Toyooka City
Kanematsu Corporation
Zentan Bus Co., Ltd.
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
KDDI CORPORATION
KDDI Smart Mobility Inc.
Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture (“Toyooka City”); Kanematsu Corporation (“Kanematsu”); Zentan Bus Co., Ltd. (“Zentan Bus”); Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (“Sompo Japan”); KDDI CORPORATION (“KDDI”); and KDDI Smart Mobility Inc. (“KDDI Smart Mobility”) will commence an autonomous bus demonstration (“the Demonstration”) in the Kinosaki Onsen district on November 6, 2026.
With full-scale Level 4 autonomous operation in Kinosaki Onsen envisioned for the future, the Demonstration will be conducted at Level 2 autonomy with a safety driver on board.
The Demonstration marks the first deployment in Japan of “ROii,”* an autonomous vehicle developed by Korea-based Autonomous a2z Corporation (“A2Z”). In the distinctive traffic environment of the hot spring district, where pedestrians and vehicles share the road, the parties will address issues related to real-world deployment, including safety, operating structures, communications, remote monitoring, and risk management. Based on driving data, communications and remote-monitoring results, operational insights, and user feedback obtained through the Demonstration, the parties will work to develop a sustainable operating model suited to local conditions.
The six parties will continue to leverage their respective expertise and collaborate with Toyooka City and local stakeholders to address challenges toward sustainable regional transportation and the real-world deployment of autonomous driving services.
Scene from the launch ceremony for the demonstration in Kinosaki Onsen (Photo courtesy of Toyooka City)1. Background and Objectives
Kinosaki Onsen in Toyooka City is a tourist destination with a charming townscape and a history spanning 1,300 years. It has a deeply rooted tradition of strolling through the hot spring district in yukata while visiting public bathhouses, restaurants, and other establishments. However, because tourists, local residents’ vehicles, and pedestrians share narrow roads, the area faces challenges including ensuring safety, alleviating traffic congestion, improving visitor mobility, and securing everyday transportation for residents.
To deploy autonomous buses as a sustainable mobility service addressing these regional transportation challenges, it is essential to develop not only vehicles and autonomous driving technologies, but also an integrated framework encompassing locally appropriate operations management, stable communications, remote monitoring, safety management, and emergency response.
2. Collaboration Framework and Roles
Under the project, each organization will contribute its expertise by combining overall planning and coordination, regional transportation and operations management, communications and remote monitoring, safety and risk management, and autonomous vehicles and systems.
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| Toyooka City | Operations, Project Implementation for the Demonstration, and Coordination with Local Stakeholders |
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Overall project planning and coordination; introduction of the autonomous vehicle and system; coordination with Toyooka City and participating organizations; and development of the project structure |
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Operations management, on-site operations, and user support, leveraging its expertise as a regional transportation operator |
| Sompo Japan | Risk assessment to ensure safe operation and provision of insurance designed specifically for autonomous driving |
| KDDI | Provision of mobile communications infrastructure; radio-environment surveys; verification and optimization of communications quality; and remote monitoring from the Mobility Control Center in Tokyo |
| KDDI Smart Mobility | Development and operation of the on-site remote-monitoring environment and support for introducing mobility services |
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Provision of the ROii autonomous vehicle and autonomous driving system, and technical support |
3. Items to Be Verified
- Driving safety on the narrow roads of Kinosaki Onsen and responsiveness in an environment shared by pedestrians and ordinary vehicles
- Communications stability and quality, and the effectiveness of the remote-monitoring framework
- Feasibility of operations management, on-site operations, and emergency response using the regional transportation operator’s expertise
- Effectiveness of risk assessment and risk management for safe operation
- Acceptance, satisfaction, sense of safety, and ride comfort among residents and tourists, as measured through user surveys
4. 「ROii」
ROii is equipped with an autonomous driving system designed to support Level 4 operation. Its rounded body is intended to blend into the Kinosaki Onsen townscape, while its wide-opening sliding door is designed to facilitate boarding and alighting for diverse passengers, including tourists wearing yukata and older adults. These accessibility features will also be evaluated during the Demonstration.
The parties will assess the vehicle’s driving performance, safety, and operational feasibility in Kinosaki Onsen’s actual traffic environment, as well as its potential to support both sightseeing in the hot spring district and residents’ everyday transportation.
ROii used in the Demonstration (Photo courtesy of Toyooka City)5. Demonstration Overview
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| Project name | Toyooka City Autonomous Bus Demonstration Project |
| Location | Kinosaki Onsen district, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Launch ceremony | Friday, November 6, 2026 |
| Demonstration period | Friday, November 6, 2026 to December 4, 2026, excluding weekends and public holidays |
| Vehicle | ROii autonomous vehicle manufactured by Autonomous a2z Corporation |
| Level of automation | Level 2, with a safety driver on board |
| Route | Kinosaki Onsen Station to the vicinity of Kinosaki International Arts Center (approximately 1.8 km) |
| Stops | (1) JR Kinosaki Onsen Station, (2) Kinosaki International Arts Center, (3) Kinosaki Junior High School, (4) Goshono-yu, and (5) Jizoyu Park |
| Service frequency | Three services per day: 11:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 1:10 p.m. |
| Capacity | 11 people, including the driver and support personnel |
| Fare | Free |
| Speed | Below 20 km/h |
| Boarding | First-come, first-served |
6. Comment from Takeshi Kadoma, Mayor of Toyooka
"A new challenge is now underway, created together with our partner companies and local organizations, to carry the value of Kinosaki Onsen—built up and passed down over 1,300 years—into the future. By bringing together this historic hot spring town and the innovative technology of autonomous buses, I am confident that visitors will be able to enjoy strolling through Kinosaki's streets even more, with greater safety and peace of mind. This demonstration is not only about enhancing the Kinosaki Onsen experience; it is also a challenge to secure transportation for our residents well into the future."
*The Demonstration marks the first use in Japan of "ROii," an autonomous vehicle developed by Korea-based A2Z, in a demonstration.
[Contact]
| Kanematsu | PR Section Tel: +81-3-6747-5000 |
| KDDI | Autonomous Driving Team autodrive-biz@kddi.com |