[4th Installment!] Fuji City and Surrounding Area Revitalization Project: Fuji Marugoto Hitotabi ~Too Good to Just Pass Through~

The 4th installment of the "Public-Private-Community Integrated Fuji City Area Revitalization Project," a first-of-its-kind initiative involving local railways, highway operators, and local governments, titled "Fuji Marugoto Hitotabi ~Too Good to Just Pass Through~," will be held from Thursday, July 30, 2026, to Wednesday, March 31, 2027.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Fuji City's incorporation. With the catchphrase "Too Good to Just Pass Through," we will strengthen the promotion of Fuji City's attractions through renewed collaboration among stakeholders. In addition to the existing four partners, Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus Co., Ltd., which plays a role in the city's public transportation, will newly join the initiative. We aim to further enhance the vibrancy of the Fuji region, expand the use of facilities owned by each participating entity, and promote regional revitalization through a more integrated approach. We kindly request your understanding of the purpose of this project and your cooperation in media coverage and interviews.

Main Visual

Overall Outline

1. Project Period: Thursday, July 30, 2026 – Wednesday, March 31, 2027

2. Participating Organizations: Gakunan Electric Train Co., Ltd., NEXCO CENTRAL, ChNEXCO Service, Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus Co., Ltd., various facilities, and other locations throughout Fuji City.

3. Project Details:

(1) Digital Stamp Rally [Continued]

(2) Quiz Rally [Continued]

(3) Highway Mite! Mite! Tours 2026 [Continued]

(4) Collaboration Merchandise [Continued]

(5) Samonyan x Michimarukun Collaboration Commemorative Train [Continued]

(6) Gakunan Electric Train Head Mark Design Contest [Renewed]

(7) Gakunan Electric Train Festival 2026 [Continued]

(8) Collaborative Bus Tour "Experience the Transportation Infrastructure Supporting the City" [NEW]

(9) Rail & Highway Collaboration Event [NEW]

(10) Joint PR and Support for School Excursions [NEW]

[Memorandum of Understanding]

Gakunan Electric Train Co., Ltd., NEXCO CENTRAL Tokyo Branch Fuji Maintenance & Service Center, and ChNEXCO Service Co., Ltd. Suruga Branch, along with Fuji City, signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration and cooperation in FY2023 with the aim of contributing to the revitalization of the community centered around Fuji City.

As Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus Co., Ltd. will now officially participate, a new memorandum of understanding for collaboration and cooperation will be signed. The signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding will be held as follows:

Details:

1. Date and Time: Monday, July 6, 2026, 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM

2. Venue: Fuji City Hall, 8th Floor, Special Reception Room

3. Attendees: Mayor of Fuji City, Director-General of General Affairs, Fuji City City Promotion Division officials

NEXCO CENTRAL Tokyo Branch Fuji Maintenance & Service Center

ChNEXCO Service Co., Ltd. Suruga Branch

Gakunan Electric Train Co., Ltd.

Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus Co., Ltd. Respective officials

4. Agenda: Explanation of the purpose of the agreement, Signing of the agreement, Address by the Mayor of Fuji City, Addresses by representatives of each company.

[Catchphrase "Too Good to Just Pass Through"]

This catchphrase conveys that Fuji City, "the only city in Japan with an elevation range from 0 meters above sea level to Mt. Fuji," possesses various attractions such as factory night views and views of Mt. Fuji from different locations within the city, which are like photographs.

Located between the Tokyo/Yokohama area and the Nagoya/Osaka area, Fuji City, where you can view the majestic Mt. Fuji from highway and train windows, has many attractions that are "too good to just pass through" while traveling, and this sentiment is directly expressed.

(1) Digital Stamp Rally "Fujisanpo Rally" ~A Stroll to Encounter Mt. Fuji~ [Continued]

A digital stamp rally will be held, covering five locations in Fuji City where Mt. Fuji can be beautifully seen, including Gakunan Electric Train stations, Tomei Expressway Fuji River Service Area (SA), and Fuji-san Yume no Ohashi Bridge. Participants who collect all the stamps and apply will be entered into a lottery for prizes.

* Project Period: Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Monday, August 31, 2026 * How to Participate: Download the NEXCO CENTRAL official smartphone app "Waku Waku Highway" to participate. Search for "Waku Waku Highway" or access via the QR code below. * Checkpoints (5 locations): Fuji River SA (Up/Down), Gakunan Electric Train Gakunan Fujioka Station, Obuchi Sasaba, Fuji-san Yume no Ohashi Bridge.

How to Download "Waku Waku Highway"

"Waku Waku Highway" can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.

You can download and use it from the QR codes below.

QR Codes for Each Download Site

(2) Quiz Rally "Fuji Sai Meguri" ~A Journey Colored by Fuji~ [Continued]

A rally event will be held where participants can solve quizzes (riddles) related to each point while visiting Mt. Fuji viewing spots in Fuji City, such as Gakunan Electric Train stations and Tomei Fuji River SA (Up/Down).

At each checkpoint, participants can enjoy AR experiences with handwritten hashtag frames suitable for each location, and a lottery will be held for those who answer all quizzes correctly to win attractive prizes.

This quiz rally is designed to be enjoyed not only by tourists visiting from outside the prefecture but also by local residents who support the community on a daily basis.

* Project Period: Autumn 2026 (scheduled) *Details will be announced separately once confirmed. * How to Participate: Participate via the QR code installed at each checkpoint. * Checkpoints (5 locations): Fuji River SA (Up/Down), Gakunan Electric Train Yoshiwara Station, Hiromi Park, Tobu Citizen's Plaza.

(3) Highway Mite! Mite! Tours 2026 [Continued]

NEXCO CENTRAL Tokyo Branch Fuji Maintenance & Service Center holds the "Highway Mite! Mite! Tours" highway inspection tour every summer vacation to help elementary school students feel more familiar with expressways.

This year's tour will be an experiential program that adds a vehicle exhibition by Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus to the popular Gakunan Electric Train garage tour from last year. This tour will be held with the subtitle "To the Backstage of the Expressway! An Exploration Tour to See Buses & Trains."

In addition to experiencing jobs that support expressway maintenance and facility tours, this tour offers programs to learn about the "behind-the-scenes" of expressways in a fun way, including special test rides on "working vehicles" used on expressways, which are not usually seen up close, and flag-waving practice by the traffic management team.

* Date and Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 9:00 AM * Number of Participants: 40 people (elementary school students accompanied by a guardian) *Recruitment for this year has closed. * Event Content: Special test rides on working vehicles, flag-waving practice by the traffic management team, bridge inspection viewing, Gakunan Electric Train garage and Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus tours.

Scenes from last year's bridge inspection viewing.

(4) Gakunan Electric Train Collaboration Merchandise Sales and Recommended Product Purchase Benefits [Continued]

At Tomei Fuji River SA (Up/Down), we will be selling collaboration merchandise with Gakunan Electric Train, which has been popular every year. Additionally, customers who purchase recommended items at Fuji River SA (Up/Down) will receive a "50 yen discount coupon for Mt. Fuji Soft Serve" as a purchase bonus.

*All prices include tax. Photos are for illustrative purposes.

Gakunan Electric Train Collaboration Merchandise Fuji River SA (Up/Down) Recommended: Mt. Fuji Base Bowl Fuji River SA (Up/Down) Recommended: Mt. Fuji Soft Serve (Cup)

Recommended Products at Fuji River SA (Up/Down):

* Fuji no Shirayuki Custard: 4 pieces: 691 yen, 10 pieces: 1,576 yen * Eligible store: Upward "My Marche NEST" * Mt. Fuji Base Bowl: 980 yen * Sales store: Downward "Fuji River Shokudo" * Mt. Fuji Soft Serve: 500 yen * Sales stores: Upward "My Marche NEST", Downward "Mt. Fuji Soft"

(5) Operation of "Michimarukun x Samonyan Collaboration Commemorative Train" and Michimarukun & Samonyan Welcome Greeting [Continued]

This year, in commemoration of our collaboration with Gakunan Electric Train, one car of the Gakunan Electric Train's Series 7000 will be operated as a special "Michimarukun x Samonyan Collaboration Commemorative Train." On the first day of operation, a greeting event with Michimarukun and Samonyan will be held at Yoshiwara Station, which connects to the JR Tokaido Line, to coincide with the start of operations. Details will be announced at a later date.

* Michimarukun x Samonyan Collaboration Commemorative Train Welcome Greeting * Date and Time: Friday, July 31, 2026, on the Yoshiwara Station platform. * Operation Period: Friday, July 31, 2026 – For the time being * The end date will be announced separately. * Please note that the train may not operate during the period due to operational or maintenance reasons. We appreciate your understanding.

Scenes from last year.

Collaboration Wrapping Train Departure Ceremony.

(6) "Gakunan Electric Train Original Head Mark Contest" [Renewed]

Following last year, we are seeking designs for a head mark that befits the "face" of Gakunan Electric Train.

Previously, the target audience was residents of Fuji City or students attending high schools in Fuji City. This year, the target audience has been expanded to include elementary and junior high school students residing in or attending school in Fuji City, and applications can be submitted by individuals or groups.

Submitted works will be posted on a special website after the application period ends (September onwards), and online voting will be conducted. Winners will be awarded at the "Gakunan Electric Train Festival 2026" and the winning design will be installed on a train in March for operation.

(Details such as application guidelines will be announced separately.)

Last year's winning entries.

(7) Gakunan Electric Train Festival 2026 [Continued]

As a token of gratitude to the local community, an opportunity to experience Gakunan Electric Train, to promote regional travel, and to showcase the attractions of Fuji City, the "Gakunan Electric Train Festival 2026" will be held as follows. At the venue, booths from Fuji City and the NEXCO CENTRAL Group will be set up, along with sales of railway merchandise and food trucks (catering cars), offering experiential events that families can enjoy. *Event details will be released later on the Gakunan Electric Train HP and other platforms.

[Event Overview]

* Name: Gakunan Electric Train Festival 2026 * Date: March 2027 (scheduled) * Venue details and program content will be announced later on the Gakunan Electric Train HP.

[Scenes from last year]

Driver Role-Playing Experience Booths NEXCO CENTRAL

(8) Fuji City Attraction Discovery Tour "Experience the Transportation Infrastructure Supporting the City Bus Tour" [NEW]

Fuji City holds bus tours called "Attraction Discovery Tours" to allow visitors to see, touch, and experience the various attractions within the city. This year, as part of this program, we will hold a new initiative called "Experience the Transportation Infrastructure Supporting the City Bus Tour" to introduce the charms of each company's services through this attraction discovery tour.

This tour will involve visiting Fuji City's transportation infrastructure, including "railways" and "expressways," with city officials accompanying participants to help them discover the attractions through various experiences.

* Date and Time: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9:00 AM * Number of Participants: 40 people (elementary school students accompanied by a guardian) * Event Content: NEXCO CENTRAL Co., Ltd. ... Patrol car viewing, flag-waving practice, etc. NEXCO CENTRAL Service Co., Ltd. ... Fuji River SA (downward), facility tour, etc. Gakunan Electric Train Co., Ltd. ... Gakunan Fujioka Depot, Gakutetsu Locomotive Hiroba viewing, Gakunan Electric Train ride. * Transportation will be by Fuji Kyuko Shizuoka Bus Co., Ltd. * Staff from each location will provide direct explanations to participants.

Tour Image Flag-Waving Practice (Image) Depot Tour (Image)

(9) Rail & Highway Collaboration Event [NEW]

A collaboration event between railways and expressways, a first for Fuji River SA (Up/Down) on the Tomei Expressway, will be held. We will sell Gakunan Electric Train original merchandise and related products, supporting customers' wonderful journeys and discovery of new attractions. Limited-time events are also planned, including sales of Gakunan Electric Train parts and operation of mini-trains.

*Event details will be released later on the ChNEXCO Service Co., Ltd. and Gakunan Electric Train HP, etc.

Mini Train (Image) Collaboration Event (Image)

(10) Joint PR and Support for School Excursions [NEW]

To promote the attractions of this project, PR activities will be conducted at events participated in by each organization. Furthermore, this year, we aim to actively accept school excursions and provide outreach lectures, primarily for elementary, junior high, and high school students in the city. Schools interested in this program are encouraged to contact us.

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