Hokkaido Mobility School

What Hokkaido Mobility School does

Hokkaido Mobility School (北海道モビリティスクール株式会社) is a private, for-profit driving and drone training school headquartered in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. Founded in 2018 under the name Hokko Gakuen Motor School and rebranded in April 2024, the company operates as a member of the Hokkaido Energy Group, a regional conglomerate whose entities span petroleum, automotive services, insurance, logistics, and real estate. The school provides license acquisition courses across automobile (AT/MT ordinary), quasi-medium, medium, motorcycle (small, large, large automatic), and large special vehicle categories, plus drone pilot training including the nationally regulated Class 1 and Class 2 Unmanned Aircraft Operator certification through its MLIT-affiliated registered training organization status.

The business monetizes predominantly through one-time tuition fees per license or course (e.g., ¥333,400 for AT ordinary vehicle, ¥395,440 for MT, ¥242,400 for drone national certification type 2), with auxiliary revenue from corporate safety driving training (addressing data showing ~56% of corporate vehicle drivers have never received safety training), senior refresher courses, and a seasonal June–November residential training camp (gasshuku) at 9C Hotel Asahikawa. Underlying technology includes an online academic (theory) instruction system, a smartphone reservation and shuttle-bus tracking application, and the Safemo (セフモ) AI driving evaluation service launched May 2024 — first of its kind in the Douhoku region — which uses in-vehicle and exterior cameras to record driving and generate AI-driven improvement plans.

The company serves individual high school and university students (primary), corporate employee-driver programs, senior drivers, and training camp participants drawn from across northern Hokkaido. Direct-to-consumer enrollment is conducted via the company's website (do-mobility.jp), walk-in at the Asahikawa campus, and phone inquiry, with a free shuttle bus serving Asahikawa city and surrounding towns. The school reports approximately 1,000 license acquisitions per year and claims top-tier driving instructor headcount in the Douhoku region. Marketing channels include content marketing through the company blog, Instagram (launched July 2024), seasonal promotional fairs, and television exposure on STV Dosanko Wide.

Name

Hokkaido Mobility School

Legal name

北海道モビリティスクール株式会社

Website

https://do-mobility.jp/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hokkaido Mobility School is a Hokkaido Energy Group subsidiary operating an automobile and drone pilot training school in Asahikawa, Japan. It provides license courses (AT/MT, motorcycle, commercial vehicles) plus national drone certification, corporate safety training, and AI driving evaluation (Safemo), serving ~1,000 students annually in the Douhoku region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Driving School and Driver Education Services

NAICS

Automobile Driving Schools (611692)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks) (EDAEADAE)

Keywords

• Driver education
• Driving school
• Drone pilot training
• License acquisition
• Corporate safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

Asahikawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Driver's License Training Services: Core revenue from tuition fees for various driver's license programs including ordinary vehicle (AT/MT), quasi-medium, motorcycle, medium, and large special vehicle licenses. Revenue model is one-time fee per course/license type, with add-on fees for winter surcharges, retests, and re-examinations.
2. Drone Training Services: Tuition fees for drone pilot training courses including Standard Course (basic skills), National Certification Course (Class 1 and 2 unmanned aircraft pilot certification). Revenue model is one-time fee per course.
3. Corporate Safety Driving Training: Enterprise-facing safety driving training programs for company employees who drive work vehicles.
4. Senior Driver Training: Mandatory and elective driving refresher courses for elderly drivers.
5. Training Camp (Gasshuku) Programs: Residential/training camp programs for concentrated license acquisition, typically running June to November, with hotel accommodation at 9C Hotel Asahikawa (3 min from Asahikawa Station).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hokkaido Mobility School operates an automobile driving school and drone training school in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, providing licensed driving instruction across multiple vehicle categories (ordinary AT/MT, quasi-medium, medium, large special, motorcycle) and drone pilot certification courses including nationally recognized Class 1 and Class 2 unmanned aircraft operator qualifications. The school offers in-person skills training combined with online academic theory, residential training camp programs, corporate safety driving courses, elderly driver refresher courses, and the Safemo AI driving evaluation service.

Product overview

Hokkaido Mobility School operates as a comprehensive mobility education institution offering integrated driving license training across multiple vehicle categories (automobiles, trucks, motorcycles) and drone pilot certification programs. The school functions as both a traditional driving academy and a modern drone training facility, providing a full spectrum of mobility services including standard license courses, specialized commercial vehicle licenses, elderly driver training, corporate safety programs, and national drone operator certifications. Key products include standard automobile licenses (AT/MT), quasi-medium and medium vehicle licenses, motorcycle licenses, the AI-powered driving evaluation service 'Sefumo', drone pilot training with national certification pathways, residential training camp programs, and online academic instruction. The institution is part of the Hokkaido Energy Group and serves the Asahikawa region of northern Hokkaido.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ドローン教習所 北海道モビリティ校: Drone training school offering civilian certifications (Drone Inspection Level 3) and national certifications (First and Second Class Unmanned Aircraft Pilot).
• DON!DON!ドライブ
• セフモ (Safemo)

Products and services

• Regular Car License Training (普通車免許) Standard automobile driver's license training for regular passenger vehicles, available in both automatic (AT) and manual (MT) transmission options with comprehensive road safety theory and in-car skills instruction. Pricing ranges from ¥333,400 (AT) to ¥395,440 (MT) and includes 26 theory hours plus 31-34 skill hours.
• Quasi-Medium Vehicle License Training (準中型車免許) License training for operating vehicles with gross vehicle weight between 3.5 tons and 7.5 tons, suitable for delivery trucks and similar commercial vehicles. The AT version is priced at ¥193,670 and includes 1 theory hour plus 17 skill hours.
• Medium Vehicle License Training (中型車免許) License training for medium-sized vehicles with gross weight up to 11 tons, including small buses and mid-size trucks for professional driving careers. MT version priced at ¥200,680 with 1 theory hour plus 15 skill hours.
• Large Special Vehicle License Training (大型特殊免許) Specialized license training for operating large construction and agricultural machinery including tractors and bulldozers. Priced at ¥137,500 with 6 skill hours for license holders.
• Motorcycle License Training (自動二輪車免許) Motorcycle license training programs including small (125cc and under at ¥92,430), regular, and large displacement motorcycles with comprehensive practical training.
• Drone Training School (ドローン教習所) Comprehensive drone pilot training facility offering courses from foundational Drone Certification Grade 3 and Basic Skill Certificate through national Class 1 and Class 2 Unmanned Aircraft Operator licenses for commercial drone applications including surveying, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection. Advanced applied courses cover event airspace, night flight, beyond visual line, and object drop operations.
• Safemo AI Driving Evaluation Service (セフモ) AI-powered driving skill evaluation and improvement service using cameras mounted inside and outside vehicles to record driving performance and generate personalized improvement plans, addressing challenging maneuvers like S-curves and parallel parking. Particularly targeted at senior drivers and those wanting to extend driving confidence.
• Corporate Safety Driving Training (企業向け研修) Safety driving training programs designed for businesses, addressing the finding that approximately 56% of company vehicle drivers have not received safety driving education and that approximately 41% have experienced near-miss incidents on the job. Delivered on-site at client organizations.
• Elderly Driver Training (高齢者講習) Specialized driving refresher courses for senior citizens to maintain safe driving skills and extend driving longevity with confidence. Includes both mandatory elderly driver license renewal training and elective skills refresh modules.
• Paper Driver Refresher Training (ペーパードライバー講習) Refresher driving courses for licensed drivers who have not driven for an extended period to restore driving confidence and skills. Targeted at individuals returning to driving after long absences.
• Training Camp (Gasshuku) Residential Program (合宿プラン) Intensive residential driving program with accommodation at 9C Hotel Asahikawa (3 minutes from Asahikawa Station), enabling rapid license acquisition in approximately 16 days with comprehensive meal plans. Operates seasonally from June to November. Combines accelerated license acquisition with a Hokkaido travel experience.
• Online Academic Training (オンライン学科教習) Digital classroom instruction system allowing students to complete theoretical driving coursework online, complementing in-person skills training with flexible learning convenience.
• Education and Training Benefit System (教育訓練給付金制度) Government-supported funding program allowing eligible students to receive financial assistance for vocational training including driver license acquisition, reducing tuition burden for qualifying enrollees.
• Drone National Certification Course (国家試験コース) Advanced national certification program preparing students for Class 2 and Class 1 Unmanned Aircraft Operator licenses required for commercial drone operations including surveying, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection. Priced at ¥242,400 for inexperienced/first-time learners, including online theory, 11 hours practical, 11 hours skills training, CBT examination, and completion review. Delivered as an approved registered training organization of the MLIT-affiliated Drone Certification Association.
• Motorcycle High-Speed Plan (二輪ハイスピードプラン) First motorcycle high-speed plan at the school, targeting riders seeking accelerated motorcycle license acquisition. The school's first such dedicated fast-track plan for motorcycle licensing.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hokkaido Energy Co., Ltd. (北海道エネルギー株式会社)coreOthersParent group company providing petroleum products, automotive services, insurance agency, and LPG sales. Provides comprehensive car lifestyle support ecosystem from license acquisition through fuel, maintenance, and insurance services.
• Hokkaido Energy Group ( 北海道エネルギーグループ)coreOthersParent conglomerate including Hokkaido Energy Co., Otaru Energy Co., Hokkaido Eneline Co. (logistics), Hokkaido Square Co. (service station management), Hokkaido Creative Co. (PR/branding), Hokkaido Crestage Co. (real estate), and Katsuki Holdings Co. (holding company). Hokkaido Mobility School is a member of this group.
• Drone Inspection Association / Drone Certification Association (ドローン検定協会)coreTechnology or IntegrationMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)-affiliated management organization. Hokkaido Mobility School is an approved registered training organization (登録講習機関) offering nationally certified drone pilot courses (Class 1 and Class 2 Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Certification).
• 9C Hotel AsahikawaminorOthersHotel partner for training camp (gasshuku) residential programs. Located 3 minutes from Asahikawa Station. Provides accommodation for concentrated license acquisition program participants during June-November season.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Aone Driver School (Tomikoshi Group): One of Japan's largest designated driving school chains, operating multiple locations nationwide. Offers comparable license programs (AT/MT, motorcycle, commercial vehicle) and consolidated digital booking/online theory systems, closely matching Hokkaido Mobility School's core offering.
• Koyama Driving School: Major Japanese driving school chain offering ordinary vehicle, motorcycle, and commercial license training plus online academic instruction. Comparable business model, product mix, and consumer-direct GTM motion.
• Aiko Driving School (Aiko Group): Long-established Japanese driving school chain with multiple campuses. Offers a similar license portfolio (AT/MT through large special) and is a direct competitor in the consumer driving school category.
• Ichinoseki Driving School: Regional Japanese driving school operating residential training camp (gasshuku) programs and full license categories. Directly comparable to Hokkaido Mobility School's gasshuku offering and consumer-direct enrollment model.
• Drone School Japan: National drone pilot training provider offering basic and national certification courses. Direct competitor in the drone training business that Hokkaido Mobility School operates through its ドローン教習所.
• PRODRONE Academy: Specialized drone operator training in Japan covering commercial applications including surveying, inspection, and industrial use. Closely comparable to Hokkaido Mobility School's nationally certified Unmanned Aircraft Operator training.

Broad incumbents

• Honda Safety Driving Center: OEM-affiliated driver training facility under Honda Motor. Operates corporate safety driving courses and consumer training at larger scale and broader geographic reach, comparable to Hokkaido Mobility School's corporate training and license programs.
• Toyota Safety Driving School: Toyota-affiliated driver training and corporate safety education programs. Comparable to Hokkaido Mobility School's corporate safety driving training and overall driver education mission, with broader corporate reach and OEM backing.
• Japan Safety Driving Center (National Police Agency affiliated): National body providing safety driving education, senior driver training, and corporate fleet programs. Operates the broader ecosystem in which Hokkaido Mobility School's corporate and senior training segments compete.

Regional players

• SENDAI Drone School: Regional drone training provider serving the Tohoku area with similar basic and national certification programs. Comparable regional-market drone training model to Hokkaido Mobility School's ドローン教習所.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/doumobi.1217

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hokkaido Mobility School