Originally Posted by
jpdx
IC Tokyo Bay might work, easy access to Hinode Pier and all the places the waterbus goes; however, the Yurikamome isn't easily accessible and neither is Shinbashi JR station. The Westin may be an option, but I am not sure about the walkway from Ebisu station (any stairs?). Finally, the best bet (perhaps) is IC Strings, located directly on top of Shinagawa station, which is excellent for accessibility.
What would you recommend? Thanks in advance!
It's clear you've thought about it quite deeply. I agree that the Strings looks like it has the best access from the station out of the ones you've considered. The Westin hotel itself is cited as "barrier free" in some online forums for wheelchair users, but that walk ... on those bouncy walkways. Hmmm. It's step-free, I think, but so long!
An alternative suggestion - there are several hotels directly attached to Tokyo Station:
(1) Marunouchi Hotel - You can certainly access the hotel via the underground passage out of the station and via street level. I think the underground passage may be less bumpy, since there isn't even a curb to negotiate.
(2) Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi - I'm pretty sure this is just a flat walk.
(3) Shangri-La Tokyo - I'll confess I am not sure about this one, but I can take a look this weekend.
I think the Tokyo Station area has a little more atmosphere than around Shinagawa. Marunouchi has wide sidewalks, pedestrianized areas. It's hard for me to say whether it's "barrier free" or wheelchair friendly ... although I do recall that I regularly saw a guy in a wheelchair decked out in extreme-right-wing slogans who voiced his opinion through a megaphone at the passing crowds in that area. I guess he must have found it convenient ...
I found this guide to disabled access on JR railways around Tokyo, which might be of interest. It's in Japanese, but you may be able to interpret the facilities at all the stations based on the icons.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/setsubi/
The Subway Oedo line claims to have been specifically designed for accessibility, but I think that's dubious. Although the stations are kitted out with elevators, the platforms are so terribly deep, it takes several elevator journeys (with walks in between each elevator ride) to get anywhere. And the elevators often serve one end of the station but not the other. I remember a disabled person complaining that the Ushigomekagurazaka station placed its disabled access at the furthest end of the station from the commercial center - Although it was "barrier free" on paper, it was as good as useless for a wheelchair user seeking to go shopping in Kagurazaka.
As for advice on getting around Tokyo in a chair, I recommend that you search the archive for the posts that LapLap made when she was temporarily wheelchair bound. Her account of Tokyo from the perspective of a wheelchair user might help you.