Category: Travel

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 12, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Disability Japan Kyushu Travel Unmanned Stations

Visually Impaired Plaintiffs Oppose JR Kyushu’s Unstaffed Stations After Blind Woman’s Death

A lawsuit challenging JR Kyushu’s move to make stations in Oita Prefecture unstaffed has intensified after plaintiffs, including people with disabilities, criticized the company for failing to fully investigate the 2022 death of a visually impaired elderly woman hit by a train at Tsukumi Station. At a briefing on August 11, they argued that unstaffing compromises passenger safety, with supporters submitting a petition of more than 23,000 signatures calling for stronger safety measures. JR Kyushu maintains that operational decisions are influenced by profitability, but plaintiffs insist that preventing passenger deaths must remain the railway’s foremost priority.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 9, 2025 Number of comments0
Blind Disability Japan Travel

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

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.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 2, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free Blind Braille Disability Japan Tourism Travel

“Speaking” tactile sidewalks enrich lives of visually impaired

Tactile paving for people with visual impairments in Japan has recently been enhanced with audio guidance, as the developers of the technology aim to improve the lives of people with partial sight and assist sighted tourists. The new braille blocks are marked with black stickers in special patterns. By scanning the coded blocks with a smartphone camera and app, users can listen to audio information about the location and its surroundings.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 26, 2025 Number of comments0
Elderly Japan Travel

Uber Japan Helps Families Book Rides for Elderly Members

Uber Japan announced Thursday the launch of a new service intended to assist elderly users with the help of their families. Specifically, the company added a new feature to its app that allows family members to remotely book rides for their elderly relatives. After creating Uber accounts for their elderly relatives, family members can register their own credit cards as a payment method. This allows elderly users, who may not have credit cards themselves, to easily access the ride-hailing service. A spending limit can also be set.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 2, 2025 Number of comments0
developmental disabilities Disability Japan Podcast Travel

Only 10% of Train Commuters with ‘Mental Disabilities’ in Japan Request ‘Reasonable Accommodation’ [Podcast Episode]

Half of people with mental disabilities or developmental disabilities in Japan have experienced problems using trains, but only 10% have requested reasonable accommodation from train staff, according to a survey conducted by the mental disability group Polke on May 2nd. The revised Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, which came into force in April 2024, requires private businesses, including trains, to provide reasonable accommodation, but the survey report pointed out that only 10% of people have requested reasonable accommodation, which is a “very serious problem.” It recommended that training for disabled people’s organizations and train staff to learn together needs to be improved.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 24, 2025 Number of comments0
Barrier Free developmental disabilities Disability Japan Travel

Despite Half of Commuters with Disabilities Experiencing Problems Using Trains in Japan, Only 10% of People with Mental Disabilities Request Reasonable Accommodation

Half of people with mental disabilities or developmental disabilities in Japan have experienced problems using trains, but only 10% have requested reasonable accommodation from train staff, according to a survey conducted by the mental disability group Polke on May 2nd. The revised Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, which will come into force in April 2024, requires private businesses, including trains, to provide reasonable accommodation, but the survey report points out that only 10% of people have requested reasonable accommodation, which is a “very serious problem.” It recommended that training for disabled people’s organizations and train staff to learn together needs to be improved.

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

UK-Based Company ‘Transreport’ and Hankyu in Japan Collaborate to Improve Accessibility

Transreport is a UK-based accessibility technology company specializing in solutions that enhance travel experiences for disabled and older individuals. Their flagship product, the Passenger Assistance app, allows users to book assistance, communicate access needs, and provide feedback on public transport journeys.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 23, 2024 Number of comments0
Brain Disability Japan Travel

Miyazaki Family Association Campaigns for Bicycle Helmet Wearing to Prevent Brain Injury

On December 21st, the Miyazaki Higher Brain Dysfunction Disorder Family Association Akari (Chairman Tobita Hiroshi), made up of families of people with higher brain dysfunction in Miyazaki Prefecture, held its first street campaign promoting the wearing of bicycle helmets at an intersection in front of a department store in Miyazaki City. 

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 25, 2024 Number of comments0
Crime Elderly Japan Travel

93-Yr-Old Inmate over Tokyo Car Crash Dies

The 93-year-old inmate over a car crash in which a mother and her young daughter were killed in Tokyo’s busy Ikebukuro district in April 2019 has died of old age, it was learned Monday. Kozo Iizuka, former head of the government’s now-defunct Agency of Industrial Science and Technology died on Oct. 26 while serving a five-year term for negligent driving causing death and injury in the accident, informed sources said.