Bus companies across Japan are hiring foreign workers to make up a massive upcoming shortfall on their bus routes. But training them isn’t as simple as making the wheels go round.
One year has passed since the opening of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, and six months since its closing. Behind the mood of success, the remaining issues are also becoming apparent. The electric buses that ran on electricity and were active both inside and outside the Expo Read More …
On the afternoon of April 12, an autonomous bus in Yahiko Village was involved in a collision with a pedestrian, and two people were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Large 18-meter-long bus with 1.5 times the passenger capacity makes its debut. Shizutetsu Justline, which operates route buses mainly in Shizuoka City, began operating “articulated buses” on April 3rd. They are expected to alleviate congestion during rush hour and address the driver shortage. The large Read More …
The Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, a popular gateway to Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, held its final day of ticket sales at the counter on March 31st. The Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal is located in Kusatsu Town. In addition to serving Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station on the Read More …
Osaka Metro, the owner of the 190 EV buses used at the World Expo, has announced it will abandon plans to repurpose them for regular bus routes and other uses due to a series of malfunctions in the vehicles sold by the manufacturer. The EV Read More …
Regular gasoline prices in Miyagi Prefecture this week have fallen for the second consecutive week, reflecting government subsidies. With no clear outlook on the situation in the Middle East, bus companies are expressing concerns about the future. Reporter Yuri Ito: “That gas station along National Read More …
While bus routes are being discontinued or reduced in number throughout Hokkaido due to a shortage of bus drivers, why was it possible to increase the number of services? This is a bus route in Chitose City. On April 1st, some routes saw an increase Read More …
JR Bus Kanto, which operates buses in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, and the surrounding areas, discontinued all four routes under the jurisdiction of its Utsunomiya branch on the 31st of last month. We interviewed local residents about the impact. ■A “means of transportation” that supported Read More …
The JR Rumoi Line was discontinued on March 31st, and the “local mode of transport” was replaced by buses from April 1st. However, the switch to buses has become a significant economic burden. On the night of the 31st, the last train departed from Ishikari-Numata Read More …
Nineteen buses run daily, and commuters and students have begun using the service. At the bus stop in front of Ishikari-Numata Station in Numata Town, residents were seen using the bus to commute to work and school on the morning of the 1st. (Bus user) Read More …
The labor union of Kanto Bus, which operates mainly in western Tokyo, had announced a strike on the 27th, but it was averted after negotiations. In this year’s spring wage negotiations, the Kanto Bus labor union had demanded wage increases and the payment of temporary Read More …
Buses are an essential part of daily life. In Osaka, the “On-Demand Bus” service expanded its area on March 26th, becoming available throughout the entire city. On-Demand Buses are a type of shared bus service where you can reserve a time and place via an Read More …
Heisei Chikuhō Railway, which has been struggling financially due to a decline in ridership, has decided to discontinue its railway service and convert it into a bus service. The statutory council says it will formulate a concrete plan by the end of next fiscal year. Read More …
The prolonged turmoil in the Middle East is having a significant impact on public transportation, which is essential to the lives of many Japanese.
“Overnight express buses are cheap, but tiring…” A local bus company is trying to change that perception. They’ve introduced Japan’s first express bus from Flaton with “full-flat seats.” While everyone once thought this was impossible in Japan, how did this local bus company overcome the Read More …
The uncertain situation in Iran and the resulting sharp rise in crude oil prices are causing great anxiety for route buses across Japan that run on diesel fuel. ■Price reductions due to “fuel subsidies”… On the 19th, gas stations in Hiroshima Prefecture made significant price Read More …
From the local news segment of TeNY TV Niigata’s “Niigata Ichiban” broadcast on March 5, 2026. This is part of a series that examines the city’s challenges based on Niigata City’s proposed budget for the new fiscal year. This time, we’ll be looking at bus Read More …
A wave of bus route cancellations due to driver shortages is sweeping through central Tokyo. Some Toei buses frequented by Toyosu Market users, as well as private routes connecting stations and hospitals, will be discontinued this month, leaving users confused. Only outbound buses remain, but Read More …
Two months have passed since Toyama Chihō Railway discontinued 17 bus routes in October, citing a “shortage of drivers.” In the areas where the routes were discontinued, elderly people and high school students who cannot drive, and other so-called “transportation-vulnerable” individuals, have been greatly affected.
The reduction in bus services, an essential part of daily life, shows no sign of stopping. Even routes used by more than 400,000 people annually are being discontinued. Residents and local governments continue to suffer. “I have to leave home earlier, so mornings are tough. Read More …
Tokyo Metropolitan Government buses, which serve over 630,000 passengers daily, reduced their service by 206 routes in the October timetable revision. Tokyo Metropolitan Government says the reason for these reductions is a shortage of drivers at the company contracted to operate the service. Furthermore, three Read More …
“#CheckingOutMyFavoriteJob ” This time, we’re featuring bus driver Nakamura Chikako. We took a peek at the work that supports our commutes to work and school! (Aired April 19, 2024). [18m in length] Female driver of an articulated bus: “Divorce was the catalyst” – 29 years Read More …