Bookings open for Choisoko Kawasaki's Nov 2 launch: how can falling ridership be reversed?

A three-month trial from Nov 2

Choisoko Kawasaki, a reservation-based shared ride service, begins its fifth trial on Monday, November 2, 2026. It runs through Saturday, January 30, 2027 in parts of Nakahara, Takatsu and Saiwai wards.

Reservations open two weeks before a ride, so bookings for the first day open on October 19. Free membership registration is required.

The service runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A ride costs ¥500 per person, and preschool children ride free. In Saiwai Ward, the Kitakase and Kase stops connect with stops inside the main service area.

Five days a week, 76 stops

The trial expands from three to five days a week and from 73 to 76 stops, with the aim of improving access to shops and medical facilities.

Aisin Corporation and Himawari Kotsu, based in Saiwai Ward, are involved in the operation. Choisoko uses one vehicle.

A new feature links the booking system with taxis. If no Choisoko slot is available at the requested time, the same system can call another taxi to travel between stops. The fare is ¥1,000 per vehicle for up to three people.

Daily riders fell from 15 in year one to 7 last year

According to reporting by Town News, average daily ridership was 15 in the first year, 21 in the second, 9.4 in the third and 7 last year. That is a steep decline from the first two years.

Riders have praised nearby stops and easier access to destinations. Reported concerns include the fare, mismatches in operating hours and stop locations, and inconvenient booking.

With only one vehicle, riders may not get a booking when demand overlaps. The taxi link may help, but the difference between a ¥500 Choisoko ride and a ¥1,000 taxi per vehicle needs to be explained clearly.

Getting more riders: our suggestions

The following are the editorial team's views, based on the published information.

1. Help people complete their first registration

LINE and web booking are convenient, but people who most need transport may stop at smartphone registration. Short registration sessions at neighborhood halls, pharmacies, clinics and community support centers could help them take the first step.

2. Help riders book their return trip at destinations

Medical facilities and shops with stops could display examples covering both outbound and return rides. Help from reception or service-counter staff with return booking could reduce anxiety about getting home.

3. Show practical trips for each neighborhood

Examples such as which hospitals can be reached from Kitakase or what time works for shopping would make the service feel relevant. Representative trips and approximate travel times would be more useful than a stop list alone.

4. Publish failed bookings and repeat use, not only rider totals

Low ridership does not always mean low demand. Requested times may have been full, service hours may not fit, or users may have abandoned registration. Tracking failed bookings, taxi transfers and repeat use alongside daily ridership would make the changes needed for permanent service clearer.

Book via LINE or the web up to 2 weeks ahead

Register through the official LINE account or website. From two weeks before the ride until 30 minutes before departure, select the boarding stop, destination and preferred time. Arrive at the stop five minutes early, tell the driver your name and pay cash.

See Kawasaki City's Choisoko Kawasaki page for the stop map and registration instructions.

Contacts

For questions about the trial, contact the Kawasaki City Transportation Policy Office at 044-200-3546. For help using Choisoko, email the Choisoko Center at choisoko@aisin.co.jp.