This is the Hokkaido edition of Ayumi's special series on barrier-free information sites!
Whether you're a resident of Hokkaido or someone who wants to visit but is hesitant due to uncertainty about barrier-free facilities, this guide is for you.
Ayumi has previously published articles summarizing barrier-free information sites for various regions, so be sure to check those out as well.
National Edition:
Kanto Edition:
Kansai Edition:
Tohoku Edition:
Shikoku Edition:
Kyushu Edition:
Chugoku Region Edition:
1. Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-Free Tour Center
The Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-Free Institute, a non-profit organization, provides services under the theme "A city that is kind and easy to live in for everyone."
One of their main services is featuring barrier-free information about the Hokkaido area, gathered by individuals with disabilities themselves.
The site is designed to allow users to quickly check barrier-free conditions by category.
- Dining
- Sightseeing
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Entertainment
- Restrooms
- Facilities
- Transportation
Each spot includes brief reviews and images, which can be helpful when planning your visit.
In addition to providing information on tourist spots, they also offer free consultations to alleviate travel concerns.
Notably, they offer a rental service for "Comfortable AQURO," a wheelchair that can navigate snowy roads, which is ideal for winter sightseeing in Asahikawa.
The Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-Free Institute also engages in other activities such as the employment support center Team Guren and the SST (Social Skills Training) for creating inclusive communities.
In particular, the SST for creating inclusive communities was awarded the Good Design Award in 2022, receiving high praise from various sectors.
Reference: Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-Free Tour Center | Kamui Daisetsu Barrier-Free Institute
2. Welcome to Sapporo
The Sapporo Tourism Association operates a tourism site called Welcome to Sapporo.
One of the features of Welcome to Sapporo is the Sapporo Barrier-Free Spots, which introduces commercial facilities and tourist spots within Sapporo City.
In addition to highlighting attractions and ways to enjoy them, it provides barrier-free information such as wheelchair-accessible parking and facilities for the visually impaired.
The site uses pictograms to make the information visually accessible, allowing anyone to easily obtain barrier-free information.
Not only are facilities introduced by category, but they can also be compared by theme, such as "Where to Buy Souvenirs!" or "Experience History and Art with All Senses," using pictograms to compare their barrier-free status.
Detailed information about each facility includes images, which can be helpful when deciding whether to visit.
The Sapporo Barrier-Free Spots also provide basic information about Sapporo that is useful for travel planning, so be sure to check it out to better appreciate Sapporo's charm.
Reference: Sapporo Barrier-Free Tourist Spots | Sapporo Tourism Association
3. Barrier-Free Map Together in Hokkaido
The Barrier-Free Map Together in Hokkaido is a service operated by the Community Welfare Division of the Health and Welfare Department.
It provides barrier-free information for various facilities across Hokkaido.
- Municipal Offices
- Health and Welfare Facilities
- Medical and Emergency Facilities
- Community Centers and Public Halls
- Tourist Spots and Exchange Facilities
- Museums, Art Galleries, and Archives
- Libraries and Lifelong Learning Facilities
- Sports Facilities
- Parks and Green Spaces
- Bathing Facilities
- Transportation Facilities
- Private Stores
- Accommodation Facilities
The Barrier-Free Map Together in Hokkaido is particularly appealing for its abundance of information on public facilities.
Additionally, as a service operated by a municipality, it features accessibility options such as a read-aloud function, making it easy for anyone to obtain information.
Each facility's website is linked, so you can check the overview with pictograms and then visit the website for more details.
Reference: Barrier-Free Map Together in Hokkaido | Community Welfare Division, Health and Welfare Department
4. Barrier-Free Town Map
The Barrier-Free Town Map is a service operated by the City of Sapporo.
It allows users to check the availability of facilities such as wheelchair-accessible parking and multipurpose restrooms at commercial facilities and government offices in Sapporo City on a map on the website.
Each commercial facility listed has at least one of the following:
- Wheelchair-accessible parking
- Multipurpose restrooms
- Wheelchair-accessible elevators
The map allows users to filter by category and easily limit the search area.
By viewing it on a smartphone and opening it in Google Maps, the navigation function makes it easy to move around without getting lost.
If you suddenly need to find a restroom or want to locate a nearby barrier-free facility, the Barrier-Free Town Map will be extremely useful!
Reference: Barrier-Free Town Map | City of Sapporo
5. Chitose Tourism Navi
Chitose Tourism Navi is a service packed with information for those looking to explore Chitose.
Its main feature, the Barrier-Free Map, introduces the barrier-free status of various facilities by area using pictograms.
In addition to an electronic map, it can be downloaded as a PDF file for printing, allowing you to carry a paper version.
A universal map/navigation system is also available, providing more options to plan routes that suit your needs.
Notably, it is linked with welfare vehicle taxi services, offering support from arranging a welfare vehicle taxi to transportation, which is a great feature!
Furthermore, Chitose Tourism Navi offers content such as video introductions of adult women's wheelchair travel model tours and barrier-free model courses, which can be very informative.
It offers half-day, full-day, and 2-night-3-day courses, showing actual wheelchair users enjoying the tours, making it enjoyable just to watch!
Tours for seniors and people with disabilities are also available, allowing you to enjoy sightseeing comfortably using welfare vehicles.
Reference: Chitose Tourism Navi | Chitose Tourism Association
6. Conclusion
We hope you now understand that there are many services providing barrier-free information in the Hokkaido area!
It's great to see that information is provided not only at the municipal level but also by private services, offering firsthand information from actual users.
Additionally, municipal services have made efforts to make location searches easy with maps.
Be sure to use the services introduced here to enjoy your trip to Hokkaido or enhance your everyday life!
Furthermore, snow measures
