Traveling with wheelchair users who need assistance when getting up or standing. Have you ever had experiences like these when choosing accommodations?
"The bed height didn't match, making lifting difficult."
"Assistance that was possible at home was difficult on the inn's bed."
The low beds or futons typical of inns can put a strain on the caregiver's back, often causing hesitation about traveling. What alleviates such concerns is an inn with electric beds. However, electric beds come with various functions, and choosing the wrong one might lead to "I couldn't assist as I do at home."
In this article, we introduce the key points to check in advance to confidently book an inn with electric beds.
Two Points to Consider When Choosing an Inn with Electric Beds
The number of motors needed during your stay will be based on the electric bed you use at home. The following are the functions needed for different individuals:
Back lift: For those who find it difficult to sit up on their own or caregivers who are concerned about lifting the body
Leg lift: For those who feel more comfortable with their legs elevated or tend to slide forward when sitting
Height adjustment: For those who need assistance transferring from a wheelchair or who adjust the height at home for assistance
The back lift function allows you to raise the back to a seated position, making it easier to sit up from a lying position. It's also convenient for dining while seated on the bed.
Using the leg lift, you can elevate just the foot side. It's useful when you feel more comfortable with your legs up, and when combined with the back lift, it can help prevent sliding forward.
Height adjustment allows you to change the height of the entire bed. If you usually change the height at home, having this feature means you can replicate your usual assistance routine.
Checking the remote control of your home electric bed to see which buttons you typically use can help you determine the number of motors needed at the inn.
Bed Orientation: Can You Assist from the Same Side as at Home?
It's also important to confirm whether you can assist in the same way as at home. For instance, if you usually assist from the right side of the bed at home, but at the inn, there's only space on the left side, you'll have to assist from the opposite side.
Differences in bed position or orientation can lead to inconvenience for both wheelchair users and caregivers. To reduce stress on-site, it's advisable to check the bed's position and orientation in advance.
Simulating "Whether Assistance is Possible" in the Room
It's also important to check the pathways to the toilet and bathroom.
Pathways to the toilet and bathroom: Can you enter with a wheelchair? How wide are the entrances?
Space for movement in the room: Is there enough space for luggage and room facilities not to obstruct wheelchair passage?
Sleeping position of the caregiver: Can you move from the bed and assist smoothly as at home?
By checking the width of the wheelchair and the entrance, you can prevent situations where you can't enter with the wheelchair on-site.
The room's pathways are also important. Since luggage often increases with assistance tools, make sure there's space to place them. Additionally, check that room facilities don't obstruct wheelchair passage and that you can move smoothly from the caregiver's sleeping area to the bed.
Simulating these aspects before booking can help reduce issues on-site.
Four Recommended Inns and Hotels with Electric Beds
Here, we introduce four places we directly confirmed by phone. We inquired about the number of motors, whether the bed orientation can be changed, and the assistance tools available for loan at each location.
*The information on facilities and loan items is based on confirmations made in July 2026. Conditions may change, so please verify with each facility before booking.
Kamenoi Hotel Kamogawa (Chiba)
This is a hot spring hotel in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture. There is only one barrier-free room, so it's recommended to inquire early once your schedule is set.
The electric bed is a 3-motor type, allowing for back lift, leg lift, and height adjustment. Those who adjust the height at home while assisting can easily replicate the same procedure.
The bed is fixed and cannot be moved, but there is space to park a wheelchair on either side. A removable ceiling lift is available, making it easy to move from the bed to the toilet or bathroom. If you have concerns about using it, it's recommended to inquire in advance or confirm on-site.
There are no steps from the room to the toilet or bathroom, and the passage width is wheelchair accessible. The required width varies depending on the type of wheelchair, so it's best to communicate the width of your wheelchair for confirmation.
Assistance tools can be brought in. Wheelchairs and shower chairs are available for loan, but non-slip mats are not available for loan. If you plan to use one in the bathroom, please bring your own.
[Basic Information]
Address: 1137 Nishimachi, Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture
Phone: 04-7092-1231
Official Website:https://kamenoi-hotels.com/kamogawa/
Hotel Tamanoyu (Nagano, Matsumoto Asama Onsen)
This is a hot spring inn in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. The guest room has one electric bed and one regular bed side by side, allowing family members assisting to rest nearby. The electric bed is a 3-motor type, allowing for back lift, leg lift, and height adjustment.
Although moving on the day is difficult, if you contact them in advance, they can accommodate changes in left-right positions and secure wheelchair space on the side you need to transfer from.
The assistance bar (handrail) can be attached to either the head or foot side of the electric bed, and fixed handrails can be attached to the regular bed upon request. There are no steps from the room to the toilet or bathroom, and the passage width is wheelchair accessible.
On the 5th floor, there is a private bath "Harunoyu" with a lift. After moving by elevator, there is a section where you go outside and up a slope, so it's reassuring to check with the inn about rain measures.
Assistance tools can be brought in. There is one shower chair available for loan, as well as non-slip mats and stepping stools.
[Basic Information]
Address: 405 Izutsuya-cho, Yanaginobamba Rokkaku-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-221-3535
Official Website:https://matsui-inn.com/
参照：客室｜【公式】松井本館
Ready to Use! Inquiry Example Checklist
When confirming by phone or email, many people might wonderwhat and how to ask. Refer to the examples below and inquire about any concerns in advance.
Example 1: Electric Bed Features (Number of Motors)
"I would like a room with an electric bed. Which of the following functions are available: back lift, leg lift, or height adjustment?"
For wheelchair users,having a motor they are accustomed to using provides reassurance. Knowing in advance which motors are available can help visualize assistance at the location.
Example 2: Bed Orientation and Assistance Space
"I currently assist from the right (or left) side of the bed. Is there space for a wheelchair to access from that side? Also, could you tell me the path from the assistant's sleeping area to the bed?"
It's important to confirmif assistance can be provided from the usual direction while traveling. Also, don't forget to check the assistant's path, which is often overlooked.
Example 3: Path to Barrier-Free Toilet and Bathroom
"Can I move from the room to the toilet and bathroom in a wheelchair? Also, please let me know the width of the corridors and doors, and if there are any steps."
Checking the width of corridors and doors is crucial. Even asmall step can be an issue, so it's reassuring to inquire in advance.
Example 4: Bringing or Renting Assistance Equipment
"Is it possible to bring assistance equipment like sliding boards or cushions that I usually use? Also, please let me know if there are any assistance items available for rent on-site."
"I couldn't find information about bringing ◯◯ (equipment name), is it allowed?"
Items available for rent are often listed in the FAQ section on the website, so please check there as well.
Key Points to Determine "It's Safe Here" from Responses
Whether specific numbers are provided is an important point. Inns that provide specific answers like "It is ◯ cm wide" or "There is ◯ cm of space on the right side of the bed" often have checked the rooms themselves, allowing you to book with confidence.
On the other hand, if the response is abstract, like "It's barrier-free, so it's okay,"consider contacting them again and asking, "Could you send me a photo?" Sometimes, photos can explain what words cannot.
Summary
We introduced four inns with electric beds. Depending on the inn, there are differences inwhether the bed can be moved and the number of motors. Among the four inns, it varied betweenthree motors or two, determining whether height adjustment is possible.
Some may hesitate to travel due to experiences like "The bed height didn't match, making lifting difficult" or "Assistance that was possible at home was challenging with the inn's bed." We hope this article serves as a guide to help you choose inns without trouble.
Additionally, since barrier-free rooms are limited at each inn, early inquiries are crucial. If you find an inn of interest, use the examples in the article to inquire.
