Municipal DX: Shibushi City Introduces 'AI Sakura-san' at Multigenerational Exchange Facility

Tifana.com Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiroya Mori) has been selected to deploy its 'AI Sakura-san' as a customer service avatar at a multigenerational exchange facility in Shibushi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, with operations commencing in July 2026.

To achieve operational efficiency and provide visitors with digital technology experiences, AI Sakura-san will handle six key guidance services, including facility orientation, reservation instructions, and local area introductions. The system will also integrate with an exhibition space themed around the long-distance ferry 'Sunflower,' connecting Shibushi and Osaka, aiming to boost regional circulation and create a new public facility experience that strengthens ties between Shibushi and Osaka via the ferry route.

Background: Building Public Facilities that Balance Operational Efficiency with Regional Promotion

Shibushi City is developing its multigenerational exchange facility as a new community hub where residents and visitors can gather and interact freely. However, public facility operations face challenges such as staffing shortages and over-reliance on individual staff for guidance tasks, necessitating systems that deliver high-quality service with limited personnel.

Additionally, the city aims to extend visitor engagement beyond the facility itself, channeling foot traffic toward local shopping districts and tourism resources to enhance the overall appeal of the city.

To address these goals, the city has introduced the AI Sakura-san avatar to simultaneously streamline facility guidance and expand visitor engagement with the wider region.

AI Sakura-san as a Conversational Guide: From Facility Support to Regional Navigation

The deployed AI Sakura-san will function not merely as a reception or FAQ terminal, but as an AI agent that engages in dialogue to deliver personalized information based on each visitor's needs.

Tailoring guidance according to individual purposes and circumstances, AI Sakura-san will primarily handle the following services:

[Main Guidance Services by AI Sakura-san] - Explanation of facility usage - Support for facility reservation methods (including app usage) - Guidance to nearby shopping districts - Introduction of local walking tour attractions - Direction to pediatric facilities - Information on distributed lodging options

Installed within the multigenerational exchange facility 'Kokoroba'

Beyond basic facility guidance, AI Sakura-san will serve as an entry point for discovering local charm and surrounding information, supporting tourism and urban exploration.

A key feature of this deployment is that AI Sakura-san will be placed not inside the entrance gate, but in a publicly accessible area just before the reception counter.

This setup allows not only facility users but also general visitors to interact easily, fostering broader community engagement beyond mere facility inquiries.

By linking facility guidance with regional information, the city aims to create new visitor experiences centered on the multigenerational exchange facility.

Connecting Shibushi and Osaka through the 'Sunflower' Ferry

The multigenerational facility will feature a net-based play area themed around the 'Sunflower' ferry, which connects Shibushi and Osaka, as part of its core concept.

AI Sakura-san will align with this thematic space, providing not only facility guidance but also local and surrounding information to inspire visitors to explore the region's attractions and make new discoveries.

Moreover, since AI Sakura-san has already been introduced at ATC (Asia Pacific Trade Center), a key exchange hub in Osaka, future collaboration is being considered—such as mutual guidance between the two locations, joint tourism promotion, and integrated visitor circulation programs.

The initiative aims to evolve beyond AI use in public facilities into a new model that supports cross-city information sharing and exchange promotion.

Future Outlook

Shibushi City will begin operating AI Sakura-san upon the facility's opening and proceed with evaluating its impact on regional circulation and improved facility usability.

Prior to the official opening on July 4, 2026, a ceremony and preview event for stakeholders will be held on July 3, featuring live demonstrations of AI Sakura-san's guidance capabilities.

Going forward, the city will continuously refine the system based on usage data and visitor feedback, with future expansion into other administrative services—such as the main city hall—under consideration, as part of broader efforts to advance city-wide DX and sustainable public services.

<About AI Sakura-san>

AI Sakura-san is an AI agent that can be used without requiring customers to perform registration or tuning tasks. Centered on the concept 'AI Sakura-san by your side—working together for work and happiness,' it supports digital transformation for businesses and municipalities through conversational interaction.

[Why AI Sakura-san is Chosen] - Equipped with cutting-edge AI technologies such as ChatGPT and image generation AI - Holds various ISO certifications including AI-related patents, quality assurance, and cloud security - Rapidly customized and delivered to match client business needs - Operations and maintenance fully automated

AI Sakura-san is adopted by numerous organizations aiming to advance DX. It enables AI-powered customer service and avatar guidance in stations, commercial facilities, websites, and phone systems, and is widely used across industries including major corporations, local governments, and public transportation.

<Company Overview>

Tifana.com Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo)

Operating under the mission 'Making the world smile with AI,' the company supports digital transformation for businesses and local governments. Since its founding in 2000, it has specialized in web development, creating websites for diverse industries. Leveraging this experience, it began developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and launched 'AI Sakura-san' in October 2016. Today, 'AI Sakura-san' is deployed across numerous enterprises and local governments nationwide, driving DX initiatives. The company has been part of the HEROZ Inc. group (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange) since March 2024.