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Accessible travel in Japan
"As a disabled traveller with very special needs, travelling can be stressful. InsideJapan's attention to detail and research was incredibly reassuring, and everything worked like clockwork." - David, UK
We want more people to be able to experience Japan, including travellers with disabilities or mobility requirements. Tell us what you need from your trip and we’ll work with you to plan a Japan holiday that takes those requirements into account – from accommodation and transport to guides and experiences. We plan trips to Japan that suit a wide range of accessibility needs. This includes:
- arranging rental wheelchairs and other mobility equipment
- including wheelchair-accessible experiences and transport options in your itinerary
- sourcing accommodation with accessible rooms
- selecting guides who are able to show you the best accessible sights Japan has to offer and help you navigate public transport or help you coordinate with a private vehicle
- Access to our customer service team. If you need help before, during or after you travel, there’ll always be a real person ready to help – 24/7/, 365 days of the year
But don’t just take our word for it! Read what recent InsideJapan customers have to say about travelling with us, and how we’ve helped make Japan more accessible for them:
“InsideJapan coordinated so many trip details. Their planning assistance allowed me to take my 81-year-old mother with limited mobility to Japan for two weeks. We took trains, rode metros, saw Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kanazawa and stayed in a ryokan in the Hakone mountains. It was all possible thanks to InsideJapan's support and guidance!” – Loretta, USA, April 2025 (Trustpilot)
"Our tour organiser was excellent at helping me finalise our routes for our 25-day trip, booking flights and transport, and choosing and booking accommodation which perfectly met our needs (we had a wheelchair user in our party). Cannot recommend them highly enough. For myself, who was the main carer for my daughter, knowing we had support at hand just made the whole trip much less stressful." - Sara, UK, February 2026 (Trustpilot)
Visit our blog here to read all about Peter and Suzy, who took a tailormade tailor-made wheelchair-accessible trip with InsideJapan.
Accessible Travel itineraries
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Golden Route (Classic)
From ultra-modern Tokyo to the ancient capital of Kyoto via the hot springs of Hakone, this is a classic first-timer's trip to Japan.
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Japan Unmasked (IJT Essential)
Our Insiders describe Japan Unmasked as a bit like an introductory sampling platter of all Japanese culture – experiencing the best that Japan has to offer, including those places you may not have heard of. So you can explore those in-between places where so much of Japanese life happens.
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Must-see Japan (IJT Essential)
Enjoy five of Japan's must-see destinations, with a mix of vibrant city life, quieter rural stops, and lots of flexibility to do your own thing.
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Winter Highlights (IJT Classic)
Winter Highlights is a journey through Japan's wild, northernmost outpost.
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Wheelchair Accessible Golden Route (Classic)
Welcome to one of the most wheelchair-friendly countries in the world. Explore Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more on this exciting 10-night adventure.
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Hidden Corners of Japan
From Japan's classic stops to the undersold beauty of its west coast, Hidden Corners of Japan goes beyond the usual routes, and grants access to the local artisans, guides and craftspeople that make this hidden corner of Japan very special.
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Recommended Accessible Travel Experiences
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Kyoto craft centre
Try your hand at origami, ikebana flower arranging or calligraphy at this wheelchair accessible craft centre.
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Insider Experience: Izakaya night
Get the inside track on the Japanese gastropub on a fun-filled night out with one of our "Insiders".
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Tokyo Skytree
The magnificent, fully accessible 634 metre tower in the Asakusa area of Tokyo.
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Gion walking tour at dusk
Gion comes alive as night falls and the geisha go out to entertain at tea house parties.
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Taiko drumming lesson
Take a break from Tokyo sightseeing and beat a drum to your heart's content
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Half day private guide service in Tokyo (wheelchair accessible)
There is no better way to get to get that extra insight into Tokyo than to have the company of an expert local guide.
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Accessible Travel accommodation across Japan
Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba (Accessible Room) (Osaka)
If you like to be in the thick of the action, Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba is for you. It's just two minutes from Dotonbori - Osaka's neon-lined canal street, home of the famous Glico running man sign, not to mention hundreds of shops, restaurants and street food stalls.
Azumi Setoda (Onomichi)
Located at the midpoint of the Shimanami Kaido, the Azumi Setoda is a traditional building storied with over 140 years of history, and has now been masterfully restored and opened to guests as a luxury ryokan escape
Daiwa Roynet Hachijo-Guchi (Accessible Room) (Kyoto)
The Daiwa Roynet is a modern Western-style hotel located just 5 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station's south exit.
JR Kyushu Blossom Shinjuku (Accessible Room) (Tokyo)
Blossom Shinjuku is a lovely mid-range hotel in a great location just a short distance from JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
Intergate Hiroshima (Accessible Room) (Hiroshima)
This modern, stylish mid-range hotel is a great choice for your stay in Hiroshima.
Shiba Park (Accesssible Room) (Tokyo)
The Shiba Park Hotel is a mid-range hotel in Tokyo's downtown area. What sets it apart is the hospitality and service of the staff who speak great English.
Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba (Accessible Room) (Osaka)
If you like to be in the thick of the action, Holiday Inn Osaka Nanba is for you. It's just two minutes from Dotonbori - Osaka's neon-lined canal street, home of the famous Glico running man sign, not to mention hundreds of shops, restaurants and street food stalls.
The hotel's wheelchair accessible room is 39sqm with a king bed. The spacious bathroom has a bathtub, but a shower chair can be placed next to the tub as there is a drain in the middle of the bathroom and the entire space is waterproof. There are handrails around the bathroom and the sink is wheelchair accessible.
Staff speak reasonable English at this hotel and wifi is free throughout the building. The hotel has an all-night restaurant and there is a 7-11 convenience store in the lobby.
The hotel is a couple of minutes from Nanba Station which is on the subway and JR train line giving you easy access to all of Osaka.Azumi Setoda (Onomichi)
Located at the midpoint of the Shimanami Kaido, the Azumi Setoda is a traditional building storied with over 140 years of history, and has now been masterfully restored and opened to guests as a luxury ryokan escape
Located at the midpoint of the Shimanami Kaido, the Azumi Setoda is a traditional building storied with over 140 years of history, and has now been masterfully restored and opened to guests as a luxury ryokan escape. In awe of the building's strong condition despite its age, expert carpenters from Kyoto and architect Shiro Miura worked to breathe new life into the property, mixing traditional carpentry traits with contemporary amenities. Each of the guest rooms feature comfortable traditional bedding, a large deep-soaking cypress bath, their own small outdoor area, and highlight the use of traditional materials such as cedar, cypress, washi (Japanese paper screens), and granite.
Daiwa Roynet Hachijo-Guchi (Accessible Room) (Kyoto)
The Daiwa Roynet is a modern Western-style hotel located just 5 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station's south exit.
The hotel's accessible room is 28sqm and has twin beds that are 122x203 cm. The widened bathroom has a shower over the bathtub, so please note this hotel room might not be suitable for everyone. The hotel can provide a shower chair.
WiFi is free throughout the hotel and there are handy coin-operated washing machines. Breakfast is served in the on site Roynet Cafe.JR Kyushu Blossom Shinjuku (Accessible Room) (Tokyo)
Blossom Shinjuku is a lovely mid-range hotel in a great location just a short distance from JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
The hotel's "universal" room is a 25sqm twin with a large roll-in bathroom. There is no roll-in shower, but a shower chair can be placed next to the bathtub as there is a drain in the floor and the entire bathroom is waterproof. We've found the staff here to be very flexible and accommodating to disabled guests and they speak reasonable English.
Free wifi internet available throughout the hotel. There are a myriad dining options on your doorstep in Shinjuku, but should you prefer to eat in – the hotel's restaurant is a branch of the well-regarded Akasaka Umaya chain, and serves a range of Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner, as well as a good buffet breakfast.
In terms of location, you really couldn't be better placed to make the most of Japan's enthralling capital. The Shinjuku district is Tokyo's business and entertainment hub, with more bars, restaurants, shops and karaoke joints per square metre than pretty much anywhere else. What's more, you'll be staying right next to Shinjuku Station – which is not just the biggest and best-connected station in Japan, but the entire world. Tokyo is your oyster!Intergate Hiroshima (Accessible Room) (Hiroshima)
This modern, stylish mid-range hotel is a great choice for your stay in Hiroshima.
There is one 24sqm universal Hollywood twin room (two single beds joined together in the middle). As is often the case in Japan, there's no roll-in shower, but the entire bathroom is a wet room with a drain in the middle so you can take a shower outside of the bathtub. A shower chair with a back rest can be provided.
The breakfast buffet has a wide range of healthy Japanese and Western dishes including a regional seasonal menu. There isn't an on-site restaurant open for lunch or dinner, but handily there is a lounge with free snacks and drinks available all day, not to mention a daily Happy hour from 5 to 7pm with complimentary wine and cocktails - what's not to like?
The Intergate Hiroshima is a short walk from the nearest tram stop, Hatchobori, which provides direct access to Hiroshima Station and the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park.Shiba Park (Accesssible Room) (Tokyo)
The Shiba Park Hotel is a mid-range hotel in Tokyo's downtown area. What sets it apart is the hospitality and service of the staff who speak great English.
At the hotel's "Experience Salon" staff offer daily hands-on lessons in Japanese arts such as calligraphy and origami, for no extra charge. Location wise, the hotel is a short walk from Tokyo Tower and Zojo-ji Temple as well as numerous restaurants.
The barrier-free room is in the hotel's newer building, and is a 30sqm room with twin beds. There's ample space to move a wheelchair around, and a sliding door to the large bathroom with no step up. It's possible to take a shower outside the bathtub in the centre of the bathroom which has a drain in the floor.
Accessible Travel destinations across Japan
Kanazawa
A well-preserved historical city on the Japan Sea Coast, known for its famous Kenrokuen Garden.
Matsumoto
Matsumoto is an alpine castle town with a great academic, artistic and musical history.
Kyoto
Japan's capital of history & culture, with 17 World Heritage Sites and endless chances to explore.
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