Naniwa Issui is a traditional Japanese inn with hot springs and was nominated for a Blue Badge Access Award in 2024.

Located in Matsue the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, Japan, located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu.

This Hotel/Inn was built to be inclusive. It has all the disability equipment you may need with different transfer aids so anyone can enjoy the baths, easy grab cutlery and bed grab bars.

This was their nomination details:

Japanese hot springs and traditional inns are an important part of the culture and history of Japan. However, they have often been off limits for people with limited mobility due to steps, sitting on mats on the floor, low tables (used when sitting on the floor), inaccessible hot springs etc. So many people were excluded from an important aspect of the Japanese experience.

The owner of Naniwa Issui has taken on a multi-year project to make his facility accessible to everyone, while maintaining the beauty and tradition of Japanese inns/hot springs. In addition to adding access to all areas of the building, visitors have a choice of luxurious rooms that have all been adapted, added adaptations to make the baths accessible (pool chair), and much much more. They also do a great job of sharing their accessibility information on their website in a way that is easy to find.

The hotel looks over Lake Shinji and the accessibility includes:

“10 Barrier-free universal design guest rooms

◇The public spaces in this facility are barrier-free with no steps.
◇The 3 rooms are “a space where a bath lift or shower carrier can be installed” and “a space where a wheelchair can rotate (toilet, washbasin, bathroom)”.
◇”Shower carry with lift” is available at the men’s and women’s public baths.
◆Two new barrier-free rooms will open in February 2023!”

The Lake Has abundant Seafood & Dinners Also Overlook The Lake

A Variety of Transfer Aids Ensure Everyone Enjoys The Hot Baths

Bathroom is Accessible With High Japanese Style Toilet

Toilet Has Good Colour Contrast With Standout Mustard Grab Rails

The Courtesy Bus is Wheelchair Accessible

Assistance dogs are welcome and they have written tablets for communication. They also detail their accessibility with images, something we all want from all hotels. The 2024 Japan Travel Awards said:

“The level at which Naniwa Issui has adapted its services to meet the needs of various travelers is beyond anything impressive we’ve witnessed so far in Japan. They have 10 (out of 23) fully wheelchair-accessible and gorgeously designed rooms, customized for the perfect comfort of every guest. Aside from their in-room baths, the indoor communal baths are also wheelchair-accessible”

Blue Badge Style

We Re-Define Disability With Style

Naniwa Issui, Japan

Naniwa Issui, Japan

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