Accessible Travel in Japan: Japanese Phrases for Wheelchair Users and Access Needs
Japan is one of the easier countries to travel with a disability or access needs, especially in big cities: most major train stations have lifts and staff who will help you board, and many hotels and sights offer accessible facilities. The key is asking clearly and early, and a handful of Japanese phrases, such as エレベーターはどこですか (where is the lift?) and 車椅子を使っています (I use a wheelchair), makes that much easier.
Useful phrases
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 車椅子を使っています。 | I use a wheelchair. |
| エレベーターはどこですか。 | Where is the lift? |
| 段差はありますか。 | Are there any steps? |
| 多目的トイレはありますか。 | Is there an accessible toilet? |
| 乗るのを手伝っていただけますか。 | Could you help me get on (the train)? |
| 目が見えにくいです。／耳が聞こえにくいです。 | I have low vision. / I am hard of hearing. |
| 書いていただけますか。 | Could you write it down? |
| ゆっくり話していただけますか。 | Could you speak slowly? |
Trains and stations
At many stations, if you tell the staff at the ticket gate where you are going, they can bring a ramp, help you onto the train and phone ahead so someone meets you at your destination. Allow extra time for this. Look for the wheelchair space on trains and the priority seats (優先席). For general train vocabulary, see Japanese for trains and getting around.
Hotels, ryokan and sights
- Ask about room access before booking: lifts, step-free entrances, bathroom layout and bed height. See Japanese at the hotel.
- Traditional ryokan often have steps, tatami floors and shared baths; some have accessible rooms or private baths you can reserve. See ryokan and onsen etiquette.
- Temples and shrines can involve gravel paths and stairs, so check routes in advance. See visiting temples and shrines.
Medication and health needs
Some medicines that are common elsewhere are restricted in Japan, so check the rules on bringing medication before you travel, and carry a note of your condition and medication. In an emergency, call 119. For less urgent needs, our guides to Japanese at the doctor and at the pharmacy will help.
Prepare a short card
A card in Japanese explaining your needs in two or three sentences is easy to show at stations, hotels and restaurants. Keep it polite and specific, and have a native speaker check it.
How Hanabuddies can help
A native tutor can teach you the phrases you’ll actually need for your trip and practise the conversations, at your own pace. We can also translate a needs card, emails to hotels or tour providers, and medical notes for your reference, and provide an interpreter, in person or online, for calls, bookings or appointments.