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What are the places (area, tour, activity, service, accommodation, etc) that you really enjoyed and were moved emotionally in Japan?
In order to promote the importance of inclusivity in the tourism industry, my company started “Japan Travel Awards” and we just started a callout for entry for 2024. The awards have categories such as the Most Accessible Travel and the Best Inbound Travel.
We want to shed light on great places and services that are promoting inclusivity through tourism so any recommendations from this Tabifolk community are appreciated!
Thanks!
https://japantravelawards.com/home2024-en
japantravelawards.com
Is your destination remarkable? Let the world know about it.
schroth-sensei, Joan Pahisa and Josh Grisdale9 Comments-
Three of the bat!
1. Naniwa Issui in Shimane (http://www.naniwa-i.com/en/)
2. Pri-Base Kawaguchiko (https://www.pri-base.com/)
3. Taketomi Kanko Center ()
(Web doesn’t show it, but they have a cart with a ramp, accessible toilet, and a wheelchair van picks you up at the port)-
Oops, here is the link for Taketomi Kanko Center: https://suigyu.net/
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Thanks @joshgrisdale They all look amazing!
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I recommend Japan Universal Tourism Network or 日本ユニバーサルツーリズム推進ネットワーク. It is an association organization comprising of 30 plus reginal accessible tourism support centers and has been making a constant effort to make the accessible tourism or “universal tourism” everywhere everyday life. Ohayo Travel is a member of them, so it is Jisen-Tasen inbetween…
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@ohayotravel Thanks! Jisen-tasen all welcome so please go for it and also much appreciate it if you can spread the word!
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Hi Seiya!
If I have to choose one, I was surprised by the accessibility in Takayama (Gifu), as most of the shops in the old streets of the city, even if they were traditional, they had adapted many of the entrances to be on street level. For traditional buildings, it’s not common, so I was really happy about it. Apparently, it has been a city effort to make it more accessible, although I can’t remember where I read it.
Also in Takayama, the visit to Takayama Jinja was also mostly wheelchair accessible (the 2nd floor is not accessible, but most to visit is on the ground floor). It was the first place that I visited where I could enter with my wheelchair, even if there was tatami on the floor. To access the building they put a long ramp over the main entrance steps (its still a bit steep, but they help out, if needs be) and then they wipe your tires before entering.
Finally, the JR station is also wheelchair accessible, so getting there from Nagoya was quite easy. All in all, I really enjoyed the visit, as I could experience both tradition and accessibility without it being one of the most known places for international tourists. The only downside was that the bus to and from Shirakawago was not wheelchair accessible, but the rest was really good. I have great memories of the trip and I really want to go back!
Here are some of the pictures that I took while I was there.
Post on Takayama Jinja
https://www.instagram.com/p/BorzxiQhDUp/
Posts on Takayama streets
https://www.instagram.com/p/BourWW4BaGi/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BorvCsWhRz2/-
Thank you, Joan! I didn’t know Takayama was so accessible. Great to know and we’ll definitely get in touch with the city and tourism board. If you have any other places in mind please let me know, and if you can share about the awards with your contacts, that would be so much appreciated 🙏🏼
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I don’t know if it’s the type of service your asking about, but I think it’s valid as a good emotional surprise. The most moving (pun intended) service for me in Japan was probably the train stations and of course their attendants. Before my first trip I was expecting issues due to my use of a wheelchair, so in order to avoid getting lost I mapped out every train trip from my hotel to every place I wanted to see. Except, from the literal moment I got off the plane I was surprised by an attendant who helped me to the correct train before I could even get out my maps to look. This wasn’t just the airport either, all the JR stations were the same, all I did was tell them where I was going, swipe my pass, and someone escorted me to the correct train, set out a ramp and called ahead for another attendant and ramp to be waiting at the other stop. I didn’t even use any of the many maps I printed out! It made the trains so much more pleasant and easy to use, and felt so freeing to be able to get around.
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Nice to see us highlighting the positives (one hears so many needs for improvement stories…). I am not sure this is the kind of feedback you are seeking, but I found the accessible toilets in Japan to be some of the best I have seen in my travels. It’s not a simple matter of just having them, but the fact that they are kept well and are open. I think it’s come up in several discussions here where disabled toilets are used for storage, kept locked or otherwise obstructed.
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