Short-Distance Mobility 'WHILL' Rentals Introduced for Iioka Kanko's Chartered Sightseeing Buses
WHILL Inc. and Iioka Kanko have partnered to offer WHILL rental services for sightseeing bus passengers starting in April, promoting accessible tourism.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:39 (17h 39m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 08:20 (474h 41m after Collected)
WHILL Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Satoshi Sugie; hereinafter "WHILL") announced that a rental service for WHILL, a short-distance mobility device that can be driven on pedestrian paths without a license, will be newly introduced from April for the chartered and sightseeing bus operations run by Iioka Kanko Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi; Representative Director: Takehiro Akiyama; hereinafter "Iioka Kanko"). Iioka Kanko has been an early promoter of accessible tourism in the area, possessing the prefecture's only large bus equipped with a lift, and the introduction of WHILL is a part of this effort. By establishing a system that allows comfortable mobility even at destinations after getting off the bus, they propose a wide range of travel experiences where anyone can fully enjoy sightseeing, regardless of age, disability, or physical condition. Kai Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Kai Nissan"), which handles WHILL products within the prefecture, is also cooperating in this initiative.
Against the backdrop of an aging population, the accessible tourism* market is estimated to continue expanding until 2035. Additionally, many people hesitate to travel due to concerns about mobility, and if these inconveniences were resolved, the potential market size is expected to be about 1.5 times larger (equivalent to 42 million people) (as of 2023) (Note 1). At the same time, the travel consumption of foreign visitors to Japan in 2024 reached a record high of 8.1 trillion yen, an increase of 53.4% from the previous year (Note 2), and this upward trend is expected to continue. Along with these demand forecasts, movements such as the "mandatory reasonable accommodation" due to legal revisions have further heightened social momentum for accessible tourism.
Ahead of these trends, Iioka Kanko has been advancing initiatives such as introducing large buses with lifts, developing model plans for accessible tourism in Yamanashi Prefecture, and holding training sessions. With the new formulation of the WHILL rental service, users can transfer to WHILL from their destination after the bus arrives, allowing the individual to move freely and comfortably at their own pace, while simultaneously reducing the burden of support for accompanying family and friends, enabling everyone to enjoy their travel moments together.
The adopted models are the premium model "WHILL Model C2," which combines driving performance and tight turning capabilities with outstanding stability, and the "WHILL Model F," which is compact, foldable, and easy to load into vehicles and carry around. Both can travel at the same pace as walking and feature designs that blend naturally into the landscapes of various tourist spots.
Both companies will continue to contribute to enhancing accessible tourism value that welcomes everyone by providing seamless door-to-door sightseeing services that lead to reducing the burden of mobility.
Against the backdrop of an aging population, the accessible tourism* market is estimated to continue expanding until 2035. Additionally, many people hesitate to travel due to concerns about mobility, and if these inconveniences were resolved, the potential market size is expected to be about 1.5 times larger (equivalent to 42 million people) (as of 2023) (Note 1). At the same time, the travel consumption of foreign visitors to Japan in 2024 reached a record high of 8.1 trillion yen, an increase of 53.4% from the previous year (Note 2), and this upward trend is expected to continue. Along with these demand forecasts, movements such as the "mandatory reasonable accommodation" due to legal revisions have further heightened social momentum for accessible tourism.
Ahead of these trends, Iioka Kanko has been advancing initiatives such as introducing large buses with lifts, developing model plans for accessible tourism in Yamanashi Prefecture, and holding training sessions. With the new formulation of the WHILL rental service, users can transfer to WHILL from their destination after the bus arrives, allowing the individual to move freely and comfortably at their own pace, while simultaneously reducing the burden of support for accompanying family and friends, enabling everyone to enjoy their travel moments together.
The adopted models are the premium model "WHILL Model C2," which combines driving performance and tight turning capabilities with outstanding stability, and the "WHILL Model F," which is compact, foldable, and easy to load into vehicles and carry around. Both can travel at the same pace as walking and feature designs that blend naturally into the landscapes of various tourist spots.
Both companies will continue to contribute to enhancing accessible tourism value that welcomes everyone by providing seamless door-to-door sightseeing services that lead to reducing the burden of mobility.