The "Festival Bus" project, planned by students of Professor Kosei Yamada's seminar Faculty of Service Innovation in collaboration with Keisei Transit Bus Co., Ltd., began operation on October 28. Two wrapped buses designed by students will run mainly in the Gyotoku district of Ichikawa City.
The festival bus project was one of the ideas that were proposed and adopted in a presentation in February by third-year students of Yamada's seminar, who received a request from Keisei Transit Bus Co., Ltd. to find a solution to the problem of customers abandoning buses. The students focused on the fact that Gyotoku, Ichikawa City, which is the operating area of Keisei Transit Bus, is an area where making mikoshi (portable shrines) has developed as a local industry.
The exterior of the bus was designed by combining photos of festivals from around Ichikawa city, illustrations drawn by students, and pictures painted on lanterns by local children at an event held in August. In addition to the design of the seats and digital destination displays inside the bus, the bus is packed with many features to entertain passengers, including a buzzer that sounds like the students shouting "Wasshoi!", decorations such as a portable shrine made with the children, and quizzes related to Ichikawa festivals.
In addition, to coincide with the operation of the festival bus, the students also planned and produced a one-day pass, the "Keisei Transit Bus 1Day Pass," and a "Town Tour MAP." The students asked stores in the area where the bus operates for permission to include their buses on the "Town Tour MAP" and to provide special services for 1Day Pass purchasers, and received cooperation from 11 stores.
On October 27th, a "Festival Bus Unveiling" was held on campus to celebrate the completion of the wrapped bus with the people involved. We will continue to work together to revitalize the local area and increase the number of bus users.
"Festival Bus" Overview
| Operation period | From Saturday, October 28, 2023 (end of operation date to be determined) |
|---|---|
| Route | Keisei Transit Bus General public routes (excluding Wakuwaku Bus and Expressway Bus) |
Related links