Category: Travel

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 15, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Podcast Travel

Saitama Bus Service for People with Disabilities to Be Discontinued Due to Driver Shortage [Podcast Episode]

A long-running bus service for people with disabilities in Saitama Prefecture will be discontinued at the end of the fiscal year due to a shortage of drivers and the wider availability of lift-equipped charter buses from private operators, the prefectural government said. The Oozora-go, a 40-seat bus donated over decades by Musashino Bank, has served thousands annually since 1973, offering affordable group travel for disability organizations. Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying the service promoted social participation for people with disabilities, while Governor Motohiro Ōno said the prefecture will consider alternative measures in light of user feedback and social changes.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 13, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan Mobility as a Service Travel

Bus Service for People with Disabilities to Be Discontinued Due to Driver Shortage

A long-running bus service for people with disabilities in Saitama Prefecture will be discontinued at the end of the fiscal year due to a shortage of drivers and the wider availability of lift-equipped charter buses from private operators, the prefectural government said. The Oozora-go, a 40-seat bus donated over decades by Musashino Bank, has served thousands annually since 1973, offering affordable group travel for disability organizations. Advocates have expressed disappointment, saying the service promoted social participation for people with disabilities, while Governor Motohiro Ōno said the prefecture will consider alternative measures in light of user feedback and social changes.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 9, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Japan Travel

Bus company introduces Japan’s 1st service with lie-flat seats

Kochi Ekimae Kanko, a bus operator in western Japan, has repeatedly received passenger feedback that overnight bus rides can be physically tiring and concluded there is enough demand for buses with lie-flat seats. The company trialed the seats, which can be converted into two tiers of beds, on its 13-hour service between Kochi Prefecture and Tokyo. During the trial in August, an upper bed seat cost 12,000 yen ($80) one way, while a lower bed seat was 10,000 yen. The fares for the regular service are yet to be announced.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 6, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Japan Shinkansen Travel

Japan’s new high-speed maglev trains to have non-reclining seats

Trains on Japan’s new high-speed maglev line to run between Tokyo and Nagoya will offer only non-reclining seats to maximize passenger leg and luggage space, Central Japan Railway Co. officials said recently. The train operator decided that seat backs fixed at 15 degrees would not compromise passenger comfort as the 40-minute travel time on the under-construction Linear Chuo Shinkansen line, to link Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station and Nagoya Station in central Japan, will be less than half what it takes existing bullet trains to make the journey.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 27, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Travel Wheelchair

From October 1, JR East to Begin Crew-Assisted Ramp Service on the Jōetsu, Shin’etsu, and Agatsuma Lines

Crew-assisted ramp services have been in place since 2022 at certain stations operated by JR Kyushu, JR East, JR Central, JR West, and JR Shikoku. Within JR East, they are already available at selected stations on the Ōme Line, Sōbu Main Line, Narita Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibō Line, Kururi Line, Sagami Line, Ryōmō Line, and Echigo Line. DPI Japan encourages wheelchair users living along these lines to try the service and share your feedback.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 26, 2025 Number of comments0
Elderly Mobility Travel Wheelchair

Daihatsu Launches New Electric Wheelchair for Elderly People

Daihatsu Motor Co. put a new electric wheelchair for the elderly on sale on Monday.

The e-Sneaker has already been used on a trial basis at the ongoing World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka. The wheelchair runs at a maximum speed of 6 kilometers per hour and travels 12 kilometers on a single charge. No driver’s license is required to operate the vehicle.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Expo 2025 Japan Osaka Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Travel

Osaka Expo Organizer Aims to Prevent Recurrence of Train Issue

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is tackling transportation challenges after a service suspension on Osaka Metro Co.’s Chuo Line stranded visitors at the site last week. On Monday, the association admitted that information sharing about the incident was insufficient, vowing to improve its handling of such cases.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 13, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Blind Japan Kyushu Podcast Travel Unmanned Stations

23,000 Sign Petition Demanding Safety Reforms After Death of Blind Woman at JR Tsukumi Station [Podcast Episode]

A disability rights group has submitted over 23,000 signatures to JR Kyushu, urging an investigation and stronger safety measures following the death of a visually impaired woman at Tsukumi Station in Ōita Prefecture three years ago. The woman was struck by a limited express train during unstaffed hours in December 2022. The group, comprising people with visual and physical disabilities, also delivered a written statement reflecting concerns from visually impaired passengers. During a meeting at JR Kyushu’s Ōita branch, members called for clear rescue protocols for falls from platforms. Co-representative lawyer Yasuyuki Tokuda urged JR to take the voices of disabled passengers seriously.