Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden will conduct model tours for persons with disabilities with the aim of creating an environment where all visitors, regardless of disability, age, or other individual characteristics, can use and enjoy the Garden safely and comfortably.

Through these model tours, participants will be invited to walk through the Garden and provide feedback regarding the convenience and accessibility of movement within the Garden, facility use, information access, and related matters. The feedback collected will be used to improve guidance services, information dissemination, facility accessibility, and other aspects of the Garden in order to promote accessible tourism at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

●Purpose
“Accessible tourism” refers to initiatives that enable everyone to enjoy travel while addressing the needs of people who face challenges in mobility or communication, including persons with disabilities and older adults. In 2021, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 21902, an international standard for accessible tourism, and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) developed related guidelines. As a result, momentum for accessible tourism has been growing internationally in recent years.

The number of visitors to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has been increasing in recent years. International visitors account for a significant proportion of users, and the Garden attracts a wide range of age groups, from infants to senior citizens. To date, Shinjuku Gyoen has implemented various barrier-free initiatives, including wheelchair rental services, the installation of accessible public toilets for wheelchair users, and communication boards for written conversations. The Garden has also strengthened information dissemination concerning universal design both on-site and through its website. However, given the diversity and varying degrees of disabilities, the current environment and information services cannot yet be considered fully accessible to all persons with disabilities.

Therefore,Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden will conduct model tours for persons with disabilities to ensure that all visitors, regardless of disability, age, or other characteristics, can safely enjoy the Garden.Surveys and interviews will also be conducted with participants to identify challenges and needs, and the findings will be used to improve the Garden’s reception and accessibility environment in support of accessible tourism.

●Overview of the Model Tours
・Dates and Target Participants
Session Date Target Participants
-1st Tour Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Wheelchair users
-2nd Tour Monday, October 12, 2026 (National Holiday) Persons with visual impairments
-3rd Tour Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Persons with hearing impairments
-4th Tour Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Persons with mobility difficulties

・Organizers
-The National Gardens Association – Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
-Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Office, Ministry of the Environment
-Other cooperating organizations
As these tours are being conducted as model tours, applications from the general public will not be accepted.

●Reference
Universal Design Initiatives at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
https://policies.env.go.jp/national-garden/shinjukugyoen/english/guide/ud/
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