Nagano Prefecture Bus Location System 'Bus Yoho' to Launch with 4 Operators in Nagano Region

Artisan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chofu City, Tokyo; Representative Director: Saiki Koyama) announces the launch of 'Bus Yoho,' a real-time bus operation information distribution service, for target bus routes in the Nagano region, starting Monday, March 30, 2026. This initiative is part of the "Nagano Prefecture Bus Location System Introduction Project" commissioned by the Nagano Prefecture Public Transportation Revitalization Council.

This system will be provided as a service usable from smartphone browsers without the need for a dedicated app, centered on a real-time location information distribution platform compliant with GTFS and GTFS-RT. It also supports notification functions via LINE and data integration with Google Maps, contributing to the improvement of public transportation convenience.

## 1. Service Overview

### Service Start Date
- Monday, March 30, 2026: Nagano Electric Railway Bus and Alpico Kotsu (Nagano City routes), all Chikuma City Circulating Bus routes
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026: 3 Nagano City bus routes, Nagano Electric Railway Bus "Tohoku Gururin-go"

### Target Operators
- Nagano Electric Railway Bus (routes operating within Nagano City)
- Alpico Kotsu (routes operating within Nagano City)
- Nagano City (Shinmachi Ooharabashi Line, Kohfu Line, Kinasa Line city buses)
- Chikuma City (all circulating bus routes)

## 2. Technical Features

### GTFS / GTFS-RT Compliant Real-time Distribution Platform
- Manages timetable and route data in compliance with the international standard format GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification)
- Distributes real-time bus vehicle location information via GTFS-RT, providing highly accurate estimated arrival times
- Supports real-time operation information on Google Maps through Google integration (to be implemented sequentially after April 2026)
- Automatic setup possible with only GPS terminals through patented technology

### User-facing Features
- Available for free from smartphone browsers, etc. No dedicated app download required
- Real-time guidance for bus operation information
- Supports bus arrival notification function via LINE
- Displays announcements related to buses (e.g., temporary cancellations)

## 3. Background and Future Developments

In Nagano Prefecture, as part of promoting comfortable waiting environments to realize easy-to-use regional public transportation, the existing "Shinshu Navi" bus location system functionality will cease on March 31, 2026, and transition to 'Bus Yoho,' which has more advanced real-time distribution capabilities.

Artisan Co., Ltd. is responsible for the development and operation of this system, ensuring stable delivery of accurate real-time data based on GTFS-RT. Moving forward, the company will continue to promote regional transportation DX, including expanding to other areas within the prefecture and improving the accuracy of arrival time predictions using AI.

## 4. About Artisan Co., Ltd.

Keywords: Bus location system, Bus Yoho, Artisan Co., Ltd., Nagano City Bus, Public transportation DX, Bus operation information, Regional transportation digitalization, SaaS public transportation