Disability certificate and mobility scooter
Disability certificate and mobility scooter
I will be in Japan for a few weeks during the Expo 2025. I need a mobility scooter for long distances. We will be visiting Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka. What tips and tricks do I need to know to navigate with my scooter? We plan to use public transportation. Do I need a disability certificate?
- 4 Replies
You can’t get a Japanese Disability Certificate if you’re not a resident of Japan. I’m bringing my Canadian Proof of Disability and getting the The Help Badge you can get in Tokyo to (hopefully) get recognized as disabled (even though I am in a wheelchair and it should be obvious).
https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/what-is-a-help-mark-badge-in-japan/70029
@Thinkbeauty Hi Thinkbeauty-san,
Welcome to Japan!! Hope you enjoy the EXPO!
Regarding mobility scooters,
> Shinkansen trains:
This site is a good reference for mobility scooter rides on Japan’s main Shinkansen trains.
https://www.accessible-japan.com/mobility-scooters-japan/
This article covers the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka area.
“The multi-purpose rooms” on the Shinkansen mentioned in the article cannot be reserved via the app, so if you need a reservation, please feel free to request it to us.
> Local trains & subways:
Unfortunately, in Japan, you should consider it almost impossible to ride a mobility scooter on local trains or subways (at least I’ve never seen anyone riding one…)
But if you can fold it up, you can take it on the train.
However, seats on local trains in Japan are rarely empty. I’m worried that it might be tough for you to stand for a long time on the train.
In that sense, it would be more comfortable to use a wheelchair taxi or to charter a wheelchair-accessible car for travel within the area.
As for the disability certificate, it is useful to bring it to Japan and use it at various places.
If you need our help, please feel free to ask us via direct message on tabifolk!
Just to add to these answers, you can also use this site to look up stations and see if scooters (sometimes referred to as “handle-type electric/power wheelchairs”) are allowed at that station.
Perhaps because of the relatively small size, I will mention that I’ve never had trouble using my mobility scooter on a subway or local train (have boarded hundreds of subway cars at this point). The shinkansen is another matter, probably because of how quickly they expect you to board/disembark. They tend to be very cautious with that, and I end up needing to fold the scooter and bring it onboard in trolley mode.
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