More Taxis Will Serve Niseko This Winter Under The New “Niseko Model”

From December through March this coming season, more cab drivers and vehicles will serve the Niseko area.

 

The initiative making this happen, dubbed “The Niseko Model” is born of a collaboration between the Hokkaido Transportation Bureau and the associated Hokkaido Hire Association, Kutchan Town, Niseko Town, and the private GO Corporation, a ride-hailing application created by the Tokyo-based taxi company, Nihon Kotsu.

The four-month experiment will see 25 taxi drivers and 10 vehicles dispatched to the area, mainly from Sapporo and Tokyo.

The negotiations between all parties involved began this summer, in the aftermath of the 2022/23 winter season which saw a drastic return of inbound visitors and a resultant shortage of taxi options.

The signing ceremony for the Niseko Model happened on 3 October in Sapporo.

To spread awareness for both locals and inbound visitors the GO application will be advertised at landmarks, stores and transportation hubs.

Those using the service will pay a JPY900 surcharge for “sightseeing” in addition to the taxi fare.

The plan also includes compensation for certain drivers that will be reserved for Kutchan Town and not serve the resort areas, as locals have long cited the impact of tourism on their transportation options.

A local source in Niseko involved in real estate anticipates the Niseko Model will go a long way towards addressing the taxi shortage for this upcoming season, but fall short of providing a complete solution.

He points out that with the expansion of taxi options, private players like Uber may finally enter the Niseko area market, something which has been prohibitive in regional jurisdictions as Uber is not allowed to set their own prices in Japan, resulting many Uber drivers in Japan being employees or drivers for affiliated companies, not independent contractors.

The Niseko Model system of dispatching drivers and vehicles from other business areas is new to Japan, and it is hoped it can be duplicated in the future to serve other understaffed municipalities.

Source:
GO Corporation – 3 October 2023

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