5 Ryokans with Electric Beds: Key Points for Staying with Wheelchair Users

Traveling with a wheelchair user who needs 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 significant strain on the caregiver's back, often causing hesitation about the trip itself. What can alleviate such concerns is an inn with electric beds. However, even with electric beds, the functions vary, and choosing the wrong one could mean "I couldn't assist as I do at home."

In this article, we will introduce the points to check in advance to confidently book an inn with electric beds.

Two Points to Consider When Choosing an Inn with Electric Beds

To ensure a stress-free trip for both the wheelchair user and the caregiver, it's important to thoroughly check the room environment in advance. Here, we introduce two points to check when selecting an inn with electric beds: the number of motors and the bed orientation.

The number of motors required during your stay depends 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 for 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 in a seated position

• Height adjustment: For those who need assistance transferring to and from a wheelchair or those who adjust the height for assistance at home

The back lift function allows you to raise the back to a seated position. It enables you to sit up from a lying position and maintain a comfortable seated posture. It's also convenient for eating while sitting on the bed.

Using the leg lift, you can elevate just the foot side. It can be used when it's more comfortable to have your feet up, and when combined with the back lift, it may help prevent the body from sliding forward.

Height adjustment allows you to change the height of the entire bed. If you usually adjust the height, having this feature means you can replicate the same procedure as at home.

Checking which buttons you use on your home electric bed's remote can give you an idea of the number of motors needed at the inn.

Bed Orientation: Can You Assist from the Same Side as at Home?

Confirming whether you can assist in the same way as at home is another important point. For example, 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 may end up assisting from the opposite side.

Differences in bed position or orientation can lead to inconvenience for both the wheelchair user and the caregiver. To reduce stress on-site, it's advisable to check the bed's position and orientation in advance.

Simulate Whether Assistance is Feasible in the Room

It's also important to check the routes to the toilet and bathroom.

• Routes to the toilet and bathroom: Can you enter with a wheelchair? How wide are the entrances?

• Movement space within the room: Are there places for luggage, and do room facilities obstruct wheelchair passage?

• Caregiver's sleeping position: Can you move from the bed and assist smoothly as at home?

Checking the width of the wheelchair and entrances can prevent situations where you find you can't enter with a wheelchair on-site.

The movement paths within the room are also important. Since luggage often increases with care supplies, check if there's space for luggage. Additionally, ensure that room facilities do not obstruct wheelchair passage and that you can move smoothly from the caregiver's sleeping place to the bed.

Simulating these before booking can help reduce issues on-site.

Five Inns and Hotels with Electric Beds

Here, we introduce five places confirmed directly by phone with each facility. We inquired about the number of motors, whether the bed orientation can be changed, and the assistive devices available for loan.

*The information on facilities and loaned items is as confirmed with each facility as of July 2026. Situations may change, so please confirm 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 for assistance at home 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 check on-site.

There are no steps from the guest room to the toilet and bathroom, and the passage width is wheelchair accessible. The required width varies depending on the type of wheelchair, so it's best to confirm by providing the width of your wheelchair.

You can bring your own assistive devices. 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 site: https://kamenoi-hotels.com/kamogawa/

参照：客室｜【公式】亀の井ホテル鴨川

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, allowing family members assisting to rest next to each other. The electric bed is a 3-motor type, allowing for back lift, leg lift, and height adjustment.

While moving on the day is difficult, if you contact in advance, they can accommodate changes in the left or right position and secure wheelchair space on the transfer side.

The assist bar (handrail) can be attached to either the head or foot side of the electric bed, and a fixed handrail can be attached to the regular bed upon request. There are no steps from the guest room to the toilet and 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 rainy weather arrangements.

You can bring your own assistive devices. A shower chair, non-slip mat, and step stool are available for loan.

Address: 405 Izutsuya-cho, Yanagibaba 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