Japan's First Smart Doghouse 'WanPod' Sharing Service Launches Free of Charge at E1 Tōmei Expressway's EXPASA Ashigara (Downhill)

Asahi Kasei Homes Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yuji Oowaku; hereinafter 'Asahi Kasei Homes') and Nishi-Nippon Expressway Company Ashigara Branch (Oyama-machi, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture; Branch Manager: Tsuyoshi Aizawa; hereinafter 'Nishi-Nippon Expressway') will begin a socially contributive pilot experiment on Wednesday, July 1, offering free access to the smart doghouse 'WanPod (WanPod)' at the EXPASA (Expassa) Ashigara (downhill) on the E1 Tōmei Expressway (Tōmei).

This initiative aims to verify the effectiveness of a social value model combining 'environment × disaster resilience × pet support,' leveraging Asahi Kasei Homes' environmental contributions and 'WanPod' initiatives with the public and disaster-preparedness functions of service areas (SAs) operated by Nishi-Nippon Expressway, based on actual usage data.

*Survey month (June 2026)

Key Features of the Initiative

・Japan's First Self-Service Pet Hotel on Expressways

The air-conditioned 'WanPod' sharing service reduces risks associated with leaving dogs unattended or tethered in vehicles, while also eliminating mobility constraints for dog owners. The expressway-based pilot will gather data on usage and operations.

・Social Significance of Free Access

The pilot utilizes J-Credits generated by Asahi Kasei Homes to cover user costs, making the service free. The goal is to promote environmental awareness by offering a 'service that users can trust and access with peace of mind.'

・Connecting Daily Life with Disaster Preparedness

Widespread adoption of 'WanPod' encourages crate training, facilitating smoother pet-inclusive evacuations during disasters and contributing to the realization of 'phase-free' evacuation. This aligns closely with EXPASA Ashigara (downhill)'s role as a disaster-response hub.

・Raising Disaster Awareness Among Non-Pet Owners

Through this pilot, the role of EXPASA Ashigara (downhill) as a wide-area evacuation center during disasters will be made visible, helping to raise disaster awareness among all visitors, regardless of pet ownership.

Overview of the Pilot Experiment: Free 'WanPod' Sharing Service

'WanPod' (official website: https://wanpod.jp/) is an air-conditioned smart doghouse that connects to a dedicated app, enabling remote locking/unlocking and access to monitoring cameras. It is designed for installation in commercial facilities to prevent accidents and issues arising from tethering dogs with leashes or leaving them unattended in vehicles.

Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) – June 30, 2027 (Wed) (planned)

Location: East entrance of E1 Tōmei EXPASA Ashigara (downhill), Oyama-machi, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture

Usage Fee: Free (maximum usage time: 60 minutes)

Operating Hours: 9:00 – 20:00 (subject to future revision)

Usage Method: Key management, monitoring camera access, and climate control operations via a dedicated app

Purpose: Collect data on 'WanPod' usage patterns, safety, and behavioral changes related to pet-inclusive evacuation

*The content may be suspended or changed without prior notice.

Background and Objectives

EXPASA Ashigara (downhill) has been designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a 'Disaster Response Hub Parking Area' (※1), serving as a critical facility for large-scale evacuations, rescue operations, and logistics during disasters. Nishi-Nippon Expressway has worked to enhance regional disaster resilience and user safety through the operation of such SAs (※2).

Asahi Kasei Homes promotes initiatives that generate environmental value (J-Credits) from its carbon-neutral rental housing 'Eco Regrid,' contributing to society (※3), and advances efforts to build a society where people and pets can live safely together (※4).

By collaborating, the 'public function and disaster resilience of SAs' by Nishi-Nippon Expressway and the 'social dissemination of environmental value and promotion of pet-inclusive communities' by Asahi Kasei Homes are combined, enabling verification through pilot data of a social value model integrating 'environment × disaster resilience × pet support'—a model difficult to achieve independently.