Japan’s Universal Beach Project transforms shores for inclusive enjoyment

A trip to the beach can be off-limits for some people with disability due to its accessibility issues. To change this, a man who also has a disability in his legs and uses a wheelchair has launched a project called the “Universal Beach Project (UBP).”

This project aims to make Suma Beach (located in Kobe city, Hyogo Prefecture) a universal design beach where everyone, including people with disabilities, families, small children and the elderly, can enjoy the ocean without feeling stressed.

Are outdoor activities off-limits for people with disabilities?

In Japan, people in wheelchairs rarely go to the beach due to difficult access. A wheelchair isn’t suited for unpaved roads, therefore people with disability can’t fully enjoy the beaches and can only watch others enjoying the ocean and marine activities.

An experience in Australia has changed man’s perspective

Shunsuke Kido, the project’s representative, can no longer walk on his own after injuring his legs about ten years ago, and he was impressed and shocked when he visited a beach in Golden Coast that is completely accessible to people with disabilities. In Japan, people with disabilities often face limitations on what they can do. However, during his visit to Australia, Kido was impressed by the people he met there. Despite their disabilities, they worked and played with the same determination and enthusiasm as their non-disabled counterparts.

Kido launched the UBP and introduced universal items and activities such as beach wheelchairs and mats making sandy beaches accessible not only to wheelchairs but also to baby strollers and ocean SUP activities.

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NPO法人 須磨ユニバーサルビーチプロジェクト(@sumauniversalbeach)がシェアした投稿

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Universal Beach Project recognized worldwide

The project began in 2017 with Suma Beach, and currently, 42 beaches across 25 of Japan’s 47 prefectures have introduced UBP facilities and activities. Moreover, Suma Beach has been selected as the world’s second-best beach in the Best Practices Award in the 2023 Northern Hemisphere Blue Flag Certification.

The Blue Flag Certification Program was started in France in 1985 and has been widely recognized mostly in Europe. Being selected as a Bule Flag beach means the beach meets all the criteria, including SDGs and its evaluation criteria. There are 14 certificated beaches in Japan, and Suma Beach has been certificated for six consecutive years.

This initiative reduces barriers and enhances convenience and accessibility, benefiting the increasing number of foreign visitors and improving their stay in Japan. As summer approaches, it may not be too long before the UBP gains widespread recognition, allowing many people to enjoy beaches regardless of their disabilities.