'Congestion pricing' eyed to ease traffic in top tourist spots

The transport ministry plans to test "congestion pricing" in four municipalities with major tourist attractions, including Kyoto and Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. The plan was presented to a panel on Thursday, with tests slated to begin this fall in Kamakura, Kobe and Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. No fees will be collected in the tests. Congestion pricing is a new system that employs state-of-the-art technologies to counter traffic jams, said University of Tokyo professor Eiji Hato, who chairs the panel. The ministry hopes to ease congestion by using artificial intelligence and other technologies.