Tokyo Bus to launch two new routes in Okinawa, connecting central areas such as the Airport and Naha to the southern regions, claim they are taking a “long-term view” with regards to COVID-19

Tokyo Bus to launch two new routes in Okinawa, connecting central areas such as the Airport and Naha to the southern regions, claim they are taking a “long-term view” with regards to COVID-19

Tokyo Bus driving in Okinawa (photograph provided by the company)


August 25, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tokyo Bus (headquarters: Tokyo; Harunari Nishimura, CEO) which operates tour buses and regular routes all over Japan, is opening up two transit bus routes in Okinawa. Starting September 14, they will be taking over a line from Chubu Kanko Service (based in Tomigusku) that connects Naha airport and Chura Sun Beach (Iias Okinawa Toyosaki) via Senaga Island, and will be launching a new route at the start of October that runs from Itoman City Hall to Palette Kumoji in Naha. On August 19 they obtained the license to operate bus lines from the Okinawa General Bureau.
Tokyo Bus opened their Okinawa sales office in Tomigusuku in January of this year, and started chartering buses for sightseeing around Okinawa. Meanwhile, they were making preparations to open routes anticipated to see high demand from tourists.

As part of their business plan, the company procured 22 buses for chartering, and they increased their fleet with an additional 9 buses for the start of their regular transit routes. They also hired 21 employees, including drivers, in Okinawa. A company representative running the sales office in Okinawa said, “Since the plan was developed prior to the coronavirus pandemic, currently we are in a bit of a tough situation, however we are taking a long-term view in expecting the southern region to develop.”

The route from Naha Airport to Chura Sun Beach has been operated by Chubu Kanko Service since 2019, however they will cease operating the route September 13. There was a decrease in passengers due to COVID-19, and it became difficult to maintain the regular route. Hereafter Chubu Kano Service will focus solely on sightseeing busing, and eight of their drivers were hired by Tokyo Bus.

Tokyo Bus runs routes such as highway bus routes from Tokyo to the Kansai region, limousine buses to Narita airport, and also has developed a charter and sightseeing bus business. They also own a number of affiliated companies in Hokkaido and the Kansai region.

Chubu Kanko Service changed from a limited liability company to a publicly traded company in 2018 when they became a subsidiary of WBF Holdings (Osaka), and started operating transit routes. However, sales slumped due to COVID-19, and this year WBF divested their shares of the company.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

Photograph: Tokyo Bus driving in Okinawa (photograph provided by the company)

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