Ride-Hailing Services Spreading in Japan
Tokyo, April 6 (Jiji Press)--Ride-hailing services have been spreading across Japan as a means of transportation to make up for the shortage of taxis.
In ride-hailing services, individual drivers use their private vehicles to offer paid rides. The services started in the country in April last year, initially in major cities such as Tokyo, on the condition that they are managed by taxi firms. The services are now available in all 47 prefectures.
The launch of ride-hailing services boosted the proportion of people who were able to book a ride via a smartphone app to over 90 pct in major cities in the early morning and late night hours, up from about 70 pct when only taxis were available, according to the transport ministry.
About 3,300 people have registered as ride-hailing drivers in central Tokyo and other areas.
Kiryu, a city in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, introduced a ride-hailing service in November after restaurants were hit hard by a sharp decrease in the number of taxis following the pandemic.
(2025/04/06-12:10)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
04/08 16:03 Fuji TV Cuts Executives' Pay over Nakai Scandal - 04/08 15:27 Kawasaki Heavy Hit with 1 B. Yen in Back Taxes over MSDF Scandal
- 04/08 14:57 Japanese Actor Ryoko Hirosue Arrested after Injuring Nurse
- 04/08 14:23 Japan to Extend Sanctions against N. Korea for 2 Yrs
- 04/08 13:39 Japan to Work on Rapport-Building with Trump: Govt Report
- 04/08 13:37 Manga Artist Chiba, Others Invited to Japan Imperial Party
-
04/08 13:37 Japan's Current Account Surplus Hits Record High in Feb. - 04/08 12:43 Trump Orders New Review of Nippon Steel's Bid to Buy U.S. Steel
- 04/08 12:32 Japan's Akazawa to Lead Talks with U.S. on Tariffs
- 04/08 12:03 Japan-U.S. Tariff Discussions to Include Currency Talks
- 04/08 11:23 Ohtani, Other Dodgers Members Meet Trump at White House
- 04/08 10:30 Quake Could Create "Shopping Refugees" in Cashless Japan
- 04/08 10:15 Ofunato Forest Fire Declared Extinguished
- 04/08 00:12 (Update) Ishiba, Trump to Appoint Ministers for Tariff Talks
- 04/07 22:21 Ishiba, Trump Hold Phone talks on Tariffs
- 04/07 22:09 (Update) Japan Lower House Members' Average Assets Hit Record Low
- 04/07 21:56 2 Japanese Men Suspected of Helping N. Korean IT Worker
- 04/07 20:29 Japan Coincident Economic Index Up 0.8 Point in Feb.
- 04/07 20:07 Japan Retail Rice Prices Hit Record High for 13 Weeks in Row
- 04/07 19:56 (Update) Japan Imperial Couple Make Memorial Visit to Iwo Jima 80 Years On
- 04/07 19:37 Japan Govt Headquarters on Trump Tariffs to Meet Tues.
- 04/07 19:07 Japan Succeeds in Identifying Asteroid Rocks Rapidly Using AI
- 04/07 19:06 BOJ's Economic Views Kept Unchanged for All 9 Regions
- 04/07 18:28 (Update) Japan to Proactively Consider Increasing Rice Production: Ishiba
- 04/07 18:20 Crew Members of Sunken Battleship Yamato Remembered on 80th Anniv.
- 04/07 18:04 (Update) Expressway Toll Collection Resumed in Central Japan
- 04/07 17:38 New Lower House Members' Assets Average 9.82 M. Yen
- 04/07 16:17 4 China Coast Guard Ships Enter Japanese Waters off Senkakus
- 04/07 16:11 Osaka Expo Test-Run Held to Check Operational Challenges
- 04/07 15:43 3 Dead in Ambulance Copter Crash in Southwestern Japan
- 04/07 15:29 Unification Church Appeals Dissolution Order
- 04/07 13:52 80 Yrs On, Ex-Iwo Jima Residents Remain Unable to Return
- 04/07 13:45 Japan Emperor, Empress Visit Iwo Jima to Pay Respect to War Dead
- 04/07 13:40 Komeito's Saito Tops Lower House Party Heads' Asset Ranking
- 04/07 12:25 Expressway Toll Collection System Glitch Continues
- 04/07 12:23 Japan Real Wages Down for 2nd Straight Month in Feb.
- 04/07 12:12 Japan Lower House Members' Average Assets Hit Record Low
- 04/07 09:12 G-7 Foreign Chiefs Voice Concern over Chinese Drills near Taiwan
- 04/07 00:16 (Update 2) Glitch Hits Automatic Expressway Toll Collection System in Japan
- 04/07 00:08 (Update 3) One Dead after Ambulance Helicopter Crashes in Southwestern Japan
- 04/06 23:57 Suzuki Elected Governor of Japan's Akita Pref.
- 04/06 23:49 (Update 2) One Dead after Ambulance Helicopter Crashes in Southwestern Japan
- 04/06 21:51 (Update) Ambulance Helicopter May Have Crashed in Southwestern Japan
- 04/06 21:29 (Update) Glitch Hits Automatic Expressway Toll Collection System in Japan
- 04/06 20:44 Ambulance Helicopter May Have Crashed in Southwestern Japan
- 04/06 20:04 Glitch Hits Electronic Toll Collection System on Japanese Expressways
- 04/06 17:50 Inaugural Ceremony Held for Japan SDF's Maritime Transport Group
- 04/06 14:58 U.N. Group Japan Chief Warns of Backlash against Women's Rights
- 04/06 12:10 Ride-Hailing Services Spreading in Japan
- 04/05 19:16 (Update 2) Ishiba Vows to Discuss Tariffs with Trump Soon
- 04/05 19:00 Victims of WWII Mass Suicide Mourned in Okinawa
- 04/05 15:40 (Update) Ishiba to Discuss Tariffs with Trump Next Week
- 04/05 14:45 Ishiba Observes Osaka Expo Rehearsal
- 04/05 14:05 Japan's Prince Hisahito Starts College Life
- 04/05 13:22 Ishiba to Discuss Tariffs with Trump Next Week
- 04/05 09:00 80 Years On, WWII Ordnance Disposal Remains Challenge in Okinawa
- 04/04 23:40 Calls for Consumption Tax Cut Increasing in Japan
- 04/04 22:47 Japan Worried about Ties with S. Korea after Yoon's Ouster
- 04/04 21:47 (Update) Ishiba Eyes Phone Talks with Trump over Tariffs
- 04/04 21:21 Univ. of Tokyo to Open 1st New Faculty in 7 Decades
- 04/04 20:41 Moon Rock to Be Shown in U.S. Pavilion at Osaka Expo
- 04/04 20:33 (Update) Japan Ruling Bloc, DPFP Agree to Cut Gasoline Prices in June
- 04/04 19:00 Fukushima Town Resumes Cherry Blossom Festival
- 04/04 18:59 Active Cyber Defense Bill Clears Lower House Panel
- 04/04 18:55 Part of "Moritomo Documents" Disclosed to Widow of MOF Official
- 04/04 18:42 Visitors to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum at Record High
- 04/04 17:15 Ishiba Holds Talks with Other Party Chiefs over Trump Tariffs
- 04/04 16:10 Japan, U.S., S. Korea Express Concern over China's Drills
- 04/04 16:08 Nikkei Sinks below 34,000 amid Global Sell-Off over Trump Tariffs
- 04/04 15:33 Ties with S. Korea Always Important: Japan PM
- 04/04 14:57 Japan Ruling Bloc, DPFP Agree to Cut Gasoline Prices in June
- 04/04 14:21 Osaka Expo Begins Test Run
- 04/04 14:19 Trump Tariffs May Weigh on Japan, Global Economies: BOJ Ueda
- 04/04 13:32 Japan Defense Min., NATO Sec.-Gen. to Meet in Tokyo
- 04/04 12:57 Record 7,910 Serve as "Community Reactivators" in FY 2024
- 04/04 12:51 Quad Nations Seek Extension of Ceasefire in Quake-Hit Myanmar
- 04/04 11:50 Trump's Tariffs Raise Concern about Impact on Japan Economy
- 04/03 23:30 Japan, U.S., S. Korea Affirm Cooperation over China, N. Korea
- 04/03 23:12 Japan's Ishiba to Meet Party Heads to Discuss Trump Tariffs
- 04/03 22:30 Japan Govt Warns Fuji TV over Handling of Scandal
- 04/03 21:50 NATO Secretary-General to Visit Japan from Tues.
- 04/03 21:39 ASDF Blue Impulse to Fly over Osaka Spots for Expo Opening
- 04/03 20:48 Up to 10,000 Police to Patrol Osaka Expo Opening Ceremony
- 04/03 20:37 (Update) Shunto Pay Hike Offers by Small Firms So Far Average 5 Pct
- 04/03 20:20 Deceased Sri Lankan Detainee's Family to Sue Japan Govt
- 04/03 19:32 8 Osaka Expo "Signature Pavilions" Shown to Press
- 04/03 19:10 (Update) Japan Asks for Exemption from Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs
- 04/03 18:58 Opposition Urges Ishiba to Talk with Trump over Tariffs
- 04/03 18:41 U.S. Auto Tariffs Grind Japan Makers' Gears
- 04/03 18:12 FOCUS: Trump Tariff Dents Investor Speculation for BOJ Rate Hike
- 04/03 18:07 Pay Hike Offers by Small Firms So Far This "Shunto" Average 5 Pct
- 04/03 16:37 Hakamata to Sue Japanese, Prefectural Governments in Aug.
- 04/03 16:28 Nikkei Hits 8-Month Low below 35,000 as Trump Tariffs Weigh
- 04/03 14:21 Japan Calls for Exemption from Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs
- 04/03 13:57 Papers on 6 Comedians Sent to Prosecutors over Online Gambling
- 04/03 13:02 Japanese Medical Team Arrives in Quake-Hit Myanmar
- 04/03 11:44 Japan Police Take Action against 10,105 People over "Tokuryu" Crimes in 2024
- 04/03 09:53 IMF Warns of Downside Risks to Japan's Economic Growth
- 04/02 22:58 Japan Eyes Stricter Diet Oversight of Active Cyberdefense
- 04/02 22:12 Myanmar Quake Caused Ground Shift of Up to 6 Meters: Study
- 04/02 21:28 China to Show Lunar Soil at Osaka Expo
- 04/02 21:12 Japan to Revise Nuclear Disaster Response Guidelines
- 04/02 20:12 Japanese Lawmakers to Visit Beijing in Late April
- 04/02 19:32 Over 230 Companies Have Less Than 1 Year to Meet TSE Criteria
- 04/02 19:17 FOCUS: Trump Tariffs Already Hurting Japan Biz Sentiment
- 04/02 18:37 Half of College Students in Japan Worry about Living Costs
- 04/02 18:30 CDP to Seek Parliamentary Resolution on Trump Tariffs
- 04/02 17:00 U.S. Tourist Arrested after Bringing Gun into Japan
- 04/02 16:43 Nakai's Victim Makes Statement after Panel Recognizes Sexual Assault
- 04/02 16:05 U.S. Joint Chiefs Chair Pick Vows to Modernize Japan Alliance
- 04/02 13:53 Body of Dead High School Girl Shows Many Stab Wounds
- 04/02 13:38 1 Japanese Injured in Bangkok after Myanmar Quake
- 04/01 23:42 Japan's Ishiba Aims to Turn Things Around with Price Measures
- 04/01 22:05 Digital Version of Official Gazette Established as Original
- 04/01 21:27 Mitsubishi Heavy to Develop New Precision-Guided Missiles
- 04/01 21:06 Japan Infrastructure Biz Working to Cut Nankai Quake Damage
- 04/01 19:28 Japan to Send Disaster Relief Team to Quake-Hit Myanmar
- 04/01 18:47 Tokyo Conveys Concern to Beijing over Drill near Taiwan
- 04/01 18:35 Japan Min. Iwaya to Visit Brussels for NATO Meeting
- 04/01 13:45 Japan's Jobs Availability Ratio Dips in Feb.
