[Josh Grisdale]

Hi Rob,

I have been to Nagasaki at least 3 times but never been on the trams, though I have been on them in Hiroshima and Hakodate.

The tram website lists that most of their stations are accessible (See map here: https://www.naga-den.com/pages/46/), but not every tram itself is accessible – so you would need to wait for an accessible tram to come along… (Schedule: https://www.naga-den.com/pages/9/#block3031).

The trams that are accessible have seats that lift up, but there seems to be very little space for a scooter to turn. Here is the brochure for one of the trams: https://www.naga-den.com/files/libs/1730/202203141637095442.pdf

Based on my experiences with those other trams, I’d agree with your assessment of it being unlikely/difficult. Likely the biggest reason is that the turning radius of scooters is much larger than wheelchairs and they cannot turn on the spot. While I was able to get on in Hiroshima, the platform was very narrow and when the staff put down the ramp, it nearly took up half the width of the platform – so I basically had to go on the ramp sideways and then turn on the ramp to get in. It would not have been possible in a scooter. (Again this wasn’t in Nagasaki, but I assume it would be similar.)

Perhaps renting a wheelchair taxi for the day would be better. There is also a Nagasaki “Barrier-Free Tourism” promotion group in Nagasaki that could possibly make arrangements. The site is in Japanese but there is an email listed you could try: http://www.nagasakiken-barrierfree.org

Hope this helps!

[Rob Dyer]

That’s excellent information Josh, thanks for all the detail.

Much appreciated. 👍

[Josh Grisdale]

Always glad to help! Keep the questions coming. Not only do I enjoy researching stuff, but putting it here can help others looking for information. 🙌