🚌 Amended Regional Transport Act in force Oct 16, 2026

❓ What is changing?

The Act Partially Amending the Act on Revitalization and Rehabilitation of Local Public Transportation was promulgated on June 10, 2026 and takes effect on October 16, 2026. On September 18, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced that four sets of rules and guidance are being put in place for the law to function: (1) the Enforcement Regulation of the Act on Revitalization and Rehabilitation of Local Public Transportation, (2) the Basic Policy on promoting revitalization and rehabilitation of local public transportation, (3) the Enforcement Regulation of the Road Transportation Act, and (4) a Guideline for promoting the use of mobility data. Items (1) to (3) were promulgated on September 18 and take effect on October 16, the same day as the law itself. Item (4) was published on September 18. The background is closing "transport gaps" (kotsu kuhaku) — areas left without adequate transport service. MLIT states that by making full use of local transport resources and promoting joint operation and collaboration among operators, it aims to realize sustainable local public transportation. Because the text of a law alone cannot move day-to-day practice, the detailed procedures, the national policy direction, the rules governing buses and taxis under the Road Transportation Act, and the data-use guidance are all being aligned at the same time. Details are published in the attached documents.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Foreign residents living in rural areas or suburbs with few buses or trains
• ●Visitors traveling to regional cities, countryside or remote islands
• ●People without a car who rely on public transport for work, school or hospital visits
• ●Municipalities, transport operators and residents involved in local transport planning
• ●Transport operators and service providers that handle mobility data

🌏 Impact on foreign residents and visitors

In rural Japan, infrequent buses, distant stations and no service at night or on weekends create "transport gaps" that become a real barrier to daily life. This hits foreign residents without a Japanese driver's license especially hard, narrowing the jobs and housing they can realistically choose. The amended law and the newly prepared rules and guidelines aim to close those gaps by making full use of local transport resources and promoting joint operation and collaboration among operators. The effect will not be visible overnight, but from October 16 municipalities and transport operators will redesign local transport plans under the new framework. For travel, the "last mile" beyond the station in regional cities and the countryside is exactly the area this addresses. Check your city or town website and local operators' announcements for reorganization plans in the area where you live or plan to visit.