Opinions and Responses

About the Bus

Regarding the bus service, the i-Bus from Inagi-Naganuma Station to Yomiuriland (which was only four times a day) has been discontinued, making it very inconvenient. Since I cannot use a car, I have to walk 20 minutes to Inagi Station, take the train for one stop, and then use the gondola... Even though it is within the same city, it feels like a very long journey. Because I use a stroller, I have to fold it up for the gondola, which makes me even more exhausted. I believe there is a focus on Yomiuriland, so I would appreciate it if an environment could be created that allows easy access from anywhere within the city.

Response

Regarding the current situation surrounding route bus Business Operators, there is a nationwide issue of a severe shortage of bus drivers and the need to comply with the "Standards for Improvement of Working Hours, etc. of Motor Vehicle Drivers," commonly known as the "Improvement Standards Notice," which was revised and enforced on April 1, 2024. Route bus Business Operators are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain the current scale of operations even for community buses, which are operated with operating subsidies provided by municipalities to cover the gap between operating expenses and fare revenues, despite receiving such subsidies from the city.
In Inagi City as well, Odakyu Bus, which operates the i-Bus, requested consultations with the city regarding reviewing operation routes and times, including the possibility of withdrawing from i-Bus operations, in order to maintain the route bus services.
Therefore, the city has held repeated discussions on reviewing the i-Bus operation courses and other matters at the "Inagi City Regional Public Transportation Council," a statutory council composed of representatives from each Neighborhood Association, various citizen groups, bus operators, and the police, aiming to realize transportation services suited to local conditions. As a result, we have secured revised routes that minimize the impact on citizens as much as possible by requesting new bus operators other than Odakyu Bus and by dividing orders among these operators.
Regarding the revised i-Bus routes, they have been determined to be operable with operating hours that comply with the "Improvement Standards Notification." The revision policy, which includes enabling travel to distant locations by transferring between community buses and route buses, was discussed repeatedly at the "Regional Public Transportation Council" and decided in January 2026. The new routes have been in operation since April 1, 2026.
Additionally, regarding the route from around Inagi-Naganuma Station in the city to Yomiuriland after the requested i-Bus route revision, besides the method you currently use, you can take the i-Bus A Course to Inagi Station, then from Inagi Station use the Odakyu Bus bound for Teraodai Danchi (Route Yomi 06, with 3 runs each on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays) to reach the Yomiuriland bus stop in about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can travel by train from Inagi Station on the Keio Sagamihara Line to Keio Yomiuriland Station, and then from Keio Yomiuriland Station use the Odakyu Bus bound for Teraodai Danchi (Route Yomi 01, with 32 runs on weekdays, 33 on Saturdays, and 34 on Sundays) to reach the Yomiuriland bus stop in about 10 minutes. Please use this information as a reference.

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