KANAGAWA –
Hakone, one of many Kanto area’s hottest vacationer locations, has been left with simply two working gasoline stations after a sequence of closures, prompting the city to offer greater than 10 million yen in subsidies to assist reopen a shuttered facility.
The decline in Hakone displays a broader retreat from the gasoline station enterprise throughout Japan.
A survey by Teikoku Databank discovered that greater than 1,700 firms have withdrawn from the gasoline station enterprise over the previous 10 years.
Between January and August 2026 alone, 144 firms left the business by means of chapter or closure, the best degree recorded throughout the previous decade.
Daisuke Iijima of Teikoku Databank mentioned the latest sharp rise in gasoline costs had considerably diminished demand. He mentioned the variety of firms withdrawing from the gasoline station enterprise might proceed to extend.
The downside has grow to be significantly seen in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, because the city prepares for the Silver Week vacation interval starting September 19.
Tourists visiting from Kawasaki mentioned that they had not seen a single gasoline station whereas touring by means of the realm. One mentioned their gasoline tank was already greater than half empty they usually have been fearful about discovering someplace to refuel.
Hakone nonetheless had 5 gasoline stations in 2025, however successive closures have diminished the quantity at present working to 2.
Kowakien Service Station closed in August 2025, Kojiri Service Station closed in November 2025, and Miyanoshita Service Station closed in March 2026. The remaining working stations are in Hakone-Yumoto and close to Lake Ashi.
Residents have additionally expressed concern that the lack of native gasoline stations might threaten each day life.
Masaaki Nakamura, who runs a memento store within the Gora space, mentioned the closure of the close by Miyanoshita station in March had come as a shock. “Not having a gas station locally is a matter of survival,” he mentioned. “When I heard it was closing, I thought, ‘That can’t be true,’ and then, ‘Why?'”
With gasoline stations thought to be important infrastructure for each residents and the tourism business, Hakone has begun providing monetary help to maintain providers working.
The city launched subsidies totaling 10.7 million yen for repairs and different work at gasoline stations.
Miyanoshita Service Station, which closed in March 2026, plans to make use of a part of the subsidy for renovation work and is scheduled to reopen in November.
Source: TBS