Wheelchair Accessible Onsen Hot Spring in Hakone near Tokyo
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Wheelchair Accessible Onsen Hot Spring in Hakone near Tokyo
Everyone visiting Japan should try out a hot spring (onsen). It is a great way to relax during a hectic vacation. Unfortunately, options are VERY limited for wheelchair users.
Thankfully, Hakone Pax Yoshino offers an accessible room (with attached hot spring bath). In addition to the bath in the room, one of the three open-air baths on the roof is wheelchair accessible!
The general facilities at the inn are wide open and accessible.
Unfortunately, the inn doesn’t mention the accessible room on the English version of their website – just the Japanese version. So, you cannot easily book it from the website but you can email them to request it.
Check it out here:
http://www.pax-yoshino.com/barrierfree/ -
10 Replies
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Nothing accessible in Kyoto or Tokyo?
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Hello,
We can look for you! How far are you willing to travel from the city center? Neither city is an onsen town, so some travel will be required to get to a natural onsen. (He one above is about 1hr from Tokyo.)
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Any places reasonably close to any of our cruise ports Hiroshima, Busan (S Korea), Sakaiminato, Kanazawa, Sakata?
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Hi, also looking for a sento/onsen in Tokyo, we are staying in Shinjuku. A place we can go for an hour or so (not looking for hotel stay). I have seen a place called Thermae Yu, any idea if it is accessible? Thank you so much!
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Hello,
It sort of depends on how disabled you are. If you are able to walk a bit, you may be able to use an onsen or sento. Also, if you can be carried, and have people who can carry you, then it could be possible.
As I am a power wheelchair user I have very limited experience, so I asked my personal care attendant.
First of all, there will be a genkan step where you remove your shoes before getting to the changing room. After changing, there will be another step (often down to stop water from getting to the changing room in case of an overflow) into the showering area. After showering, you get into the bath which will again require stepping up or down…
He also said that any times he went with a disabled client they had to lift him to the bath…
A better option would be to get a hotel room with an uchiburo, or bath in the room.
I will keep looking though!
(PS – here is what the baths at Thermae Yu look like – http://thermae-yu.jp/hot-springs/. Again, there will be the other two steps before getting to the bath.)
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As I mentioned before, neither Kyoto nor Tokyo have natural hot springs. Would a sento (public bath) be ok?
I found this place in Tokyo that is putting an effort into accessibility and even has a separate accessible bath tub that can be rented (￥1500/90min).
Main page: http://mikokuyu.com/
Flat entrance, elevator, public bath with hand rails: http://mikokuyu.com/facilities
Separate bath: http://mikokuyu.com/family
Map:
Since the separate bath requires a reservation, you may want to get your hotel to call.
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Actually, since it is uncommon to have accessible onsen/sento, it is even in the news here: http://www.franja.co.jp/free-column/trendkoneta/12000/
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This place looks perfect, we will give it a try. I will get the hotel to call. Thank you so much for this information.
I am also in a power wheelchair and do not have a caretaker. My daughter will be with me but she cannot lift me.
Thank you again.
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[quote quote=3596]This place looks perfect, we will give it a try. I will get the hotel to call. Thank you so much for this information. I am also in a power wheelchair and do not have a caretaker. My daughter will be with me but she cannot lift me. Thank you again.[/quote]
My pleasure!
If you go to a hot spring town there may be more options. But unfortunately, the concern for dealing with overflowing water and cultural aspects of going up steps means that onsen/sento are still mostly inaccessible…
Hopefully the rapidly aging population will force facilities to change!
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This is the only place in Kyoto I found with a accessible rental bath… but the website only mentions it and I cannot find pictures… http://k-eminence.com/dayuse/
Sorry there aren’t more!
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