Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
55
Although most train and subway sta-
tions have elevators, they are often diffi-
cult to locate. A few stations are accessible
only by stairs or escalators, but in recent
years some have been equipped with pow-
ered seat lifts. While some buses are now
no-step conveyances for easy access, sub-
way and train compartments are difficult
for solo wheelchair travelers to navigate on
their own due to a gap or slight height
difference between the coaches and plat-
forms. In theory, you can ask a station
attendant to help you board, though you
might have to wait if he's busy; you can
also request that someone at your destina-
tion help you disembark. Finally, although
trains and buses have seating for passen-
gers with disabilities, subways can be so
crowded that there's barely room to move.
Moreover, these seats are almost always
occupied by commuters—so unless it's
obvious that you have a physical disability,
no one is likely to offer you a seat.
As for accommodations, most expen-
sive hotels have at least one or two barrier-
free rooms (sometimes called a “universal”
room in Japan), though lower-priced
hotels and Japanese inns generally do not.
Lower-priced accommodations may also
lack elevators. In a positive move, the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government pro-
vides subsidies to hotels wishing to
upgrade their facilities to make them more
accessible for people with physical disabili-
ties; for a list of accommodations that have
received the subsides and to see the work
they've accomplished, go to www.tourism.
metro.tokyo/jp/English/administration/
barrier_free/barrierlist.html.
Restaurants can also be difficult to
navigate, with raised doorsills, crowded
dining areas, and tiny bathrooms that can-
not accommodate wheelchairs. Best bets
for ramps and easily accessible restrooms
include restaurants in department stores
and upper-end hotels. Even Japanese
homes are not very accessible, since the
main floor is traditionally raised about a
foot above the entrance-hall floor.
For information on traveling in Japan
with a wheelchair, see Accessible Japan at
www.tesco-premium.co.jp/aj/index.htm.
It gives limited information on a handful
of sights and hotels that offer facilities for
people with disabilities.
When it comes to
facilities for the
blind,
Japan has a very advanced system.
At subway stations and on many major
sidewalks in Tokyo, raised dots and lines
on the ground guide blind people through
intersections and subway platforms. In
some cities, streetlights chime a theme
when the signal turns green east-west, and
chime another for north-south. Even Jap-
anese yen notes are identified by a slightly
raised area in their top corners—the
¥1,000 note has one circle in a corner,
while the ¥10,000 note has two. And
finally, many elevators have floors indi-
cated in Braille, and some hotels identify
rooms in Braille.
3
FAMILY TRAVEL
The Japanese are very fond of children,
which makes traveling in Japan with kids a
delight. All social reserve seems to be
waived for children. Taking along some
small and easy-to-carry gifts (such as col-
orful stickers) for your kids to give to other
children is a great icebreaker.
Safety also makes Japan a good destina-
tion for families. Still, plan your itinerary
with care. To avoid crowds, visit tourist
sights on weekdays. Never travel on city
transportation during rush hour or on
trains during popular public holidays. And
remember that with all the stairways and
crowded sidewalks, strollers are less practi-
cal than baby backpacks. Many of Tokyo's
major hotels provide babysitting services,
although they are prohibitively expensive.
Expect to fork over a minimum of ¥5,000
for 2 hours of babysitting.
