Barrier-free design for the handicapped in stations of Japanese national railway.

In 1977 the "barrier-free design standard for the handicapped in stations" was presented in Japan. Since then, based on this standard the facilities and equipments have been gradually improved. In April 1980, there were 57 stations equipped with bathrooms with handrails, 127 stations with improved fare collection gates, 13 stations with elevators, 290 stations with warning and guiding pavers, stations with signs for tactile reading on ticket vendors.