability, particularly throughout peak hours. One firm that has quite a lot of wheelchair accessible taxis in Tokyo is Metropolis Cab Tokyo and you’ll study extra on their web site right here.
With cautious planning and the utilization of obtainable assets, wheelchair customers can navigate Tokyo with ease and revel in all that this dynamic metropolis has to supply.
The place to Keep: The Royal Park Resort Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
Whereas in Tokyo, we stayed at The Royal Park Resort Iconic Tokyo Shiodome and it was an ideal base for our time within the metropolis. One among my favourite issues about this resort was its location. It was close to a number of eating places, metro stations, and had just a few completely different eating places on-site as properly.
In our wheelchair accessible room, there have been three single beds. They have been about 20 inches tall, however housekeeping added an additional mattress to 1 mattress to make it taller for me, which was nice. The employees at this resort have been very pleasant and wished to accommodate my wants as a lot as potential. The room was additionally spacious, so I might simply maneuver all through the room.
In our rest room, there was a pull-under sink, seize bars by the bathroom, a tub, and a roll-in bathe with clean entry. A bathe seat was supplied within the roll-in bathe and there was a handheld bathe wand. The lavatory labored completely for my accessibility wants.
After I’m again in Tokyo, I’ll probably keep at The Royal Park Resort Iconic Tokyo Shiodome once more. I used to be actually impressed with this resort and couldn’t have requested for higher accessibility. If you need to study extra about this wheelchair accessible Tokyo resort or e book a keep of your personal, simply click on right here.
As you embark by yourself wheelchair accessible Tokyo journey, keep in mind that this journey information is only the start. My hope is that it has sparked your pleasure and empowered you to discover this unimaginable metropolis with confidence. Don’t be afraid to enterprise off the overwhelmed path, uncover hidden gems, and join with the welcoming folks of Tokyo.
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