Kyoto, Japan: Mitsui Garden Hotel Accessibility

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo in Japan is a mid-ranged-price hotel on a small side street. The Kyoto subway is not located far from this hotel as well as a number of attractions, including the popular Nishiki Market. The automatic doors open up to the lobby’s smooth marble floor. The décor was modern and simple. The check-in desk did not have a lowered section but wasn’t the full height of a standing counter so it was manageable. The lobby floor also has a small café where you can get a continental breakfast. On the second floor is the Otowa restaurant which serves a buffet breakfast with Japanese and Western foods. There is even a public bath (Japanese hot tub) on the lobby floor near the elevator. The public bath does not have any accessible modifications but still may be accessible for some.

Only one handicapped room is available at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo which is room #223. The wide door can be opened using a card that you then place in the holder by the door to get electricity flowing (lights and Heat/AC). An adaptation in the closet makes hanging things up possible. A long desk with a refrigerator, humidifier, teapot, and flat-screen TV sat against the wall directly in front of the twin beds. The beds were low and firm and barely enough space for my wheelchair to fit in between.   

The bathroom door had a Western-style door handle and a typical handicapped setup. The toilet, sink, and bathtub parallel each other; there was no roll-in shower. The toilet had bars you could lower to help you on and off and buttons to operate hygiene functions.  The sink is a standard roll-up sink similar to what’s commonly seen in the U.S.  and next to this is the bathtub with grab bars. The bathtub was low and the hotel provided a portable, hard plastic shower bench without a backrest. Getting out of the bathtub was a bit challenging. Portable soap, shampoo, and conditioner can be placed within reach.