A Wheelchair-Accessible Ryokan in Japan: Onsen for Everyone at Tofuya Ryokan
- 投稿日：
- 2026年10月23日
“I would love to stay at a Japanese ryokan and try an onsen. But I use a wheelchair, so it must be impossible.” Have you given up on this dream?
Many Japanese ryokan have steps and stairs, tatami rooms where you sit on the floor, and deep bathtubs. They can be hard to use for wheelchair users and people who have trouble walking.
But in Japanese architecture, steps are not just obstacles. They have meaning. The step at the entrance, called agari-kamachi, marks the border between the outside world and the inside of the home. You take off your shoes there and step up into a clean, calm space. Raised tatami floors and the thresholds between rooms are part of this culture of respect and cleanliness, and they are an important part of what makes a ryokan a ryokan.
At Tofuya Ryokan, we value this culture. At the same time, we have removed barriers where they matter most, so that everyone can experience it.
At Tofuya Ryokan in Onogawa Onsen, we have worked to create an inn where wheelchair users, older guests and anyone who tires easily can stay without strain and with peace of mind. We also want the family members who travel with them to relax and enjoy the trip together, without worry.
Certification and awards
- Certified by the Japan Tourism Agency under its “Barrier-Free Mindset” certification for tourism facilities
- Top prize of the “Inn Friendly to People” award from the All Japan Ryokan Hotel Association (2019)
- Yonezawa Quality Award, given by the city of Yonezawa
From the entrance to your room, in your wheelchair
- A parking space for wheelchair users near the entrance
- A gentle slope from the parking lot to the entrance
- Almost no steps from the entrance into the inn
- An elevator to guest rooms, the dining rooms and the large baths
- Accessible public toilets on the first floor, for both men and women
Please note: our elevator is small: the door is 80 cm wide, and the inside is 140 cm wide and 80 cm deep (about 31 × 55 × 31 inches). Large wheelchairs and reclining (tilting) wheelchairs may not fit. If you use one of these, please tell us the size of your wheelchair before you book, and we will check together with you.
Accessible guest rooms
Accessible special room “Sangen Nagaya” (Room 207)
A spacious room designed for staying in a wheelchair.
- A wide door for easy entry
- A large toilet with handrails
- A washbasin you can use from your wheelchair
- Twin beds that are easy to transfer to
- A table that can be raised to wheelchair height
This room is popular, so we recommend booking early.
Accessible twin rooms (Rooms 205 and 206)
Twin rooms for guests who need an accessible room, but not as much space as the special room. Perfect for two people.
Japanese-style rooms, arranged for you
For guests who do not use a wheelchair but have trouble with their legs or back, we can arrange a Japanese-style room:
- Change the low table to a table and chairs
- Set up a simple bed instead of a futon
- Lend a floor chair with armrests that is easy to stand up from
Hot springs you can enjoy in a wheelchair
Private bath “Nijushiko”
A private bath with 100% natural, free-flowing hot spring water, designed to make bathing assistance easy.
- A gentle, slide-style slope connects the changing area to the bathtub. You can enter the water while sitting.
- A “shower de bath” that warms your whole body in about five minutes while you sit
- Your family can take their time, without rushing
- Because it is private, anyone can enjoy it: as a family bath, as a couple, or if you have tattoos
Large baths and outdoor baths
- Handrails and a slope at the entrance
- A bathtub with two depths, from half-body bathing to shoulder-deep
- Non-slip floors
- Outdoor baths renovated to be barrier-free, for both men and women
- Shower carriers (bath wheelchairs) available to borrow. They can be used in the washing area only; they cannot go into the bathtub.
A sauna you can enjoy in a wheelchair
Saunas are usually hard to use for wheelchair users. Our suite room has its own barrier-free steam sauna, and a bath wheelchair is ready for you. The steam sauna is about 50℃ with 100% humidity, so the heat is gentle and easy on the body. Wrapped in warm steam, you can relax at your own pace without worrying about anyone else.
About bathing assistance
For safety, our staff do not provide physical assistance. If you need help with bathing, we can arrange an outside caregiver (for an additional fee). Bookings can fill up, so please contact us early.
Sharing a meal together
- You can enter the dining room in your wheelchair. All seating is at tables.
- Semi-private spaces separated by noren curtains let you eat without worrying about others.
- We can adjust meals where possible: rice porridge, smaller portions, or fish instead of meat. Please ask when you book.
Getting around
We do not offer a pick-up service from Yonezawa Station, but we can book a care taxi (a wheelchair-accessible taxi) for you, or introduce wheelchair-accessible rental cars in Yonezawa. Please ask us before your trip.
Please note: care taxis in Yonezawa are few, and each booking is made especially for you. Once we have booked a care taxi, please be sure to use it as planned. If your plans change, please let us know as early as possible.
Equipment you can borrow
You do not need to bring everything with you:
- Shower carriers (bath wheelchairs), for use in the washing area only
- Wheelchairs for indoor and outdoor use
- Suction-cup handrails you can place anywhere
- Floor chairs with armrests
- Children’s chairs
- Wheel covers
- Simple beds
Onsen for everyone
Japan’s onsen and ryokan culture is for everyone. Wheelchair users, older family members, three generations together: please come and enjoy the hot spring of Onogawa Onsen, with its 1,200 years of history.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us in English before you book: tofuya@tofuya.jp
Read more: How to Enjoy a Japanese Onsen / A Ryokan Is Not a Hotel / How to Get to Yonezawa from Tokyo