Japan has made significant progress in enhancing mobility for the elderly and people with disabilities. During our recent trip to Fukuoka, Japan, my family and I had the pleasure of traveling with our grandmother. We knew it would be challenging for our grandmother to navigate the city on foot. So we decided to rent a wheelchair in Japan, from a local rental company named Wilgo.
The renting process was simple and hassle-free. We were able to easily transport the wheelchair to different locations throughout our trip. Thanks to Wilgo, our grandmother was able to comfortably accompany us without any issues. In this post, I will share how to rent a wheelchair in Japan.
Wilgo
Wilgo is a Tokyo-based company that provides services to elderly and wheelchair users. They have wheelchair rental and transportation services with accessible vehicles to support wheelchair users in getting around the city.
Quotation of wheelchair rental
We were traveling during the New Year holidays, so I am worried that there might not be enough wheelchairs available. Hence, I messaged the company and provided them with the details of our trip. I received an email from them the next day confirming the availability of the wheelchair. They provided the quotation and asked me to confirm the type of wheelchair that I wanted to rent.
Payment
After confirmation of the details, they sent me a link via email for payment. The price for wheelchair rental and shipping fees are clearly explained in the email. The fees were transparent and matched what was advertised on their website. They accept PayPal, electronic payments, and credit cards as payment.
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Change of wheelchair drop off location
I originally planned to pick up and drop off the wheelchair at our hotel. However, a few days before our scheduled departure, my grandmother began experiencing leg pain. We realized she would have difficulty walking through the airport on our date of departure. So, I contacted the company and asked if it is possible to change the drop off location to airport instead.
The company’s prompt and exceptional response is very impressive. In fact, they went the extra mile to explore various options. They mentioned the pros and cons of each options, and provided me with the best alternatives. After finalizing the new drop-off location, they also helped us notify the hotel about the delivery of the wheelchair.
Wheelchair
After receiving our room keys, the hotel gave us the rented wheelchair. It was compact and much better than the wheelchairs I have rented before. I really like it because we could fold the handle of the wheelchair and the footrests, making it easy to fit in the car. Despite its small size, it could accommodate a weight of 75kg to 100kg. The wheelchair bag comes with an instruction on how to use the wheelchair, and a return shipping slip.
Besides wheelchairs, Wilgo also rents out portable ramps. Since we are only going to nearby places and mostly shopping malls, we did not rent portable ramps.
Returning the wheelchair
To return the wheelchair we rented, we went to Yamato Transport Service, located at the 1st floor of Fukuoka International Airport. The return process was simple because Wilgo already provided a return shipping slip, with all the necessary information filled in. We put the wheelchair back into the bag and hand the shipping slip to the staff.
For those planning a trip to Japan with an elderly family member, I highly recommend renting a wheelchair from Wilgo. In fact, this was my second time renting a wheelchair from them, and I am very pleased with their service. Wilgo is an exceptional company that provides top-notch services for people who need mobility assistance. They provided us with a high-quality wheelchair that was comfortable and easy to use. In addition, they went above and beyond to ensure our trip was smooth and stress-free.