Accessible housing in Tokyo: measure the whole route

Start with the person and the route

Access needs differ. Write down the clear widths, turning areas, support needs and equipment dimensions that matter to the person using the home. Decide which measurements must be confirmed before a viewing and which need an in-person check. Share only the relevant requirements with the provider.

Trace the route continuously: street, building entrance, intercom, shared corridor, lift, unit door and rooms. An isolated photo of a ramp or lift leaves the connections between those spaces unknown. Ask for a continuous video or measured plan when you cannot visit.

Request dimensions, not reassurance

Test ordinary activities

Think beyond entering the building. Can you collect deliveries, manage laundry, reach storage and move between the bed and bathroom in the way you need? Ask who can approve or arrange any necessary changes; do not assume that a fixture can be moved or installed.

A route described as close to a station may still depend on a particular entrance or connection. Check current transport information for the actual journey. A general area guide is orientation, not an accessibility audit of that route.

Record what has and has not been verified

For every requirement, label the evidence as a measured document, provider statement, video observation or personal inspection. Keep unknown dimensions visible. If suitability depends on specialist assessment, arrange that before treating the property as confirmed.

This checklist is an editorial planning aid. It does not certify accessibility or establish compliance with any standard. MLIT’s housing guidance and official destination information are starting points for further questions; the specific home needs its own assessment.