If you live in Tokyo with a disability, reduced mobility, a chronic illness, or any other access need, the city can feel daunting at first. The good news: Tokyo has quietly built one of the most accessible transit and public systems in the world. Almost every subway station has an elevator, station staff are trained to help you board trains with a ramp, and free tools like the Help Mark exist to make invisible needs visible. This guide walks you through the practical basics so you can move around with more confidence.
Barrier-free stations and asking staff for help
On the Toei subway and other Tokyo metropolitan lines, elevators have been installed at all stations to give at least one step-free route between street level, the ticket gates, and the platform. Every row of ticket gates has at least one wide gate sized for a wheelchair. If there is a gap between the platform and the train, you do not have to manage it alone: portable boarding ramps are kept at every station, and you can simply ask staff at the gate or station office for assistance. When you request help, staff will set up the ramp for you and call ahead so that staff at your arrival station are ready with a ramp too.
You can request boarding assistance at the ticket gate or station office — you do not need to book in advance or carry any certificate. Allowing a few extra minutes helps staff arrange the ramp and notify your destination station.
Accessible and multipurpose toilets
Look for the 多目的トイレ (multipurpose toilet) or だれでもトイレ ("anyone" toilet) — large, step-free restrooms found in stations, parks, department stores, and public buildings. They are designed so that as many people as possible can use them, including wheelchair users, older people, ostomates, and parents with infants. Inside you may find sliding doors with easy-reach buttons, handrails, a wash station for ostomates, a baby chair and diaper-changing sheet, and a fold-down care bed. Because these rooms serve people who genuinely cannot use a standard stall, it is good etiquette to leave them free for those who need them and to reset any equipment when you finish.
The Help Mark: making invisible needs visible
The Help Mark (ヘルプマーク) is a small red tag, created by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, that signals you may need a seat, a little extra time, or assistance — even when your condition is not visible. It is meant for people with prosthetics or artificial joints, internal or chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, early pregnancy, and many other needs. You attach it to your bag so people around you can offer help. It is distributed free of charge, one per person, and you do not need a disability certificate or any paperwork — you simply ask for one in person.
- Where to get a Help Mark: Toei subway station offices, Toei bus depots, tram and monorail stations, Tokyo metropolitan hospitals, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Welfare Center.
- Cost and paperwork: free, no application form, no proof of disability — just a verbal request.
- If you cannot collect it yourself: a family member or friend can pick it up for you, and postal delivery may be available (you cover the mailing cost).
- On trains: priority seats (優先席) are set aside for older people, pregnant passengers, people with injuries or disabilities, and those with a Help Mark — show your mark and it is fine to use them.
Details such as exact distribution points, opening hours, and facility equipment can change, and not every station or building is identical. Always confirm current information on the official Tokyo Metropolitan Government and transit-operator pages before you travel, and for personal medical, disability-benefit, or legal questions, speak with the relevant ward office or a qualified professional.
Planning an accessible route
- Use the official "Daredemo Tokyo" (Anyone in Tokyo) site to search for barrier-free facilities, accessible toilets, and step-free venues across the city.
- Check the transit operator's accessibility page for station-by-station elevator and barrier-free route details before you set out.
- If you are unsure about a specific station, call or visit ahead and ask — staff can confirm elevator locations and arrange assistance.
- Keep the Help Mark visible on your bag so fellow passengers and staff can offer a seat or support without you having to explain.
- Do I need to book wheelchair or ramp assistance in advance?
- No. You can ask at the ticket gate or station office on the day. Booking ahead is not required, though arriving a few minutes early gives staff time to prepare the ramp and notify your arrival station.
- Is the Help Mark only for Japanese citizens?
- No. The Help Mark is for anyone who needs assistance or consideration, including foreign residents and visitors. There is no nationality requirement and no paperwork — you can request one in person at a distribution point.
- Are all Tokyo stations step-free?
- All Toei subway stations have at least one barrier-free route via elevator, and most stations across Tokyo have elevators. Layouts differ, however, so it is worth checking the operator's accessibility page or asking staff for the specific station you plan to use.
- Can I use a multipurpose toilet if I just need more space?
- These toilets are open to anyone, but they are intended first for people who cannot use a standard stall — wheelchair users, ostomates, parents with infants, and others. Please use them considerately and free them up promptly for those who need them.
