Answers to common questions about ShibusNow.
Q. Is ShibusNow free to use?
Yes, it's completely free. No app install or sign-up is required — it works right away in your browser.
Q. Does it track buses live via GPS?
No. ShibusNow doesn't use GPS vehicle tracking — it calculates "minutes until next departure" from the published timetable, plus a lightweight, crowd-sourced "possible delay" signal from user reports.
Q. Which routes are supported?
We cover routes and stops in the imported Kagoshima City Bus GTFS-JP data, including Kagoshima City View and Sakurajima Island View. Trams and private bus operators are outside the scope. See Routes & Stops for coverage and About for the timetable version and data generation date.
Q. Where does the timetable data come from?
It's built from the "Kagoshima City Bus GTFS-JP data" published as open data by the Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau, converted and bundled with the site. It is not a continuously updated feed; changes appear after updated data is published with the site. The About page lists the timetable version, validity period and data generation date. That date records when this site data was generated; it does not prove a new source download.
Q. Can I find which bus to take, including changes, from my destination?
Yes. Use "Find a bus by destination" on a departure board, or "Find by destination" on the top screen, to list buses to your destination, including routes with up to one change. Besides stop names, some places such as Kagoshima University, Yamakataya and Amu Plaza can be searched (walking time from the stop to the place is not included). Results use today's timetable; changes are only at the same stop, with at least 2 minutes allowed. Delays are not considered, and ferries and other transport or routes with two or more changes are not covered.
Q. Does it work offline?
Timetables, route details and route-search data work offline if successfully cached in the same browser. The offline cache holds up to 30 stop timetables, 40 route patterns and the route-search data for up to 30 days. Storage limits or clearing site data may remove them sooner. New data, map backgrounds and delay reports need a connection. Damaged saved transit data is fetched again when a connection is available.
Q. Why does an old timetable still appear when I am online?
When an app update includes new data, timetables and route details switch to that version. Reopen the app online and use Refresh if needed. Changes not yet published on this site cannot be reflected, so also check the official timetable.
Q. How is location data handled?
Nearby search and the map request location when permitted. Coordinates are processed on-device and are not sent to or stored on our server. Map backgrounds are fetched from OpenStreetMap, which receives your IP address and requests for map images corresponding to the area displayed.
Q. How do delay reports work?
You can report online while "Not yet arrived" is available (10:01 through 10:02 for a 10:00 departure). Your screen shows "Reported"; other users see "Possible delay" at that stop once 2 or more reports are counted. Different buses with the same route, destination and departure time are counted separately. A single report for the same bus at an earlier stop can produce the lighter "possible delay reported near ◯◯" note. If the request fails, reaches the reporting limit, or the reporting window has closed, the initial reported state is undone and the reason is shown (if the same connection already reported that bus, the state stays without adding to the count). Reports expire 5 minutes after the latest accepted report. Warnings from upstream reports disappear when those reports expire, even if updates fail. They do not adjust scheduled times or extend how long a card stays visible. This is a rough, user-submitted signal, not official operational data.
Q. Are New Year schedules and temporary suspensions reflected?
The departure board and the day-type tab marked Today reflect service-calendar exceptions in the imported data. Limited-date services appear only when running today. Registered suspensions and skipped stops are excluded from departures and crossed out with reasons in today’s timetable. Other tabs show regular schedules. Check official notices for changes not yet entered into the service.
Q. Does Refresh update the timetable data?
Refresh fetches delay reports and the selected stop’s published timetable again. It also reloads routing data when a destination is selected and uses matching timetable data for transfer platforms. If the map says stop information has changed, use its reload button before displaying a route. If an update fails, the saved information stays visible with a notice. The fetched-time label refers to delay reports. Remaining times update every 10 seconds while visible; reports, including upstream reports, are fetched at intervals of at least 30 seconds while buses are listed, or a destination search still has candidates within 2 minutes of their scheduled departure.
Q. Can I use my favorites and settings on another device?
They are saved in the current browser, with no device sync. You can save up to 6 favorites; 5 recent stops and 5 recent destinations are listed. To remove a favorite, open its departure board and tap the star again. Clearing site data or blocking storage may prevent settings from being kept.
Q. Does it support dark mode?
Yes — it automatically follows your device or browser's dark mode setting. There's no separate toggle inside the app.
Q. What if the top screen cannot be displayed?
First try “Reload” on the error screen. If that does not help, choose “Clear saved data and retry”. This clears locally saved data for this site, such as favorites, recent stops and text-size settings, plus data saved for the current tab, then opens the top screen again. This button does not clear the offline cache. If the error screen itself does not appear, or only the timetable fails to load, check your connection and use Refresh. Failed loads are also retried when the connection or screen returns.
Q. How do I ride the Kagoshima City View / Sakurajima Island View?
Board through the middle door, exit at the front and pay on exit. Boarding locations vary by route, so check the stop signs. The Bureau lists single fares for both City View and Island View as ¥230 for adults and ¥120 for children. A one-day pass covering trams, city buses, and City View is ¥700 (¥350 for children), or get the "CUTE" pass (¥1,400 / ¥700) to also include the Sakurajima Ferry and Island View. Both were revised on August 1, 2026.
Q. Is this an official Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau app?
No. ShibusNow is an independent, unofficial service run by an individual, not affiliated with the Bureau. It's built using their publicly available open data.
Q. What if the displayed time doesn't match reality, or the bus doesn't show up?
This service is timetable-based, so actual operation can differ due to traffic and other factors. Official city bus notices also appear above departures, with a server cache of up to 20 minutes. For accurate live status, check the Bureau's official information, and please allow extra time when traveling.
Official sightseeing-bus routes, boarding locations and fares
For other questions, please use the contact form on the About page.