Tokyo disabled travellers

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You have already reported this. Clear Clear All. For Josh Grisdale, 40, his outlook on disability in Japan is different having grown-up in Canada.

Josh first visited Japan in after being inspired by a teacher at his high school. After learning the language he moved there in and in , at the age of 35, became a citizen, relinquishing his Canadian passport. When he applied for citizenship he was worried that being disabled might hamper him but says the positive reaction "blew me away". I wasn't once asked about my disability, which I think was just amazing.

Josh, who runs the travel blog Accessible Japan, was able to use the welfare system as soon as he was registered. His needs were assessed within his ward of Edogawa and he was issued with a disability "passport" citing his requirements. He was allocated funding for carers, and equipment such as a wheelchair. On a side note, one way Japan raises money for disability services is a little like how the UK raises money for its "good causes" - through gambling.

Japan doesn't rely on six balls and a bonus ball, instead it uses the proceeds from the popular sport of boat racing. Mizuki grew up in Kyoto, west Japan. As a toddler she lost the use of her legs following a mysterious illness.

That isn't what happened but it did raise challenges. Tokyo has almost 14m residents, for comparison, London has 9m. Buildings are often built upwards, not outwards, to accommodate the population. As a result, anything, including public services, could be spread across multiple storeys. In the 90s, Mizuki's parents didn't want her to go to a special school, instead, they got her into a local mainstream school, but they had to compromise on accessibility.

Mizuki's classes were often on different floors and the school didn't have a lift. While it fitted handrails up the staircases, "I had to go up and down stairs by myself," Mizuki says.

This meant hauling herself up by the arms. By connecting with local communities and tapping into the positivity generated by the Paralympics, Josh hopes the crowdfunding model can be replicated in other locations around Japan. The next time you visit a sightseeing spot like Sensoji or Meiji Jingu, keep your eyes open for the numerous accessible renovations that have been installed in recent years.

In many places, steps have been eliminated in favor of gentle slopes and gravel paths now have paved sections. You may even find an elevator cleverly hidden within temple architecture if you look carefully. Find the latest accessible travel information at accessible-japan. On Monday, Tokyo recorded 29 Covid cases, the lowest number this year.

For the past two weeks, the figures in the capital have consistently been below and have remained low throughout…. A popular, thriving international commercial hub, due to its easy access from Haneda Airport Hamamatsucho has recently seen a lot of redevelopment in order to modernize and build on this reputation. Located in the mountains of southern Niigata Prefecture, the small city of Myoko is attracting ever bigger recognition.

Though Shibuya might not be the first Tokyo neighborhood that comes to mind when we think of art, it certainly has cultivated its own idiosyncratic creative culture over the years. Rayard Miyashita…. You might say that Miyashita Park had one of the best glow-ups of As I grew up, I had a number of Japan-related encounters and slowly fell in love with the country from afar.

I first visited Japan 15 years ago in — and it was unforgettable. Not just the exciting culture and exotic landscape, but because of adventures brought about by my disability: being carried down five flights of stairs in an electric wheelchair by six subway employees is not something easily forgotten! There were also many stares — not in a mean-spirited way, but innocently inquisitive. Fast forward to today, and I am just one of many people with a disability living life in Tokyo.

Japan has changed an incredible amount and I would say that it is even more accessible than my native Canada. Most tourist sites are modified, the rail system is very easy to use, and there are many clean and accessible toilets around.

Here are four awesome things about Japan that will make you want to put your wheelchair in top gear and get on a plane ASAP! Japan has put into force a law to ensure accessibility at many places throughout the country. In addition to this there is a rapidly aging population, so there are many seniors with mobility needs and a disposable income who love to travel — an encouragement for any tourist site! Sometimes a site might look inaccessible, when in fact it actually is just fine.