KYOTO—A cafe owner who promotes universally accessible tourism is now providing a rental service for Whill, a personal mobility system similar to an electric wheelchair, following requests from foreign visitors.
Atsumi Nakamura, 57, operates Spring, a café in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward where all 14 seats are wheelchairs.
She encourages customers with no wheelchair experience to sit in one, move around and push it.
Her philosophy is to provide an environment where everyone, whether young or old, with or without disabilities, is free to travel.
“I want to create a society where no one is obliged to say to others while traveling, ‘I’ll be waiting in the room because I’m in a wheelchair, so go ahead,’” Nakamura said.
REQUESTED BY TOURISTS
The Whill machines at the cafe have proved particularly popular, and Nakamura started the rental service in autumn this year on the request of foreign tourists.
Known as a short-distance electric mobility vehicle, the Whill can be operated on sidewalks without a driver’s license.
Nakamura said tourists who suffered injuries during their long stays in Kyoto have inquired about wheelchair rentals at Barrier-Free Tourism Kyoto and the travel business department of her company, Support Doremi.
Her cafe is located near both Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and Tofukuji temple, popular tourist sites.
“We wanted to overcome the negative image and emotional barriers associated with wheelchairs by creating a new type of mobility system with a good design,” said Natsuki Shinmen, public relations manager at Whill Inc. “With that ideal in mind, our company was founded at the initiative of someone involved in exterior design duties at Nissan Motor Co.”
The Whill not only has a stylish design, but it also boasts great mobility. Its speed and direction are controlled by a joystick, and it automatically brakes when the stick is released, even on slopes.
Capable of climbing 5-centimeter-tall steps, the Whill can also go up and down a 9-degree slope at an approach to Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and travel on a pebbled path on the shrine’s premises.
It has a maximum speed of 6 kph.
Nakamura said she hopes the Whill can ease the burden on caregivers and help disabled tourists more enjoy trips with their companions.
She also welcomes those who find it tiring walking long distances.
“Like bicycles and electric kick scooters for rental, I hope everyone gives it a try in a casual manner,” Nakamura added.
The Whill can be rented from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the same hours of the cafe, for 1,500 yen ($9.70) for half a day and 3,000 yen for a day.
The costs for cafe users are 500 yen for half a day and 1,000 yen for a day.
For inquiries, call Spring at (075-708-3344).
AVAILABLE AROUND THE WORLD
Whill was coined from the words “wheelchair” and “will.”
According to the company, the device is used in 30 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Germany and Taiwan.
In Japan, the Whill has been introduced to about 60 facilities, such as airports, theme parks, outlet malls and hospitals.
In the Kinki region, the facilities include: Kansai Airport and the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka Prefecture; the Shima Spanish Village theme park in Mie Prefecture; Himeji Castle and the Kinosaki Onsen resort area in Hyogo Prefecture; the Adventure World amusement park in Wakayama Prefecture; and the state-run Nara Palace Site Historical Park in Nara Prefecture.
AloJapan.com