[Sado Kisen] Launch of 24-Hour Car-Sharing Service

Sado Kisen Corporation (Location: Sado City, Niigata Prefecture; Representative Director: Hideo Owatari; hereinafter "Sado Kisen") will launch a new car-sharing business for tourists (hereinafter "this service") starting April 3, 2026. This service will complement the conventional rental car business and aim to improve convenience for visitors to Sado by providing a means of transportation that is not bound by business hours. At the same time, we have launched a new reservation site where users can choose between rental cars and car-sharing.

Background and Purpose With the diversification of tourism styles among visitors to Sado, there is an increasing need for new mobility options, such as expanding the hours for borrowing and returning vehicles and offering more flexible usage times compared to conventional rental cars. In particular, car ferries and jet foils sometimes arrive and depart early in the morning or late at night. Because conventional rental cars are restricted by business hours, there were challenges such as "inability to move immediately after arrival" and "restrictions on return times." To solve this issue, Sado Kisen is introducing an unmanned car-sharing service available 24 hours a day.

Features of this Service 1. Available 24 hours a day (Prior user registration is required) Even for early morning or late night ship arrivals, users can start using the service in 3-hour increments anytime, 24 hours a day. Returns are also possible 24 hours a day. This greatly enhances the freedom of movement on the island for sightseeing and business. 2. Web-completed, fully unmanned, and smooth usage Everything from reservation to unlocking and returning is completed on a smartphone. No counter procedures are required, and the service can be used without waiting time. 3. More reasonable pricing than rental cars With an easy-to-understand pricing structure that includes insurance and fuel costs, it achieves a reasonable price range for a single day to multiple days.

About the New Reservation Site On the new reservation site, users can choose between "Rental Car" or "Car Sharing" on a single screen according to their purpose and preference. An intuitive UI ensures smooth reservation procedures, allowing users to plan their travel stress-free even before arriving in Sado.

Deployment of a New Island Mobility Brand In conjunction with the launch of this service, the Sado Kisen Group has formulated a new symbol and logo spanning charter buses, rental cars, and car-sharing. This initiative is not merely the addition of a service, but aims at "building a brand that provides an integrated mobility experience in Sado."

[Design Concept] Sado's rich nature has been shaped by repeated crustal movements over long periods of time, as well as the actions of the Tsushima Current flowing offshore and the wind. In addition, vertical gold veins were formed by the movement of underground magma, and the island has prospered as an island of gold since ancient times. In such an environment, the islanders have cherished the blessings of nature and have continued to use limited resources carefully while exercising ingenuity. One example of this is "Sakiori." It is a traditional woven fabric used in various everyday situations, made by tearing old cotton or silk cloth into thin strips to use as the weft, and weaving it together with the warp. This design is based on the motif of this traditional textile "Sakiori," where the horizontal stripes represent Sado's nature, light, and culture, and its base color is Tobishima Kanzo (daylily) color. The vertical stripes are likened to the gold veins extending from underground.

* Tobishima Kanzo (daylily) Onogame, located in the northern part of Sado Island, is Japan's best natural habitat for Tobishima Kanzo. From late May to early June, the area is covered with bright yellow flowers.

Service Overview - Service start date: April 3, 2026 - Car-sharing station location: 255-69 Ryotsu-Ebisu, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture (6-minute walk from Ryotsu Port) - How to use: No annual or monthly fees; advance reservation via the dedicated reservation site https://www.sadokisen.co.jp/rentacar/carshare/

Future Development We will continue to work on solving the mobility challenges of tourists by expanding our bases, primarily around the port. In addition to marine transportation, Sado Kisen will contribute to further enhancing the value of Sado tourism by improving the convenience of island transportation.