Tag: pasmo

I’d always made the assumption that it would be difficult to get around Tokyo in a wheelchair. Again, screw my negative thinking! It’s not. It’s really easy and very accessible and there are a few added bonuses in the process — toys and drinks!

The trains and subway are the only transit options I used besides rolling

You can read all about how to use the train system in Tokyo somewhere else. You can also read about the bus and taxi options elsewhere too. (Although I did like that the buses were labeled as Non-Step Buses!) I’m just gonna tell you that it was ridiculously easy to use the trains in Tokyo.

It’s not as assistance-free as Singapore or Dubai, but the assistance you rely on in the stations is the best I’ve ever encountered. The gaps were not huge, and a manual chair user could probably jump them easily. For me, the gaps were right at the point where I felt my front wheels could fall in if I didn’t gun it. I chose to use the staff help at every station. You can also follow all the “Yellow Brick Roads” as I call them, which are those yellow (or metal) textured tiles on the ground which usually lead you to the elevators, bathrooms, platforms, or exits.

I mostly rode the Ginza line which runs from Shibuya to Akasuka. I was staying near the Gaiemmae station which was very quiet and user-friendly. Here’s how every station works:

• Get a PASMO card — Or whatever other transit card you have been told to get. You can buy one at any station and charge it up in lots of places. You can also use it to play the toy games at Sega or buy soda at the vending machines that support it. This is what I used and it was great.
• Find the accessible entrance — Of course the only time I had a problem with this was the time my battery was on zero and I was trying to get home. But if you look at the public maps nearby your station, usually you can find the elevator. If not, ask someone.
• Go all the way to the station ticket gate and then ask for help — Usually there’s a little office near where you tap your card to go through the gates. If not, it’s nearby. If you miss it at the small stations, you’re either an idiot or the guy left to help somebody. Wait.
• Tell the staff where you want to go and that you need a slope or ramp — Show them Google Translate if that helps. The one time I found no staff, I didn’t actually need a ramp to board the train. This was coming back from Odaiba. The gap was very small.
• Wait for the staff to put on their little train hats and grab the ramp — Sometimes this took 10-20 seconds and I was wondering if they understood me, but just wait and someone will magically appear shortly.
• Follow the staff — This was the best part because you don’t have to think about where to go to get to the platform. At small stations it’s not a big deal but at the big ones. you’ll save yourself from looking for the train in the bathroom or maintenance room.
• Board the train — The trains come with very little delay. Even if its crowded, people will move and the staff will help clear the way. The ramp takes 5 seconds to place and you roll on and enjoy the ride.
• Enjoy the ride and rest assured someone will be there with a ramp when you arrive — For convenience, the stops are labeled with letters and numbers and the announcements are also made in English. Even if you forget where you’re going, just watch the doors for the staff with the ramp and they’ll be there at your stop.

How to win the toys and drink the soda

With your Pasmo card you can play the claw machines at Sega and also buy stuff at compatible vending machines. I had fun with both! You can also charge your card at the arcades.

For the vending machines, you just hold your card up to the sensor, pick what you want, then hold the card up again. Super easy! Watch the video below for a demo.