Sustainable shared mobility in depopulated Japan: a case of Teshio, Hokkaido.

Legal restrictions and pressure from the taxi industry have hindered the development of private vehicle paid passenger transport (ride-hailing) in Japan. In a super-ageing society facing depopulation, many regions struggle to maintain adequate transport infrastructure. The issue of legality regardin...

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Publicado en:Japan Forum Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 53 - 76
Autor principal: Uchiyama, Yosuke
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Mar2026
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Sustainable shared mobility in depopulated Japan: a case of Teshio, Hokkaido.
      aug:
        au: Uchiyama, Yosuke
      su:
        Hokkaido (Japan)
        Japan
        Rural geography
        Infrastructure (Economics)
        Transportation laws
        Carpools
        Sustainable transportation
        Transportation industry
        Transportation policy
      sug:
        subj:
          Rural geography
          Infrastructure (Economics)
          Hokkaido (Japan)
          Japan
          Other transit and ground passenger transportation
          All Other Support Activities for Transportation
          Other support activities for transportation
          All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
          Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs
          Transportation laws
          Carpools
          Sustainable transportation
          Transportation industry
          Transportation policy
      keyword:
        carpooling
        depopulation
        lifting ban
        ride-hailing
        shared mobility
        carpooling
        depopulation
        lifting ban
        ride-hailing
        shared mobility
      ab: Legal restrictions and pressure from the taxi industry have hindered the development of private vehicle paid passenger transport (ride-hailing) in Japan. In a super-ageing society facing depopulation, many regions struggle to maintain adequate transport infrastructure. The issue of legality regarding remuneration remains a significant barrier to ensuring sustainable door-to-door transport in depopulated areas. In April 2024, the Japanese government partially lifted the ride-hailing ban, which was accompanied by the deregulation of the Road Transportation Act and related policies. This study examines institutional changes and their impact on sustainable carpooling projects in depopulated areas before and after deregulation, using Teshio in Hokkaido as a case study. Employing narrative analysis, the study integrates longitudinal interviews with a Teshio Town official, exchanges with transport experts, and extensive secondary data. The findings reveal that the partial lifting of the ban is unlikely to directly address the challenges of sustainable carpooling projects, as it remains limited under the exceptions of the Road Transportation Act. The pioneering experience of Teshio highlights the practical regulatory adjustments necessary for developing a Japanese-style ride-hailing framework tailored to local needs.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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