Tour highlights

• Wheelchair route to the World Heritage Site, Kinkaku-ji Temple

  Normally Kinkaku-ji Temple has many stairs and gravel, but by using the accessible route for wheelchair users, you can get a close-up view of the shining Kinkaku (Shariden) from the opposite side of the pond.

• A smooth route to the rock garden at Ryoanji Temple

  Ryoanji Temple is said to be difficult to visit due to the steps, but you can access the main hall from the rear entrance with a slope. You can enjoy the scenic rock garden at your leisure from a wheelchair.

• Enjoy the Kyoto-esque scenery from the train window and on a stroll

  In the Gion Shirakawa and Philosopher's Path areas, where the cobblestones make driving difficult, you can enjoy the scenery from the window as you drive slowly, a style that only a caregiver taxi can offer. Choose a spot with good road conditions for a short stroll, and enjoy the atmosphere of the ancient capital without getting tired.

• Reliable door-to-door transportation

  Avoid crowded buses and travel the entire trip in a private vehicle. Your driver will be familiar with the locations of wheelchair-accessible restrooms and will guide you.

⚠ Notes on use

This service is an optional service for customers who have made travel arrangements, such as accommodation, through Flat Travel. We do not accept standalone use of the nursing care taxi arrangement service. Thank you for your understanding.

Itinerary

Kinkakuji Temple (Rokuonji Temple)

Kinkakuji Temple is a symbol of Kyoto. The beauty of the shining golden Shariden Hall and its reflection in the Kyokochi Pond is breathtaking. The contrast between the natural scenery of the four seasons and Kinkakuji Temple truly evokes the world of paradise. The temple grounds are mostly gravel roads, making it difficult for regular wheelchairs to get caught. However, this tour provides wheelchairs with wide tires and strong support from assistance staff, so you can travel safely. The tour route includes a "wheelchair course," which allows you to move along a slope that avoids steps. The front of the pond, the most beautiful photo spot, can be approached without any steps. Accessible restrooms are located near the parking lot and within the temple grounds, so you can enjoy sightseeing without worrying about facilities.

Ryoanji Temple

Ryoanji Temple is world-famous for its dry landscape garden with 15 stones. The garden, in which one stone is always hidden from view no matter what angle you look at it from, deeply evokes the philosophy of Zen and calms the mind of visitors. Normally, you have to climb stone steps to reach the abbot's chamber where the rock garden is located, but by using the route at the back that has been prepared for wheelchair users, you can reach the veranda of the abbot's chamber without any steps. You can go up the slope and proceed right in front of the rock garden in your wheelchair, allowing you to spend a luxurious time slowly gazing at the garden in silence. There is also a support system in place, with information on wheelchair-accessible toilets available at the visitor reception.

Philosopher's Path - Gion Shirakawa (view from the car window and stroll)

The tour concludes with a visit to an area that embodies the essence of Kyoto. The Philosopher's Path is beautiful, with cherry blossoms and autumn foliage along the canal, while Gion Shirakawa is a charming preserved district lined with stone pavement, willow trees, and traditional townhouses. These areas are often paved with cobblestones or unpaved roads, and the vibrations can be straining on the body when traveling long distances in a wheelchair. Therefore, this tour takes advantage of the benefits of a caregiver's taxi and focuses on "window-view sightseeing," as the car slowly passes through beautiful scenery. We then hop off the bus at locations with flat pavement that are ideal for photography (such as around Tatsumi Bridge) and enjoy a short stroll. This allows you to maximize your sense of "being in Kyoto" while conserving your energy.

Examples of available care taxis

Our partners are "travel professionals" who provide more than just transportation.

English-speaking, certified care driver accompanies you

Your tour will be handled by experienced drivers who hold qualifications as certified care workers, travel helpers, and tour conductors (both domestic and international). They can communicate smoothly in English, and you can rest assured that they will also provide toilet assistance and care at your accommodation. (*) We will also propose flexible courses not found in guidebooks, tailored to your physical condition and interests.

*The range of services available varies depending on your physical condition and weight, so please consult us in advance.

Comfortable travel space

Our vehicles are Toyota VOXYs (with ramps), allowing for smooth boarding and disembarking while remaining in a wheelchair. Even if you are using a large, imported wheelchair, we will confirm the dimensions in advance and suggest the optimal boarding method. Child seats are also available for families with children.

Enjoy safe and barrier-free travel with Flat Travel!

Have you given up on traveling because of age or physical concerns? Flat Travel offers barrier-free travel that can be enjoyed with peace of mind by people who require care, the elderly, and their families.

We provide total support from pre-departure preparations to returning home, tailored to each customer's physical condition and requests.

• Barrier-free planning (free of charge)

  We create plans that take into account detailed barrier-free information that you won't find on general travel sites, such as steps along the route, the location of wheelchair-accessible toilets, and the shape of hotel beds and baths. We also adjust the frequency of breaks and travel times to minimize strain on your body.

• Accompanying a "travel helper" with nursing and care qualifications

  Experienced caregivers and nurses will accompany you on your trip. They will provide specialized care, such as assistance with transferring to a wheelchair, bathing and toileting, and meal support. This will reduce the burden on your family and ensure a safe and comfortable trip.

• 24-hour medical support system

  In case you become unwell or experience any problems during your trip, we have a system in place where you can consult with doctors and nurses 24 hours a day free of charge. You can rest assured knowing that we have expert backup to deal with any problems with medical equipment or make decisions in emergencies.

Disclaimer

Before applying for this tour, please be sure to confirm and agree to the following:

1. Tour contract type (scope of arrangements)

This tour package only includes accommodation and transportation between accommodations (transportation by care taxi, etc.). Other local sightseeing tours, activities, meals, and other services are all optional (separate contract, separate fee).

2. Arranging and changing accommodation and vehicle reservations

Accommodation facilities and nursing care taxis will be arranged based on availability at the time of application. Availability is constantly changing, so if the requested accommodation is fully booked or full, we may be unable to accommodate your request and may ask you to change to a facility or vehicle of an equivalent class, or we may be unable to arrange the accommodation at all. Please note that the nursing care taxi we arrange may not necessarily be the same vehicle or model as the one in the reference photo.

3. Scope of work and skills of care taxis

The primary purpose of the nursing care taxis we arrange is to "transport customers safely."

• Services included:

  General assistance with getting on and off the vehicle, and safe operation

• Services not included:

  Physical care other than boarding and disembarking (eating, toileting, etc.), medical care, detailed local tourist guide

  Please note that while some nursing care taxis may be able to provide English support or simple guides, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to arrange (assign) a vehicle and driver that can accommodate these needs, depending on the reservation situation, etc.

• Responsibility for illness and trouble during the trip

  We offer travel insurance and 24-hour medical consultation support in case you become ill or experience any other unforeseen circumstances during your trip.

  However, providing this support does not mean that we will bear any legal responsibility for such situations. All responsibility for illness, injury, accidents, or other troubles that occur during the trip rests solely with the traveler, and we cannot be held liable for any damages. Please be sure to take care of your own health and safety before participating.

Important Notes