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Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), is leading a highly ambitious and promising project for the deployment of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) across the nation. In 2019, with support from the ministries, several businesses in Japan conducted 19 MaaS pilots of Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 integration.
These pilots were conducted under a project called the Smart Mobility Challenge FY2019, which was aimed at address mobility issues and revitalising the region through the implementation of new mobility services.
Smart Mobility Challenge FY2020
In 2020, MLIT and METI launched the Smart Mobility Challenge FY2020. Under the new project, the ministries have a total of 52 demonstration areas, which are depicted in Figure 1.
Figure 1: 52 regions shortlisted under Smart Mobility Challenge FY2020
Source: METI
METI will implement the Regional New MaaS Creation Promotion Project for ‘advanced pilot areas’ to conduct demonstrative experiments and carry out business feasibility analyses. The ministry has shortlisted 16 areas as ‘advanced pilot areas’.
MLIT will implement the Japan MaaS Promotion and Support Project, which is aimed at building a model of MaaS for addressing regional issues. The ministry has shortlisted 38 businesses that are expected to contribute to the solution of regional issues.
MaaS projects planned by MLIT for 2020
In 2019, MLIT conducted 19 pilots across the country and provided JPY300 million for trials. Of the pilots launched, six were regional-type, five were rural-type, and eight were tourism-type projects.
In addition to the 38 projects selected by MLIT under Smart Mobility Challenge FY2020, six projects are selected for the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI)-based on-demand transportation and nine projects have been chosen for the introduction of cashless payment. These projects will provide support for the development of MaaS infrastructure. Figure 2 shows the shortlisted locations for the MaaS pilot projects in Japan.
Figure 2: Locations of MaaS pilot projects in Japan
Source: MLIT, Global Mass Transit Research
MaaS pilots planned under Smart Mobility Challenge FY2020
MLIT plans to conduct a pilot of MaaS across 38 regions, areas, cities from September 2020 onwards. Under these pilots, the authorities will focus on the integration of various modes of transportation and local businesses, as well as the deployment and trials of new technology like cashless payment and AI-based on-demand transport services. The overview of these projects is provided in Table 1.
Table 1: Details of MaaS pilots planned under Smart Mobility Challenge FY2020
Area |
Key goals to be achieved |
Key players |
Across Japan
|
Universal MaaS aims to provide mobility services that allow a comfortable travel experience to commuters with disabilities, the elderly, foreign visitors to Japan, and other people who are hesitant to travel. The MaaS app provides customers with information on public transportation fares, flight/operation status, barrier-free transit routes, transportation companies, local governments. It also provides real-time location information to customers and any other assistance that they might need. |
• All Nippon Airways (ANA) |
Aizuwakamatsu |
• Provide real-time information promptly, especially in case of an emergency |
• Aizu Riding Motor |
Asahi Town, Toyama Prefecture |
• Promote use of public transport services |
• Asahi Town, Toyama Prefecture |
Chiba City |
• Provide community-specific services that reduce the burden of patients (especially the elderly) visiting hospitals |
• Novartis Pharma |
Chino City |
• Replace conventional bus routes with AI-based on-demand buses |
• Chino City |
Den-en-toshi Line |
• Link various services with transportation services / networks |
• Tokyu Corporation |
Fukuyama City |
• Promote use of electric bicycle rental services |
• Nippon Travel Agency |
Hamamatsu |
• Provide on-demand operational services |
• NPO Corporation Ganbara Maika Sakuma |
Higashimurayama City |
• Verify the possibility of providing free transportation services by the AI vehicle dispatch system using the MaaS app |
• Higashimurayama City |
Hiroshima |
• Provide AI-based on-demand transport services |
• Hiroshima City |
Hitachi |
• Promote use of public transport and reduce dependence on private cars |
• Ibaraki Kotsu |
Hokkaido |
• Launch contactless payment (introduction of QR code-based payment) |
• Hokkaido Transport Bureau |
Ikeda City |
• Establish a model to support free transportation services |
• Ikeda City |
Itoshima |
• Provide multi-modal transport services |
• Showa Group |
Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture |
• Maximise number of tourists by acquiring new customers |
• Izu Creation Center, Tokyu Corporation |
Kaga City |
|
• Kaga City Regional Public Transport Revitalization |
Kasugai |
• Provide mobility for the elderly, especially those who have returned their driver’s licence |
• Kasugai City |
Kobe City |
• Provide last-mile connectivity and expand public transport services |
• Japan Research Institute Limited |
Komono |
• Introduce cashless transaction |
• Komono Town |
Kyoto (Ohara, Yase, Kuramaki, Kibune) |
• Promote a digital free pass with coupons for trains and buses that will allow passengers to use services for 24 hours and 36 hours |
• Keihan Holdings |
Maebashi |
• Reduce commuters’ excessive dependency on private cars |
• Maebashi City New Mobility Service Promotion Council (tentative name) |
Maizuru City |
• Promote use of public transport services |
• Maizuru City |
Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture and the surrounding area |
• Improve profitability of regional transportation and rebuild revenue model |
• Minamiashigara City |
Miura Peninsula |
• Permit searches and reservations for various modes of transportation (railway, bus, taxi, AI-enabled on-demand transportation, car sharing, bicycle sharing, etc.) |
• Miura Peninsula Tourism MaaS Council |
Miyakojima City |
• Promote on-demand transport services (like car sharing) |
• Jordan |
Miyazaki Prefecture |
• Promote public transportation |
• Miyazaki Holdings |
Miyoshi |
• Establish infrastructure to provide services and to place orders |
• Miyoshi Town |
Nanyo, Ehime Prefecture |
• Attract tourists by selling excursion tickets across railroads and buses |
• KDDI |
Northern Kyoto |
• Provide last-mile connectivity and expand public transport services |
• WILLER Alliance |
Okinawa Prefecture |
• Improve convenience of public transportation |
• Okinawa City monorail |
Otani |
• Prevent traffic congestion due to the influx of private cars during the tourist season |
• Utsunomiya City |
Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture |
• Promote use of on-demand transport services as well as analyse on-demand public transport data for marketing and communication purposes |
• Otsu City |
Sapporo |
• Improve accessibility to tourism spots in suburbs |
• Sapporo Innovation Lab |
Shinyuri |
• Promote use of on-demand transportation in collaboration with business facilities |
• Kawasaki City |
Shizuoka City |
• Provide real-time information on traffic congestion and predicted congestion |
• Shizuoka Railway Co. Ltd. |
Takamatsu |
• Provide on-demand transportation services for specific groups |
• Scheme Verge |
Toyako |
• Provide real-time information on public buses in the region |
• Toyako Town |
Tsuchiura |
• Promote use of public transport and reduce dependence on private cars |
• Kanto Railway |
Source: MLIT, Global Mass Transit Research
Support for the development of MaaS infrastructure
AI-based on-demand transportation
MLIT has provided grants to six businesses to promote on-demand transport services as part of the development of MaaS infrastructure. Subsidies have been provided to the following businesses:
AI will be used to determine the optimal operational route in real time based on the vehicle allocation reservation and vehicle position.
Cashless payments
MLIT has provided grants to nine businesses to support the introduction of cashless payments for local public transport as part of the development of MaaS infrastructure. Subsidies have been provided to the following businesses:
Under the initiative, the subsidies will support the deployment of equipment and systems for cashless payments (like QR code-based ticketing, smartcards, bank cards, etc.).
Recent developments
In the last three months, the following MaaS-related developments were recorded-
In September 2020, the following events were recorded:
In August 2020, the following events were recorded:
In July 2020, the following events were recorded:
The way forward
The strategy adopted by the Japanese authorities to introduce MaaS focuses on the bigger picture, that is, addressing major concerns and issues related to transportation across various regions of the country. The integration of transport services is not limited to cities, but is also planned across regions and across businesses in a comprehensive manner. The pilots are planned and designed to achieve long-term goals, that is, Level 4 integration at the regional level.
In addition to the integration of services, the focus is also on the provision of last-mile connectivity through on-demand transport (including AVs, car sharing, bike rental, and shuttles), deployment of equipment to support cashless payment on all modes of transport, as well as the inclusion of the latest technology like AI to improve operational services.
(This is Part 2 of a two-part feature. Part 1, released in the Global Mass Transit Monthly issue of September 2020, focused on Japan’s goals, strategies, and trials conducted for MaaS under Smart Mobility Challenge FY2019.)