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There are several main ways to get around Tokyo. Perhaps the easiest way is by taxi. Although traffic in Tokyo can be as crowded as any other major city, taxis can be convenient, and also they are quite easy to find.
The most efficient methods to get around Tokyo are by subways and trains. Not only do the subways run on time from early morning until late night, but they are extremely clean and safe. In general, train and subway stations in Tokyo have signs in English, except for some of the smaller stations. However there are lots of stairs to reach the entrance to the stations or the platform and escalators and elevators are available only in a few stations. Even if there is an escalator, access to the escalators is often difficult because there are stairs either before or after the escalator. For wheelchair users who feel uncomfortable being carried in their wheelchairs by station attendants, we cannot recommend this form of transportation.
Another way of getting around Tokyo is by bus. Buses with lifts have been operating since 1992, but the routes are still limited. For most buses, when you board you will have to climb up two steps which are 85 cm high. Also, there are very few signs in English for bus stops and on buses.
- The entrance to each train or subway station is different, but once you get to the ticket vending machine, buying a ticket and getting on the train is the same almost everywhere. Most major stations have maps in English which list station names and fares above the ticket vending machine. To find your fare find the station to which you would like to go and pay the fare which is written next to that station name. Most ticket machines have braille numbers for those with visual impairment, but the braille is in Japanese. These machines are often installed too high for wheelchair users.
Many train and subway stations now have automatic entrance gates. Wheelchairs will not fit through these gates. There is always at least one wider entrance gate with a station attendant. Be aware that these manned gates are often crowded with people going in both directions.
To get to the platform, you have to go up and down stairs. Few stations have escalators or elevators. But sometimes these escalators don't reach the platform and there are often stairs to reach it. For those with visual impairment, there are braille tiles which form paths to follow in almost all stations.
Because of the stairs we don't recommend the train or subway for wheelchair users. However when you have to use this kind of transportation, you can get assistance from station attendants if you ask them. Their help is necessary when you get on the train because there are often gaps between the platform and the train. We recommend you call staff members of the station at which you will get on in advance. In addition, if you tell these people the name of the station at which you will get off, they will contact that station to arrange for someone to meet you there and help you off the train. If you take JR or Tokyu Corporation LineAyou can call following telephone numbers for these arrangements in English.
| Japan Railways |
: |
03-3423-0111 |
| (Open: 10:00 to 18:00 Mon. to Fri.
except National Holidays) |
| Tokyu Corporation |
: |
03-3477-0109 |
| (Open: 9:30 to 17:30 Mon. to Fri.
except National Holidays) |
- Catching a taxi in Tokyo is the same as catching a taxi in any other major city. Simply go to the side of the street and raise your hand. You can see from a distance if a taxi is vacant by the red sign which will be lit in the lower right hand corner of the windshield. As the taxi stops, the back door of the taxi will open automatically. Please don't open the door yourself. The door also will close automatically. Usually, drivers aren't helpful, so it is recommended that visitors in wheelchairs travel with an assistant.
The starting taxi fare is written on the rear window, and the taxi meters are reliable. You often see taxis with a wheelchair symbol on them. This symbol does not mean that these taxi drivers will help disabled persons. It means that a disabled person who has a special card issued by the Japanese government will receive a 10% discount off the taxi fare on the meter.
Taxis with a lift for wheelchairs are run by some taxi companies. To use this kind of taxi, you have to have a reservation in advance and you need help from Japanese or people who can speak Japanese because the person in charge usually can not speak English. The fare for use of this taxi from Narita Airport to central Tokyo is between 40,000 yen and 50,000 yen which is more expensive than the fare for an ordinary taxi. For a full-day Tokyo tour by this taxi, the fare is between 50,000 yen and 60,000 yen.
- For information about other taxis which are accessible to people with disabilities, contact the number below.
| Useful Numbers for Taxis with a Lift |
| Miyazono Taxi Company |
: |
03-5991-2944 |
| (Limited to people who live in the Tokyo
wards: Nakano, Chuo, Bunkyo, Itabashi, Nerima,
Shibuya, Suginami and Kita) |
| Busyuu Kotsuu Corporation |
: |
0423-25-8611
(FAX: 0423-25-1403) |
| Tokyo Jumbo Taxi |
: |
0120-818-552
(FAX: 03-3896-8181) |
| Hitachi Taxi Corporation |
: |
03-5682-6594
(FAX:
03-5616-5557) |
| (Taxi drivers who speak English or Chinese
are available on request) |
| http://www.tokyoweb.or.jp/hitachi |
| Keihin Bolag Universal Taxi |
: |
03-3790-0117 |
| National Welfare Transportaiton Service Association |
: |
03-3222-0347
(FAX: 03-3222-0347) |
- Buses for the most part run on routes between
train stations and in areas where trains
and subways are not available. For non-Japanese
speaking visitors, using the bus can be difficult.
Once inside a bus, the best way to get where
you want to go is to tell the driver where
you want to get off.
There are two types of buses with different
payment systems. You have to pay your fare
when you get on for some buses, while you
only take a ticket when you get on and pay
your fare when you get off for another type
of buses. In general when you get on a bus
at the front door, you have to pay your fare
at the time of riding. And when you get on
a bus at the middle or back door, you have
to pay when you get off. Most buses In Tokyo
are the type of buses for which payment should
be made when you get on, For the buses on
which you take a ticket when you get on,
your fare is charged according to the distance.
You should pay your fare based on the fare
number on your ticket.
Do not worry about carrying exact change,
because the ticket/money collection machine
can automatically give you change, or you
can exchange money into small coins. But
it is better for you to ask to the bus driver
how to get the change before you pay.
In Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama, prepaid
cards called "Bus Common Card"
is available. It can be used for the payment
of any buses on which the sign of this card
is shown beside the door. You can buy them
inside the bus, or at the bus company office.
To signal to the driver that you want
to
get off, simply push one of the buttons
along
the wall. When one button is pushed
all of
them will light up.
There are special buses with a lift or slope
and Non-step bus in which wheelchair users
can board, but they are not available for
all routes nor at all times. And at some
bus stops, wheelchair users cannot be boarded
for physical or safety reasons. So it is
recommended to ask the bus company beforehand
if those buses are available.
Other buses, except for those special
buses,
must be boarded by climbing up steps.
Therefore
assistance is required for wheelchair
users.
There are special seats for disabled
and
elderly people, so feel free to use
these
seats. However, buses tend to be quite
inconvenient
for visitors in wheelchairs, you are
recommended
to avoid traveling by bus.
Here is a list of buses which are available
to wheelchair users.
<Tokyo>
For information about bus service in Tokyo area, contact the number below.
- Tokyo Bus Information Center: 03-5360-7111 (FAX: 03-5366-4184)
- Toei Transportation Information Center:
03-5322-0400
(9:00 to 19:00 except Year-end and
New
Year's day)
<Kanagawa> as of 1999.03.31
- Yokohama City Bus: 045-671-3194 (FAX:
045-664-3266)
Lift equipped bus: 21, One-step bus with
slope: 182, Non-step bus with slope: 23
(Hodogaya,Sengencho,Isogo,Honmoku,Konan,Kohoku,Tsurumi,Takito
area)
- Kanagawa Chuo Bus: 0463-22-8833 (FAX:
0463-22-8841)
Lift equipped bus: 2, Non-step
bus with
slope; 4
(Sagamihara, Isehara, Totsuka
area)
- Kawasaki Tsurumi Rinko Bus: 044-233-6507
(FAX: 044-233-3539)
Non-step bus with slope: 1 (Tsurumi
-
Shinyokohama)
- Kawasaki City Bus: 044-200-3231 (FAX:
044-233-8444)
Lift equipped bus: 1, Non-step bus with
slope: 2
(Kosugi, Kawasaki, Mizonokuchi
area)
<Chiba> as of 1999.08
- Tobu Railway
Nishikashiwa Branch: 0471-44-5011 Non-step
bus: 2 (Kashiwa area)
Syonan Branch: 0471-93-2683 Non-step
bus: 2 (Syonan-cho area)
- Keisei Railway: 03-3621-2428 (FAX:
03-3621-2431)
Non-step bus: 2 (Matsudo, Hanamigawa
area)
One-step bus with slope: 90
(Ichikawa, Matsudo, Funabashi,
Narashino,
Chiba, Sakura area)
- Shin-Keisei Railway: 047-389-1162
(FAX:
047-389-9915)
Non-step bus: 1 (Yahashira - Makinohara-danchi)
One-step bus with slope: 34 (Matsudo,
Kamagaya, Funabashi area)
- Funabashi Bus: 047-438-3583 (FAX:
047-438-1424)
One-step bus with slope: 1 (Funabashi-station
- Greenheights)
<Saitama> as of 1999.09
- Tobu Railway: 03-3621-5310
Lift equipped bus: 8, Non-step
bus: 10
(Omiya, Ageo, Kawagoe, Tsurugashima,
Soka, Yashio, Yoshikawa area)
- Seibu Bus
Tokorozawa Branch: 042-992-7164 One-step
bus with slope: 6 (Tokorozawa City)
Kawagoe Branch: 0492-44-1155 Lift
equipped
bus: 6
(Kawagoe Shuttle Bus, Sayama City)
Hanno Branch: 0429-72-4123
Lift equipped bus: 1, One-step
bus
with slope: 3 (Hidaka City, Iruma City)
Saitama Area Bus Time Table FAX
Service:
048-825-1192
- Kokusai Kogyo: 03-3273-1126 (FAX:
03-3273-1015)
Urawa Branch: 048-882-2410 Non-step
bus:
5 (Kitaurawa area)
Kawaguchi Branch: 048-252-5660
Non-step
bus: 4 (Kawaguchi area)
Hatogaya Branch: 048-281-4192 Non-step
bus: 4
(Akabane, Hatogaya, Kawaguchi
area)
Omiya Branch: 048-641-7661 Non-step
bus:
4 (Omiya area)
Other: Lift equipped bus: 4 (Urawa, Hidaka
area)
.
- Rental cars companies which own vehicles
for wheelchair user are listed below..
* Ask to each company for more detail
information,
such as price.
<TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE>
Basically car delivering service is available
only within each company's service area.
You can leave the vehicle on any service
station of TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE. If you want
to leave the vehicle on other service station
than where you rent, apply when you reserve
or before you drive.
Homepage: http://rent.toyota.co.jp/
Open: 8:00 to 20:00 or within 8:00 to 20:00
(Kanto Reservation Center)
TEL: 0070-800-0100-00
(Open Weekday: 9:00 to 18:00
Sat.:9:00 to 17:00 except Year-end and New Year's
day)
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE TOKYO Co,
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user
sit on the back seat and wheelchair is folded
and loaded on the backside of the car(Back
seat is turned and go down to be seated /
wheelchair is lifted manually and fixed)
1 vehicle to seat 5
Narita Airport, Haneda Airport and around
Tokyo Station is the territory of TOYOTA
RENT-A-LEASE TOKYO.
(Narita) TEL: 0476-32-1020 FAX: 0476-32-1088
Open: 7:00 to 22:00
Moving to and from Narita
Airport
is free of charge.
* Green Port Agency is acting as an
agency
at Narita Air Port
(Hakozaki) TEL: 03-3662-0100 FAX: 03-3662-0108
Open: 8:00 to 20:00 (Open hour
may be changed at Dec. 31 to Jan. 4)
(Yaesu) TEL: 03-3278-0100 FAX: 03-3278-0130
Open: 8:00 to 20:00 (Open hour
may
be changed at Dec. 31 to Jan. 4)
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE TAMA Co,
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user get
on and
get off vehicle sitting on wheelchair.
(Wheelchair
is lifted automatically) 1 vehicle
to seat
6(1 wheelchair user + 5)
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE YOKOHAMA Co,
Vehicle Type: 1.Wheelchair user sit on
the back seat and wheelchair is folded and
loaded on the backside of the car(Back seat
is turned and go down to be seated / wheelchair
is lifted manually and fixed) 1 vehicle to
seat 5
2.Wheelchair user get on and get off vehicle
sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair is lifted
automatically) 1 vehicle to seat 8(2 wheelchair
users + 6 or 1 wheelchair user + 1 stretcher
+ 6)
Homepage: http://www.r-toyota.co.jp/
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE KANAGAWA Co,
Vehicle Type: 1.Wheelchair user sit on
the back seat and wheelchair is folded and
loaded on the backside of the car(Back seat
is turned and go down to be seated / wheelchair
is lifted automatically) 1 vehicle to seat
5
2.Wheelchair user get on and get off vehicle
sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair is lifted
automatically) 1 vehicle to seat 8(2 wheelchair
users + 6 or 1 wheelchair user + 1 stretcher
+ 6)
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE SAITAMA Co,
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user sit on the
back seat and wheelchair is folded and loaded
on the backside of the car(Back seat is turned
and go down to be seated / wheelchair is
lifted automatically) 1 vehicle to seat 5,
1 vehicle to seat 7
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE SHIN-SAITAMA Co,
TEL: 048-854-8181 FAX: 048-853-0101
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user get on and
get off vehicle sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair
is lifted automatically) 1 vehicle to seat
6(1 wheelchair user + 5)
Homepage: http://www.toyota-rlss.co.jp/
- TOYOTA RENT-A-LEASE SHIN-CHIBA Co, TEL:
043-221-4111
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user sit on the
back seat and wheelchair is folded and loaded
on the backside of the car(Back seat is turned
and go down to be seated / wheelchair is
lifted manually and fixed) 1 vehicle to seat
5
<NISSAN RENT-A-CAR>
Basically car delivering service is available
only within each company's service area.
You can leave the vehicle on any service
station of NISSAN RENT-A-CAR
(*)If you want to rent a car at Kannai Service
Station, you can take and leave a car only
at Kannai Staiton. If you want to leave the
vehicle on other service station than where
you rent, apply when you reserve or before
you drive.
(Reservation) TEL: 03-5424-4123
(Open Weekday: 9:00 to 20:00
Sat.,Sun., and National holidays: 9:00 to 18:00
except Year-end and New Year's day)
(Tokyo Reservation Center)
FAX Service for the Disabled: FAX:
03-5424-4223
- TOKYO: Tachikawa Bus Truck Service
Station
TEL: 042-526-3723 FAX: 042-526-2744 Open:
8:00 to 20:00
Vehicle Type: 1.Wheelchair user sit on
the back seat and wheelchair is folded and
loaded on the backside of the car(Back seat
is turned and go down to be seated / wheelchair
is lifted manually and fixed) 1 vehicle to
seat 7
2.Wheelchair user get on and get off vehicle
sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair is lifted
automatically) 2 vehicles to seat 7(2 wheelchair
users + 5 or 1 wheelchair user + 1 stretcher
+ 5 and 2 wheelchair users + 5)
Narita Airport, Haneda Airport and
Tokyo
Station is the territory of Tachikawa
Bus
Truck Service Station.
1)Narita Airport Terminal 1 Counter
* Green
Port Agency is acting as an agency.
TEL: 0476-24-1023 FAX: 0476-24-1024
Open:
8:00 to 20:00
2)Narita Airport Terminal 2 Counter * Green
Port Agency is acting as an agency.
TEL: 0476-34-8464 Open: 7:00 to 21:00
* You take a car at the above counters(1)&2)),
and leave it at Narita Service Station. Free
transportation service to Narita Airport
is available (about 15 minutes.).
(Narita) TEL: 0476-24-1023 FAX: 0476-24-1024
Open: 8:00 to 20:00
Moving to Narita Airport
is free
of charge.
(Haneda Airport Counter) TEL: 03-5757-9423
Open: 8:00 to 20:00
(Omori-ekimae) TEL: 03-3767-8823 FAX: 03-3765-1746
Open: 8:00 to 22:00 Moving
to Haneda Airport is free of charge.
(Tokyo Station Yaesu-exit) TEL: 03-3274-4501
FAX: 03-3278-9736 Open: 24 hours
- KANAGAWA: Kannai-ekimae Service Station
TEL: 045-664-4123 FAX: 045-664-5624
Open:
8:00 to 20:00
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user get on and
get off vehicle sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair
is lifted automatically) 1 vehicle to seat
7(2 wheelchair users + 5 or 1 wheelchair
user + 6)
No car delivering service is available.
- CHIBA: Chiba-ekimae Service Station
TEL: 043-227-4123 FAX: 043-227-4183 Open:
7:00 to 23:00
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user get on and
get off vehicle sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair
is lifted automatically) 1 vehicle to seat
7(2 wheelchair users + 5 or 1 wheelchair
user + 1 stretcher + 5)
- SAITAMA: Nishikawaguchi Service Station
TEL: 048-252-2331 FAX: 048-252-2487 Open:
8:00 to 20:00
Vehicle Type: Wheelchair user get on and
get off vehicle sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair
is lifted automatically) 2 vehicles to seat
7(2 wheelchair users + 5 or 1 wheelchair
user + 1 stretcher + 5)
<NIPPON RENT-A-CAR>
Homepage: http://www.nipponrent-a-car.co.jp/
- NIPPON RENT-A-CAR TOKYO
Car delivering service is available only
in Tokyo. If you want to leave the vehicle
on other service station than where you rent,
apply when you reserve or before you drive.
Vehicle Type: 1.Wheelchair user sit on
the assistant driver's seat and wheelchair
is folded and loaded on the backside of the
car(Assistant driver's seat is turned to
be seated / wheelchair is lifted manually
and fixed) 1 vehicle to seat 2
2.Wheelchair user sit on the assistant driver's
seat and wheelchair is folded and loaded
on the backside of the car(Assistant driver's
seat is turned and go down to be seated /
wheelchair is lifted manually and fixed)
1 vehicle to seat 5
3.Wheelchair user get on and get off vehicle
sitting on wheelchair. (Wheelchair is lifted
automatically) 1 vehicle to seat 7(1 wheelchair
user + 6), 1 vehicle to seat 9(1 wheelchair
user + 8)
4.Wheelchair user get on and get off vehicle
sitting on wheelchair.(Wheelchair is lifted
electrically or manually with slope) 1 vehicle
to 4(1 wheelchair user + 3)
(Yaesu) TEL: 03-3271-6643 Open: 8:00 to 20:00
(Narita Airport) TEL: 0476-32-0601
Open:
7:00 to 21:00 (except Dec. 31 to Jan. 3)
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