Accessible Travel Across Japan
Wheelchair & Mobility Support in Japan
From airports and train stations to attractions and rural destinations, your helper provides practical mobility support throughout your journey—well beyond where airline assistance ends.
What this service is
Japan Hand provides wheelchair and mobility support for travelers throughout Japan, covering the part of the journey that airlines and airports cannot. While airline assistance usually ends at the terminal, your helper continues with you through stations, trains, taxis, hotels, attractions, and rural destinations.
Our helpers plan accessible routes in advance, finding lifts, ramps, step-free exits, and accessible transport. They arrange station assistance, manage boarding and transfers, and adapt the route if lifts are out of service or unexpected obstacles arise.
Whether you use a wheelchair full-time, have limited mobility, need temporary assistance after an injury, or are traveling with a family member who requires support, we make moving around Japan easier, safer, and less stressful.
We can also arrange wheelchair rental, accessible Shinkansen seating, wheelchair-friendly taxis where available, and advice on attractions that are genuinely accessible. Multilingual helpers are available across Japan.
Who This Service Is For, and What We Do
The Problems We Solve
- Airport assistance has limits – Airline wheelchair assistance usually ends at the terminal exit, leaving travelers to manage the rest of the journey on their own.
- Elevators are difficult to locate – Lifts are available in most major stations but are often far from the main route and not clearly signposted.
- Ramp assistance requires advance planning – Boarding assistance often needs to be requested in advance, usually in Japanese, at a designated service counter before reaching the platform.
- Step-free routes are not clearly marked – Accessible exits are not labeled consistently and can be difficult to identify among the many station exits.
- Unexpected disruptions create barriers – If an elevator is out of service, finding an alternative accessible route can be challenging without local knowledge.
- Accessibility information is hard to find – Details about accessible facilities are often available only in Japanese and spread across multiple railway and station websites.
What Your Helper Does
Your helper plans accessible routes, arranges station assistance, books wheelchair seating where required, manages transfers, helps with luggage, identifies accessible facilities and rest areas, and stays with you throughout your journey. If conditions change, they immediately find the best alternative.
Reassurance
Our helpers understand Japan’s accessible transport systems and know how to navigate them efficiently. If a route isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you honestly before your trip—not after you arrive.
Duration
Typically half-day or full-day. Single journeys, airport transfers, and multi-city travel can also be arranged.
Pricing
Every traveler has different mobility requirements. Pricing depends on your route, journey length, equipment needs, language, and the level of assistance required.
FAQs
Do you provide the wheelchair?
We can arrange rental and delivery. Most people travel with their own.
Can you help with transfers on and off trains?
Yes. Tell us what assistance you need and we will match a helper accordingly.
Are Japanese stations accessible?
More than most people expect, but the routes are not obvious. That is what your helper handles.
Can you plan a whole day out?
Yes, and planning it properly in advance is what makes it work.
What about temples and older sites?
Some are genuinely difficult. We will tell you honestly which ones before you plan around them.
Do you cover travel between cities?
Yes, including shinkansen, which requires specific seat reservations.
Can you arrange an accessible taxi?
In cities where they operate, yes. Elsewhere we will find an alternative.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the length and complexity of the booking. Tell us your requirements and we will give you a price.