I found an interenting post from the “JTB Tourism Resesarch & Consulting Co. (here)”. It`s about the expectations vs. reality insights from 221 oversea visitors with disabilities from 35 countries.
Key Findings from the post.
- Many overseas visitors with disabilities feel that historical buildings and gardens in Japan are difficult to access by wheelchair, and have the impression that barrier-free progress in Japan is lacking
- Visitors to Japan reported positive feedback on clean toilets and kind people, but also pointed out issues such as lack of accessible rooms in accommodations and poor walking surfaces at tourist sites
- Many cited legal frameworks as the reason why accessible tourism is more advanced in other countries, particularly the United States, highlighting the delay and inadequacy of legal regulations in Japan
According to the post, Accessibility concerns in Japan center on architectural barriers in temples, gardens, hotels, restaurants, and shops (narrow spaces). Many also cited slow progress in accessible tourism and difficulties navigating crowded public transport. Visitors to Japan reported even greater concerns than non-visitors, particularly regarding narrow spaces, the lack of accessible tourism, limited access to public baths and hot springs, language barriers, and dietary accommodations. These findings emphasize the gap between expectations and reality, highlighting the need for improvements in Japanese accessibility.
There’s no question that barriers and a gap between expectation and reality exist. As I mentioned, the polarization between cities and suburbs has created drastic isolation. This is a real problem we face today.
As a business owner, this impacts how I utilize assets and coordinate promotions.
That’s a fact.
