A problem in the Japanese bus industry!Measures to be strengthened as “seat blocking” is on the rise
As the year-end and New Year holiday rush approaches, a practice known as "seat blocking" has emerged as a serious problem in the Japanese bus industry.
This is a process in which a passenger cancels a reservation for an adjacent seat just before departure, thereby preventing other users from using that seat, and is a particularly noticeable trend on express buses and long-distance buses.
This behavior is easily done by taking advantage of the convenience of paying at a convenience store.
In other words, by canceling a reservation before the payment deadline and rebooking for the same seat, it is essentially possible to keep the seat next to you without giving it to someone else.
In response to this situation, JR Bus Kanto has introduced stricter measures starting from April 2025, including expanding the number of routes where convenience store payments cannot be used.
In addition, management systems are becoming stricter, including raising cancellation fees on popular routes.
Lawyers warn that from a legal perspective, these actions could amount to business interference and could result in civil lawsuits and criminal liability.
There is no doubt that the bus industry will continue to strengthen measures to fundamentally solve the seat block problem.
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