“Survey on Japanese accessible tourism awareness among people with disabilities living overseas” – Barrier-f ree tourism in Japan, gap between expectations and reality. Issues revealed through the voices of 221 people with disabi lities living overseas

“Survey on Japanese accessible tourism awareness among people with disabilities living overseas” – Barrier-free tourism in Japan, gap between expectations and reality. Issues revealed through the voices of 221 people with disabilities living overseas from 35 countries ​
JTB Research Institute Co., Ltd. Press release: November 19, 2024 “Survey on Japanese accessible tourism awareness among people with disabilities living overseas” – Barrier-free tourism in Japan, gap between expectations and reality. Issues revealed through the voices of 221 people with disabilities living overseas from 35 countries While approximately 70% of respondents were concerned about access to historical buildings in Japan, 80% highly praised the kindness of Japanese people. Specific areas for improvement are also highlighted, such as the lack of accessible rooms and poor footing at tourist spots. ●Many people with disabilities living overseas find it difficult to access historical buildings and gardens in Japan using a wheelchair, and have the impression that Japan is not progressing in terms of barrier-free accessibility ●Those who have visited Japan gave positive feedback, saying they were surprised by the cleanliness of the restrooms and the friendliness of the people, but they also pointed out problems such as a lack of accessible rooms at
accommodation facilities and poor footing at tourist spots. ●Many respondents cited improved legislation as a reason why they think accessible tourism is progressing in the United States and other countries. The delays and inadequacies of Japan’s laws and regulations are highlighted Accessible Japan (tabiLabs Inc., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Grisdale Barry-Joshua (hereinafter referred to as Accessible Japan)), which provides barrier-free tourism information in Japan to overseas and supports inbound travel for people with disabilities, and Accessible Japan Co., Ltd. JTB Research Institute (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Representative Director, President and Executive Officer) (Yoshito Kazama) announced the results of a joint survey, “Survey on Japanese Universal Tourism Perceptions of Persons with Disabilities Living Overseas.” This survey targeted foreign nationals with disabilities and their families who are registered with Accessible Japan, and investigated their prior impressions of barrier-free Japan and the impressions of those who have actually visited Japan. In particular, we aim to clarify the differences in perceptions regarding barrier-free travel in Japan and other countries by focusing on specific experiences, such as the problems that arose during a visit to Japan, and the things that were wonderful. It is hoped that the results of this survey will serve as guidelines for strengthening the dissemination of barrier-free information for foreign visitors to Japan and creating a more inclusive tourism environment. Aiming for travel that everyone can enjoy, we will continue to promote research that provides new perspectives on the nature of Japanese tourism that respects diversity. [Survey overview] Research method: Internet questionnaire survey Survey period: September 19th to October 15th, 2024 Target audience: 221 foreign nationals with disabilities registered with Accessible Japan or their families [Survey results] The percentage of respondents by country of residence is around 70% in English-speaking countries, of which over 40% are in America The proportion of manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs is 40% each. In the future, measures will be required to accept electric wheelchairs Since more than 20% of people have intractable diseases, there is a need to deepen knowledge about a wider variety of disabilities. A total of 221 people from 35 countries and regions responded to the survey. 70% of them are from English speaking countries, and this is thought to be mainly because Accessible Japan is an English site. Regarding the country/region of residence of respondents, the United States was the most popular at 43.4%, followed by Australia (13.1%) and the United Kingdom (11.3%). The United States also has the highest number of member registrations for Accessible Japan, indicating a high level of interest in accessible tourism (Figure 1). The type and condition of disability was almost the same for manual wheelchair users at 43.0% and electric wheelchair users at 42.1%. Manual wheelchairs are the mainstream in Japan, but electric wheelchairs are also common overseas. Electric wheelchairs require charging, and since the voltage is different in Japan and overseas, measures must be taken to charge the battery. It is also necessary to create an environment that can accommodate large electric wheelchairs. The breakdown of other respondents included those with incurable diseases (22.2%), cane users (19.9%), and autism (14.9%). This result shows that accessible tourism needs to
accommodate a wide range of obstacles and situations (Figure 2). Image
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122426/15/122426-15-2c4e0497ca359782a898f9c7cdaac8de-684×538.jpg 80.5% of people need accessible transportation, including public transportation In addition to considering hardware, there is also a high need to provide information on accessibility Things that required consideration during everyday outings were “accessible vehicles” at 80.5%, “information on accessible tourist spots and facilities” at 76.9%, and “barrier-free toilets” at 73.3%. We found that in addition to physical considerations such as accessible vehicles and barrier-free toilets, there was also a high need for accessible information. There is also a need for consideration for people with invisible disabilities, such as sensory goods and social stories. These are basic considerations needed in daily life and when traveling. By responding to these needs and disseminating information appropriately, we believe that it will lead to the promotion of travel to Japan (Figure 3).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122426/15/122426-15-30e7f3014ebcff36148025902842facf-1240×587.jpg Regarding the image of accessibility in Japan, 67.0% said, “Many places in Japan, such as temples and gardens, cannot be accessed by wheelchair.” “Rooms and buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and shops are small” and “Accessible tourism is not advanced in Japan” were higher among those who had visited Japan, and the actual evaluation was lower than the image. The image of accessibility in Japan is based on the Japanese architectural style, such as “Many temples and gardens in Japan cannot be accessed by wheelchair (67.0%)” and “Rooms and buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and stores are small (55.2%).” Concerns about this were at the top of the list. Additionally, a high percentage of respondents (47.1%) pointed out the delays in accessible tourism in Japan and the difficulties faced by wheelchair users due to crowded public transportation. By experience of visiting Japan, a higher proportion of those who had visited Japan said “Rooms and buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and stores are small (63.5%)” and “Accessible tourism is not progressing in Japan (48.9%).” “The public baths and hot springs are not accessible to wheelchair users. “I can’t get in (41.9%),” “There aren’t many people who can speak languages ​​other than Japanese (37.8%),” and “They don’t accommodate dietary needs such as allergies or gluten-free (9.5%),” which is better than the image suggests. It became clear that the actual evaluation was lower. This is a point that requires immediate improvement. On the other hand, “Trains are so crowded that I can’t ride them in a wheelchair” was 10.8 points higher for those who had never visited Japan than for those who had never visited Japan before. Rush hour in Japan is sometimes introduced in foreign media, and many foreigners may have that image. There also seems to be a need to disseminate accurate information regarding the response of Japan’s public transportation systems (Chart 4). Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122426/15/122426-15-04d4ab85a1a31d2ac0b15c1f0759bcfb-1275×618.jpg Regarding the problems they faced when traveling to Japan, 50.0% said “There aren’t many accessible rooms at accommodation facilities,” and 40.5% said “Lack of access to sightseeing spots.” Good things: “Many people were kind,” “The restroom was easy to use,” and “Station staff helped me when getting on the train.” Of the respondents, 74 people who had visited Japan were asked about their travels to Japan. More than half of them visited Japan once, and the top destinations they visited were Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and their interests when traveling to Japan were Japanese food culture and historical buildings. This was almost the same as the travel needs of healthy people to Japan. When asked about the problems and good things about traveling to Japan from an accessible perspective, the problems include a lack of accessible rooms at accommodation facilities, poor footholds at tourist spots, and difficulty accessing public baths and hot springs. It was mentioned that. These findings indicate that Japan’s tourist facilities and services are still not sufficiently accessible to people with disabilities. In particular, respondents who said they were unable to enjoy sightseeing because information was provided only in Japanese or because there were too many people suggested that language barriers and the stress of crowding were major obstacles. On the other hand, the good news is that there are many kind people and that the toilets are free to use, which shows that Japan’s hospitality culture has made a good impression on people with disabilities. It became clear. Additionally, many respondents said, “Station staff help me when I travel by train,” indicating that the support provided by public transportation in Japan is highly valued (Chart 5).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122426/15/122426-15-5b03ff1eafd966ec751f713df8e7dbd3-3420×1620.png Countries where I think accessible tourism is progressing include the United States and the United Kingdom. The reason is that the laws are in place Many people answered “Tokyo” in Japan, revealing the insufficiency of the country’s laws and regulations Where do you feel that accessible tourism is progressing for people with disabilities? When asked to write freely, more than 40 people answered “America.” This may be due to the fact that 40% of respondents to this survey are residents of the United States, but many people said that the reason for this was that it was “defined by the ADA Act*”, and
understanding of the ADA Act has spread both domestically and overseas. You can see that it is. Other countries/regions mentioned included the United Kingdom, Spain, and Northern Europe. These countries have stronger legal constraints regarding accessibility than Japan. Japan was also mentioned in the answers, but many answered with the city name “Tokyo.” While certain large cities are making progress in creating an accessible environment, the current situation shows that laws and regulations for the country as a whole are lagging or insufficient (Chart 6). *ADA Act (Americans with Disabilities Act): A civil rights law enacted in July 1990 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122426/15/122426-15-9d1ccf82c50d57bdfbbb9e3ddd2095e5-2397×1155.png Summary The results of this survey revealed that people with disabilities living overseas have a high level of interest in Japanese culture and services, even though they have certain concerns about accessibility in Japan. However, actual experiences of visiting Japan have pointed out many areas for improvement, such as a lack of accessible rooms and problems accessing tourist spots. For example, in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, progress is being made in making public transportation barrier-free, but there are still cases in rural areas where this is not enough. Even in tourist destinations, there are many places where access to historical buildings and natural scenery is difficult for wheelchair users, as there are many steps and stairs. By addressing these issues and improving the provision of information, it may become easier for people with disabilities to visit Japan. Examples include providing detailed barrier-free information using SNS, strengthening staff training at tourist facilities and hotels, and promoting infrastructure development to improve access. Additionally, the fact that Japan is lagging behind in terms of laws and regulations compared to other countries can be said to be important feedback for Japan’s future barrier-free policies. In particular, efforts to support people with disabilities across the tourism industry need to be strengthened, which will help Japan’s tourist destinations become more attractive destinations that can accommodate a wider variety of travelers. Furthermore, by promoting accessible tourism, it is expected that more travel opportunities will be provided to people with disabilities in Japan, contributing to improving their quality of life. It is hoped that through such initiatives, progress will be made in the creation of tourist destinations that both able-bodied people and people with disabilities can enjoy.
About Accessible Japan tabiLabs Co., Ltd. is a company that provides an environment where people with disabilities can travel with peace of mind. Established in 2015, “Accessible Japan” provides information on barrier-free accommodations, sightseeing spots, and transportation in Japan, and has become a reliable information source for travelers with disabilities. We also operate a global community called “tabifolk”, which provides a place for travelers to exchange information with each other. Company name: tabiLabs Co., Ltd. Representative Director: Grisdale BarryJoshua Address: 2F-C, Shibuya Dogenzaka Tokyu Building, 1-10-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Established: 2015 (Incorporated as tabiLabs Co., Ltd. on May 1, 2024) URL:
https://www.accessible-japan.com/ About JTB Research Institute Co., Ltd. JTB Research Institute Co., Ltd. was started in 2012, on the occasion of JTB Co., Ltd.’s 100th anniversary, with the aim of contributing to solving social and regional issues through tourism. As a think tank for a new era that is not bound by the framework of tourism, we are working to contribute to the development of local communities and businesses, with our core businesses of research, consulting, and tourism education. Company name: JTB Research Institute Co., Ltd. Representative Director, President and Executive Officer: Yoshito Kazama Address: Tokyo Front Terrace 7F, 2-3-14 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002 Established: June 21, 2001 (Company name changed to JTB Research Institute from June 1, 2012) URL:
Contact us Accessible Japan Contact: info@accessible-japan.com or hello@tabilabs.global JTB Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Investigator) Principal Researcher Yuko Katsuno Contact form:
https://www.tourism.jp/contact/