I am in my early 30s and I don't look disabled, but I use a cane. Will people on crowded trains let me have a seat? I've heard that Japan has a culture of respecting elderly, but I haven't heard of how younger disabled people are treated. I have heard that Japanese train culture can be somewhat ruthless when there are crowds, but I also hear that less populated train are more relaxed. Any knowledge on this subject will help!
by randomclothes
38 comments
I don’t think the japanese respect elderly that much. When I was in japan I didn’t notice many people at all offering their seat to elderly people. Don’t know if that treatment translates to a visible walking disability though.
What you’ve heard is broadly true. The busier cities (like Tokyo and Osaka) you’re unlikely to find people willing to give you their seat (ironically though, I find that tourists in the busier areas tend to be the ones more willing to do so).
This isn’t a judgement on the big city people though. Everyone’s just genuinely exhausted and will grab a seat when they can get it.
If you go to the ends of the carriages though, you’ll usually find special needs seats there and if you stand there with your cane, some kind soul will usually get up and give you their seat.
This won’t be a 100% guarantee though.
I remember being on a train once in the Kansai area and a woman got on and immediately loudly but firmly asked: “Would someone be so kind as to give me their seat?”
It was clear that she’s had to do that often enough that it just became a normal part of her routine. So yeah, big cities and busy periods? It’s going to be a bit hit and miss tbh…
No, not particularly. I had to use a cane for a time when I was in my 40s—I live in Japan—and never expected anyone to give up a seat for me. I wished they had, but they didn’t.
I think you will be treated well. The ruthless rush hour trains aren’t due to rudeness, it’s just necessary. There are sooo many people trying to get home that they pack the trains to the brim. I avoid trains at those hours if at all possible. I feel like there are always open seats in that part of the train. Your cane should make it obvious that you need to sit there. Of course Japan and So. Korea are different countries, but I went to a concert in Seoul and there were two stalls. One was for the disabled. I was in a line of probably 30 women for a very long time and not a single person used that stall. I truly feel you will be shown respect no matter your age. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
You may want to prepare a “Help Mark” badge to make people understand your need.
imo in Asian society, people with no disability won’t use priority seats (or normal seats) at all if they don’t need to, to avoid public shame. Hence letting seat isn’t common – people sitting are those who needs to sit, or want to sit badly, which mean they are less likely to give up the seat.
The trains in Tokyo especially are definitely ruthless. If you’re also not ruthless you won’t get a seat. So people from less crowded areas with more relaxed culture on sat giving your seat to old people or women or whatever, often find Tokyo to be rude since people often don’t do this. (The simple reality of it is its so hard to get a seat you either grab one immediately when you can or someone else will, no time for hesitancy or to consider whether or not someone needs it more than you).
That doesn’t actually mean people are rude though. If you need a seat just walk over to the priority seats find something who doesn’t, have priority, and ask them to give you their seat. 99% of the time they’ll give it to you. Just don’t expect anyone to notice you and give up their seat without you asking.
When I used to live in Tokyo I’d often sit in the priority seat as that was the only option. If someone came in who had an obvious need for it, cane, very old, kids” etc, I and most people would offer the seat. Every once in awhile someone would come on stand by the seat and give the stink eye to the people sitting there but wouldn’t say anything, and nobody would give them the seat. Not so complicated. If you don’t say anything nobody knows you want the seat and doesn’t care.
>I’ve heard that Japan has a culture of respecting elderly
Trains are a weird thing in Japan, because there is a train etiquette which is rooted in being considerate. Yet, simultaneously — people will be incredibly inconsiderate.
People will push you to get on trains and not apologise or even acknowledge you. People will just barge you to get on / off rather than just say ‘Excuse me’ or ask if you can step aside. People will cough and sneeze in your face. And here’s the one to your point — I’ve regularly seen elderly people, mothers with young children and those with visible disabilities not be offered seats on trains.
So, unfortunately, I would not expect people to offer you a seat on trains. I’m in London. And as shitty as people can be here, I always see people offering seats, yet never saw it happen in Japan. It’s not to say that nobody will. But it’s not a given. Foreigners are more likely to offer you a seat if they spot you.
I’d recommend being really particular about when you travel and avoiding rush hour at all costs if you can. Because even if you do manage to get offered a seat, getting off the train will be an ordeal, as people will not just move to let you off. There is a complete lack of spatial awareness and acknowledgment of other people on trains on Japan. It’s both bizarre and fascinating.
Personally, if I were you I would ignore all of the nonsense that on your first trip to Japan you MUST spend most of your time in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. There are plenty of wonderful places in Japan where getting a seat on public transportation would be far easier for someone such as yourself. For anyone using a cane, Tokyo would be brutal, not just because of the difficulty sitting on a train, but also moving through train stations, walking on streets where the crowds are thick, etc. The locals tend to walk much faster than people do in the states, and it is very hard if you cannot keep up with the foot traffic. There are also a lot of steps required. For example, I’d never take my elderly Japanese in-laws (who use canes to walk) to Tokyo, other than getting through Haneda.
Budget extra for taxis during peak hours.
In terms of proactively offering seats the prevailing transit culture in big cities doesn’t even “respect” old visibly disabled people. At that level of crowdedness everyone else is just a NPC.
People generally don’t give up what they have unless it’s asked of them.
Crowds, rush hour is what it is. People can’t just shuffle around and inconvenience many others just so you can offer a seat to someone because in order for that person to get there, many have to move out of the way somehow. One time I got separated from my friend because the car was absolutely packed (literally no one could move) and so I had to wait for the next train. An elderly in there will not be able to walk to a seat even if someone tried to offer theirs.
From my experience in Japan, some people do give up their seats on the train, but most of the time they don’t
I remember one time a pregnant woman was standing and everyone just stayed seated it really surprised me. In my country, if there’s an elderly or disabled person and a young person is sitting, even if he won’t get up on his own someone will tell him to
From my many times there, as a disabled person, no. If I sit in those priority seats, I get glared at, or they’d try to make me so uncomfortable that I’d get up and move. No one will give up their seat. They will look down at their phone and ignore you. I know they have a special card to show disabilities, but im unsure if people will still give up their seat during rush hour
I read a lot about the nature of Japanese helpfulness, and what I came to understand about their culture is that offering help that wasn’t asked for is not the done thing, as it’s potentially shameful and insulting to the person’s pride.
So while they can be really helpful when asked, and are very considerate of not inconveniencing others, they would not look at someone else and assume a need or weakness, because that is what is rude and insulting.
Check Tabifolk, there are probably more people with a similar experience that can tell you. They are super helpful. Hope the answers are positive and you get to safely use public transportation also in Japan 💙.
Depends on line, place, at what time and what kind of people that is on the train.
As anywhere.
My wife is pregnant. Sometimes she gets a seat. Sometimes she don’t. Depends.
You will probably be offered a seat in the priority section more often than someone without a cane for example but it may not be 100%. You can always just ask and they’ll give it to you since you have your cane.
I have only been to Japan in October Osaka and Tokyo of last year for two weeks and only a few 2 train I went on had no seats and the most crowded one was back to the airport with all the luggage but was only 5 mins ride. So definitely doable I think? I’m not sure about heavy tourist times of year.
My partner uses a walking frame every now and then during flare ups. People would offer her a seat every now and then, more so than when she was using her stick. I think the more obvious the disability, the more likely it will be.
In general I think the busier the city, the less likely you are to have people even take notice of you. In my city the people the most likely to offer a seat are actually the elderly. People that shouldn’t be giving up their seats. Good luck getting a jr. High student to give up their seat.
I also tend to notice more consideration for women. If a man is holding a baby on a bus, people are less likely to give him their seat.
The last thing I can think of is that there’s a disability tag that people tend to wear here. It’s a little red tag with a white cross on it. I usually see people give up their seats for those people. But again, a lot of people will just keep their heads down and pretend not to notice you.
I recommend you pick up a red Help Mark tag (Google it) and keep it on your bag or something you carry daily. It’s designed to be visible on public transport and busy places like train stations to alert people to a less-visible disability. On the train if you have this and a cane and stand in the area for elderly and disabled you are more likely to get a seat.
They are in drug stores and some conbini.
Depends on the location. Not Tokyo? Yes. Tokyo in rush hours? No. The rationale is: “why the fuck do you move at rush hours if you are disabled, just stay at home”.
Same applies to pregnant woman etc.
Honestly? No. They barely respect old or pregnant people enough to give up their seats. Chances are they’ll do what they always do and ignore you. They are often so unwilling to be perceived by anyone, even doing something moral and good, that they just pretend to not see you.
I recently returned from Japan. I am 66 and occasionally need a cane. Most times people offered me their seat. On the bullet trains we did reserve seats though. I definitely recommend that.
I was told by a Japanese tour guide that the elderly don’t want to be offered a seat as it would mean they are old and need help. And something with the culture that they don’t want to cause inconvenience to others. So, not about them being rude when not offering seats to the elderly I guess.
I think there are a few factors to consider.
1. Japan is an aging population so a lot of the people are old.
2. There are those who you may think is old will refuse the seat. I have gotten rejected when i offered to them as they feel it is creating inconvenience to other which japanese ranks very high on their culture. This is the same when offering seats to children etc.
3. It is not easy to identify whether someone has a chronic disease or non identifiable disabled so before we judge those sitting, do consider it.
Go to the end of cars where there are priority seats for the elderly, disabled, and pregnant women (should see signs for it on the windows often). If it’s full but someone there (of course someone who doesn’t really need that seat) sees you with your cane, one of them should give up their seat (that’s what they *should* do in any case).
Try to avoid rush hour though, because sometimes it’s so cramped that even if someone wanted to give you their seat it might be hard to move around or even see you. And you can use luggage forwarding services if you haven’t heard of that, makes it easier to travel by train between cities!
When my wife was pregnant she wore a tag on her bag as women do here. Generally the only people who ever gave up their seat for her were middle aged women, who presumably had once been in her situation.
I try to be conscious of pregnancy tags, as well as anyone else who needs a seat. But other people not so much.
I visited earlier this year with two young children (one of which is a toddler) and being pregnant (albeit not super obviously showing), I had exactly one very nice lady on a train from Osaka to Kyoto show me where the fold out bench seats were. I had heard this was the case beforehand so I wasn’t terribly surprised or disappointed.
I went earlier this year in a walking cast so I was visibly disabled.
No one gave up a seat for me except for once which I’ll talk about below. In addition there were times when other people took seats I was about to get. One time I was physically shoved by someone who took the seat I was taking.
And there was one time I sat on the floor because I was exhausted and in pain and I couldnt physically stand anymore on a 40 minute ride. That was the only time anyone got up for me.
You will have to be assertive and ask people to get up if you want any hope of a seat, and don’t use the trains during rush hour.
Also of interest to you, theres a lot of places that have very uneven ground and lots of stairs all over. Assume it will take you a lot longer to walk somewhere. I found the uneven ground really exhausting to walk on with my cast. Sidewalks are generally brick/tile/cobblestone. I imagine it is challenging with a cane as well. Not impossible but good to be prepared for
I was recently injured with crutches and about 90% of people give up their seats. The times where it didn’t happen were young people on their phones
I think you can ask and people would move as long as the disability is visible
I didn’t ride the train when it was dry humping level packed though
I saw one in a wheel chair and none really gave way, even in the designated area for wheelchairs. I heard you need to notify the train personnel ahead to assist you if you are disabled – wheelchair, cane,blind etc.
They don’t even respect old disabled people 🤣🤣
Reading this comments, do old people in Japan find offensive if you offer them the seat? Because i was in a priority seat, and when a old lady got in and i noticed her i got up and offered her the seat. But she looked at me with despise and the seat kept vacant throughout the trip. I was so embarrased with that.
I once tried to offer my seat to this lady who was carrying a baby. She politely waved “no” and smiled.
I wished she just accepted because she looked she was having a hard time standing.
If you enter at the end of a carriage with priority seats then most people will move or will have left empty. If you enter towards middle of the carriage people will assume you don’t need to sit.
Also get a Help Mark badge to attach to your bag. It’s a red label with a white heart and cross. People recognise this as disabled which is good for hidden disabilities. Google where to get one – some subway stations have them. It’s an honor system
[https://www.fukushi.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/shougai/shougai_shisaku/helpmark](https://www.fukushi.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/shougai/shougai_shisaku/helpmark)
Wear the label shown in this web site so that people will know you need an assistance.
It’s pretty much the same as with elderly people, which is to say that people won’t go out of their way to be helpful :/