Aga Town

Background and Issues facing Aga Town

Aga Town has a population of 9,716 (as of February 28, 2023), and is in a mountainous area that sees heavy snowfall, and where the population is rapidly declining, the population is aging and has a low birthrate. In addition, many villages are scattered in mountainous areas far from the town center, making it necessary to provide the elderly with an efficient means of access to daily necessities and other shopping, by means other than by walking.

Introduction of new smart logistics SkyHub®

We are pursuing societal implementation of new smart logistics SkyHub® by utilizing the Digital Rural City National Concept Grant Type1.

In March 2022, conducted a demonstration experiment for the delivery of medicines combined with online medication guidance and the delivery of daily necessities in anticipation of the transportation of goods for supporting the vulnerable shoppers. In March 2023, a demonstration experiment was conducted to develop a route for transporting emergency supplies in the event that roads are cut off due to a natural disaster, and to transport supplies in support of those who are vulnerable to shopping. 

In March 2023, a demonstration experiment was conducted to develop a route for transporting emergency supplies in the event that roads are cut off due to a natural disaster, and to transport supplies in support of those who are vulnerable to shopping. After two demonstration tests, in November 2023, a Drone Depot® was established in the town to serve as a logistics warehouse and base, and new logistics system, SkyHub®, connecting the ground and the sky, was launched.

Drone Depot®

Warehouses and bases for the accumulation and delivery of goods at the connection points between existing land-based logistics and drone logistics, with a setup that enables drone delivery of goods.

→Aga Town utilizes a building that was formerly a school lunch center.

Drone Stand®

Facilities or locations for drone takeoffs and landings located at the origin and terminus of drone logistics.

→In Aga Town, 23 locations have been established. (as of March 2024)

Services Implemented

The following services have been implemented in Aga Town (as of March 2024)

Services in cooperation with local merchants

As of March 2024, we have partnered with 12 restaurants and stores.

Shopping service in collaboration with local stores: SkyHub® Delivery

A shopping and delivery service in which products from local stores and supermarkets purchased with the SkyHub® application are delivered to individual homes at the desired date and time.

Users can choose products from approximately 300 items of groceries and daily necessities from supermarkets in town, and select the desired time to place your order. The fee is 500 yen (tax included) for delivery and a service charge (10% of the total merchandise price). Orders placed by noon are delivered on the same day.

Food delivery service: SkyHub®Eats

Food from partner restaurants will be delivered by drone or car delivery service. The fee is 100 yen/piece (tax included) for delivery.

Shared Dellivery

Although still in the experimental stage, we have also implemented joint delivery (consignment delivery) for a limited period of one month in December 2023. Joint delivery is a service in which parcels are consolidated at the Drone Depot® and then delivered by NEXT DELIVERY from the Drone Depot®.

Drone Delivery

Drone delivery is being implemented with the aim of improving delivery efficiency by replacing delivery to areas and locations that are inefficient for land delivery with drone delivery.

・12 drone flight routes have been opened as of the end of March 2024.

・Christmas drone delivery in cooperation with Kamijo Nursery School and drone delivery of snacks for the elderly at the Takashimizu Community Center.

Aga Town is a mountainous area with a declining population, an aging population, and a declining birthrate. Many villages are scattered in mountainous areas far from the town center, where reduced or discontinued bus service and suspension of retail stores have placed a heavy burden on the elderly in purchasing daily necessities, visiting local medical facilities, and receiving prescription medicines.
In order to address these issues, we have been conducting experimental drone delivery flights since FY2021. In FY2023, we established a drone depot (warehouse), developed flight routes (23 routes), and launched a food and daily necessities delivery service, which is now being used by residents. In the future, we will work with SkyHub to provide online medication guidance and prescription drug delivery services. Also, in the area of disaster preparation, we aim to map out flight routes in anticipation of villages becoming isolated due to a disaster.

Hideki Kondo, DX Promotion Section, General Affairs Division, Aga Town Office