How would you rate Japanese cities in terms of barrier-free facilities at train stations, on buses, in restaurants, stores and other public areas?

It's pretty ridiculous in places. The busy large major JR station in my part of the Tokyo has no facilities for wheelchairs. Whenever a person in a chair shows up, a platoon of JR workers holding what appears to be a slab of sheet metal materialize. They somehow get the person up the stairs and are then in communication with the next train to coordinate the door and carriage. Another slab of metal is placed over the platform gap, etc, etc.

The odd thing is that the station was greatly rennovated a few years back. The work was done to improve the main exit's access to adjacent commerical facilities. I didnt seen anything for the disabled. Money is more important to JR than helping people.

JeffLee, Is there any reason you are not naming the JR station you described? Could be Akihabara, or Shibuya, perhaps?

depends up to place.

some are okay some are not.

In general I'd say that Japan does quite well. I remember going back to Europe with a pram when the kids were small and finding that it was generally more difficult to get around than in Japan.

They're getting better, but anything built more than just a few years ago is hit and miss. When I first came to Japan in the late 90s, I often wondered whether anyone in a wheelchair or with a baby stroller just gave up instead of trying to reach most train platforms. Elevators were few and far between, and hard to get to when they were there. Same with ramps.

Reminds me of an old Simpsons episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xmGQdMijDU

Principal Skinner: "And now when people ask if we're in compliance with the American Disabilities Act of 1975, I can say we are closer than ever before!"

I don't live in the city, but cities with their huge populations should respond to diverse needs.

Some high profile cases in Japan have happened in inaka, disabled people suing because they need to phone in advance to get help at an unmanned train station or help to get up the stairs onto a plane. Due to cost, this can't be helped. Big slices of life in deep inaka can effectively depend on you having a car or motorbike, whether you are able bodied or not.

From a long-term perspective as one who visited Japan the first time in 1984 it is a night a day difference. Work still needs to be done especially outside of the big cities.

There is never easy access for disable skiers. Gondolas are always a long distant from where the disable start negating their day on the slopes as soon he they open their door. I suggested to one resort that should be able to phone ahead so a mobil ski can take them from car park to gondola. then carrier the client into the gondola to to met by two worker to help the client off to the stage area. They were so helpful and now if you are a wheel chair bound skier you can ring Goryu plaza and they are all to happy to help you out.

Down here in Aichi our local train company has really improved things since my arrival in '94. Access for wheelchair users and those with strollers is good at most medium to large stations. Smaller stations are slowly catching up too. Some of our students have mobility issues but with these improvements they can easily commute to school.

For city stations the anti-storm raised entrance steps are still a BFA barrier, but hand rails now ubiquitous. Ramps were becoming more common. on the way in, maybe the way down was more exciting (quip). Lifts should be more obvious. I am always beguiled by lack of tactile studs/ tiles at all crossings, entrances/exits, buildings shops station platforms, (tactiles are for the visually impaired)

Q; does jpn have a BFA legislation, if not they are (mmmh 2006/7 -2024) behind other asian places

As many have commented already, its hit and miss. The larger places are OK, but some places don't even have proper pavements!

As an exceptionally tall person, I feel the need to state that there is very little accomodation for taller or larger people. I have to continually bend down to reach for things and to read things, and I don't have acccess to inward facing train seats, low-lying kotatsu tables etc. If I stand on the train, the handles are at eye-level. And don't get me started on buying clothes and shoes! These are genuine barriers to a lot of people, and not just foreign-born people either.

@Patricia Yarrow

JeffLee, Is there any reason you are not naming the JR station you described?

I try to maintain a degree of anonymity. I know too many people in this town!

If the stations are old or very old, don't expect the modern design ergonomy and functionality. The newish stations are relatively ok.

One thing they all have in common though, most if not all subway stations design are not just necessary ugly, but flat boring.

They should take some examples of subway designs from the Europen countries, which some of them designed the stations as art pieces.

Check Prague, Viena, Bucharest, Kiev, San Petersburg, even Moscow, etc.