Three Disability-Friendly Cities in Japan

When walking through a city in Japan, we can see various barrier-free designs such as gentle slopes, braille blocks, and voice-activated traffic signals. However, not many places and facilities have such innovations. In fact, there are only a limited number of areas where people with disabilities can live safely, travel without inconvenience, and consult with a system when they have problems.

To promote comprehensive and integrated barrier-free transportation, roads, and buildings, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has awarded people and organizations that have contributed to creating a town that is easy for everyone to live in since 2007. Here are three areas that have received the award and are making advanced barrier-free efforts.

Sapporo City

Sapporo city has successfully increased the percentage of wheelchair users by improving the barrier-free accessibility of its public transportation system.

Aiming to make subways safe for wheelchair and blind people to use, Subway trains have installed three facilities; operational platform railings at all 49 stations, “Passenger-accessible buttons” on each platform railings door to inform drivers of wheelchair accessibility, and “fall prevention rubber” at boarding entrances where the gap between the train and platform is 15cm or more.

In Sapporo, trams are also disability-friendly. They run on the sidewalk side of the streetcar, allowing passengers to get on and off the tram directly from the sidewalk. Low-floor cars have also been introduced so that people in wheelchairs can get on and off the trains smoothly without help from others.

Sendai City

Sendai city is building a system that allows people with disabilities to evacuate safely in the event of a disaster.

Tsunami evacuation towers were set up in the coastal areas damaged by the tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake. The elderly and people with disabilities were designated as “persons in need of assistance in the event of a disaster,” and the facilities were designed to be barrier-free and arranged according to their characteristics. The tower is equipped with wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and stairs or ramps are provided between the ground level and the evacuation area.

Kyoto Prefecture

One of Japan’s most famous tourist destinations, Kyoto Prefecture, is an ancient capital that preserves many cultural assets and allows visitors to enjoy the historical cityscape. Kyoto Prefecture is also making efforts to provide a safe and comfortable tourist environment for all types of people, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and foreign tourists.

In the Kyoto City subway system, the guidance voices for the up and down lines are differentiated by male and female voices, and departure cues are differentiated by different tunes, making them easier to understand for the visually impaired. Transportation timetables are distinguishable by shape in addition to color so that even colorblind people can distinguish them.

In addition to such barrier-free transportation systems, we are actively disclosing barrier-free information on the Internet. The “Kyoto Universal Navi” website provides information on barrier-free accessibility. It also has a map showing wheelchair rental facilities and handicapped-accessible restrooms. Additionally, it introduces barrier-free model sightseeing courses and more than 20 sightseeing courses for the visually impaired that can be enjoyed without looking.

Besides, Kyoto City appoints people from the private sector as “Kyoto Universal Tourism Concierges” to serve as consultation services for barrier-free sightseeing in Kyoto free of charge.

To create a livable city for everyone

Barrier-free access to infrastructure is essential in creating a city that is easy for people with disabilities to live in. With the infrastructure in place, they will be able to actively go out into the city, interact with people, and participate in various communities. The social ties formed in this way could lead to a sense of daily security daily and mutual assistance in the event of an emergency or disaster, resulting in the creation of a livable city.