## (3) Promotion of local settlements

The smooth promotion of UJI-turns and regional invigoration is being worked out by dispatching the students of the three prefectures around Tokyo to 7 municipalities in the country to participate in regional development activities or experience the farming/manufacturing industries. At the same time, the “Local Experience Exchange Support Project for the Young” (regional development internship project) is utilized to carry out interactive exchanges with local residents. Also, in order to promote the attraction to people of the movement from diversified population viewpoints, including the double-region living population, exchange population and information exchange population, a trial website of double-region habitation has been established and information is provided. Moreover, to cope with various local residential policy issues, the vacant houses and building utilization support of local public organizations through the local housing subsidy, information on the measures on local public organizations regarding relocation/double-region habitation, and vacant housing information via Internet are provided. Furthermore, as for time-share type residences, support was provided to leading project scheme planning towards the development of conditions where consumers could obtain the rights with ease.

### 6. Securing Means of Regional Transport

## (1) Invigoration of public transport for supporting regional life

Local public transport is the foundation of socio-economic activity. In addition, in order to take appropriate actions for various important issues such as ensuring residents' movement methods; invigorating the region and dealing with environmental problems, such invigoration and revitalization are critical issues. Under such conditions, the “Act on Revitalization and Rehabilitation of Local Public Transportation Systems” is utilized and independent measures with regional ingenuity are being supported actively through the expansion of comprehensive support called “Comprehensive Projects on Invigoration and Revitalization of Local Public Transport” towards the committee that works on diversified projects concerning railways, community buses, minibuses, and ferries. In FY 2009, 114 research projects (research on formulating cooperative plans $ ^{1} $ ) and 259 planning projects (implementation projects positioned as cooperative plans), 373 projects were authorized in total.

## Examples of comprehensive projects for the revitalization and rehabilitation of local public transportation systems

Because there are various and different needs and issues concerning the revitalization and rehabilitation of local public transportation systems, comprehensive and one-stop supports for varied operations are provided for effective promotion.

## ■ Efficient bus operations

Unifying the route bus, the welfare bus and the hospital shuttle bus, etc. for everyone to be able to use, so that the service will be improved and the operation cost reduced.

【Unification】

## ☑ Introduction of demand transportation service

In areas where an ordinary fixed time/route bus operation such as the route bus service does not fit in, a system is introduced which operates only when users request it and changes its operation routes and times to meet their needs.

【Demand bus】

【Demand service center】

## Joint bus operation between multiple municipalities

Multiple municipalities cooperate to jointly operate bus services for residents to visit places necessary for their lives such as hospitals and schools, etc.

## Cooperation of passenger boat, railway and bus access

Reorganizing sea routes through the consolidation of calling ports to improve transportation transfers. Access will be improved with bus services between railway stations and sea ports.

Reorganizing sea routes