What regional transportation issues is NearMe addressing?

We are working on issues such as the consolidation and abolition of public infrastructure, addressing transportation gaps due to a lack of service providers, optimizing public costs in regions, and managing overtourism.

How did the shared taxi in Nishiura, Aichi Prefecture reduce costs?

By transitioning from existing community buses to efficient shared taxis, the annual operating cost is expected to be reduced from approximately 22 million yen to about 5 million yen.

How do you use the shared taxi in Nishiura?

The 'Door-to-Fixed' system connects homes to about 50 destinations. Users can reserve and use the service after pre-registration. The cost is 200 yen per person per ride.

What are the unique features of the initiative in Sado, Niigata Prefecture?

We are building a unique public ride-sharing system that simultaneously addresses the lack of taxis and transportation gaps in underserved areas.

Where can I find more details about the initiatives?

You can check the details on the 'On-Demand Transportation Services for Municipalities' page on the NearMe website (https://corp.nearme.jp/partners).

NearMe's 'Sustainable Regional Transport Models' Implemented Across Japan

Published Jun 8, 2026 11:00 AM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 6:28 AM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

NearMe is partnering with local governments to build sustainable transport models using ride-sharing and shared taxis. In Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, transitioning from buses to shared taxis reduced costs by 75%. NearMe aims for further regional transport optimization.

NearMe, a social design company addressing mobility challenges, has partnered with local governments on over 25 projects to solve regional transport issues.

NearMe constructs sustainable transportation models tailored to local needs, such as eliminating transport gaps caused by infrastructure consolidation, optimizing public costs, and addressing overtourism.

This report highlights two initiatives: Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, which implemented an on-demand shared taxi model to improve public transport profitability, and Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, which launched a unique public ride-sharing system to address taxi shortages and transport gaps.

[Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture] Reducing Costs by 75% and Restructuring Sustainable Transport

Launched in April 2025, the 'Shared Taxi' initiative in Nishio City serves as an alternative to the 'Icchan Bus' community bus, which ceased operations in March 2025.

◆ AI-Powered Cost Reduction While the 'Icchan Bus' had an annual operating cost of approximately 22 million yen with about 3,000 annual passengers, the transition to shared taxis is projected to reduce operating costs to approximately 5 million yen per year.

◆ Door-to-Fixed-Spot System Nishio City's shared taxi service connects residents' homes with about 50 designated destinations (such as bus stops, banks, and medical facilities). It works in complementarity with existing bus routes.

◆ Changing Mobility Habits With the introduction of the 200-yen shared taxi service, residents are shifting from walking to bus stops to booking rides from their homes, enhancing overall convenience.

Mr. Suzuki, an official from Nishio City's Regional Connection Division, stated, "Our priority is to make this project a success case in the Isshiki area and leverage these insights to expand throughout the city for overall transport optimization."

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: News

NearMe's 'Sustainable Regional Transport Models' Implemented Across Japan

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