SMART CITIES IN JAPAN AND THEIR APPLICATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 103destinations and serve as municipal buses. Although the discount system
cannot be realized across all seven private companies in the city, statistics
suggest that 100-yen buses promote transit usage. Since a pilot study was
conducted in 2012, the system has been used heavily in tourist areas by
both citizens and visitors (as of May 2015). However, this system relies
heavily on well-structured fi xed rail transit systems that have existed for
decades, and it thus functions as a feeder system.
Regarding the transportation sector, a voluntary community cycle
project called the Hama-chari project was run by the NPO from 2003
to 2012. One Non Profi t Organistation (NPO) is designed to promote
transit system development over the central region. These voluntary and
environmentally friendly transport modes support the city’s policies.
(4) Water
The water sector has used an excellent system for preserving remote
reservoirs for years. The Waterworks Bureau submits an environmental
accounting report every year. Environmental accounting guidelines are
followed based on the Ministry of Environment Plan, which focuses on
environmental preservation costs, environmental preservation effects, and
economic effects. Trial calculations are generated in yen and in t-CO 2.
Water systems follow the step-up charge system based on the principle that
daily water usage levels should be low. As the system charges those who use
more water with higher fees, the demand management system is functional.
Water treatment plants employ several innovative technologies to prevent
the development of heat island effects in cities. Wastepipes use microhydrau-
lic power for facility operations, and they are sold to electricity companies.
The water sector manages various citizen-focused events that highlight
the importance of water saving, which are frequented by many interested
citizens.
6.4 T HE YOKOHAMA SC ACROSS FOUR SECTORS
AND THREE FIELDSTable 6.2 describes the Yokohama SC in reference to the four sectors
and three fi elds. Some of the same traits can be found in Table 6.1 , and
Table 6.2 shows that Yokohama represents one of the most advanced SCs
in the world.