Japanese Features Society and Customs

No Use of Ride-Sharing Service in Japan: Uber and Lyft

Ride-sharing service, such as Uber and Lyft, is very popular and probably elevated to a position without which we cannot do in daily lives, right?  

Photo  by Dariusz Sankouski used under CC

Not only for those who do not possess a car, but it is also a great benefit for cutting down travel expenses.  Less expensive than regular taxis or car service, it also provides a handy and convenient alternative for get-togethers or party-goers.  All they have to do is first (of course requisite) to download the app and then make a ride order.

This ride-sharing service also does good to travellers,  who are not so familiar to the transportation system of the country they visit.  Even more so for those who find it difficult to communicate in the foreign language.  They just use their smart phone and tap it for the transportation service.  They do not have to deal with the local currency, either.  In Vietnam, for example, a similar service called Grab (also see our post) is available (though this is operated by motorbikes, not cars as in the United States).  Yes, it is very convenient.

You would probably expect some sort of riding-sharing service in such a very high- tech country as Japan.  Unfortunately, it is not the case in Japan.  Indeed, Uber was introduced in 2014, and started its business mainly in Tokyo.  However, due to some law and regulations concerning the transportation safety, the service is VERY limited.  Only a few kinds, such as "Uber TAXI", are available and do not save you money and even time: You just order a taxi through the Uber app.  Some customers have tried some experiment to see if Uber is beneficial in both respects and found that it is more expensive than a regular taxi ride for the longer on-hold time. 

Tokyo 2020,or the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, will surely bring a lot of international travelers to Tokyo and Japan.  The travelers, either budget-oriented ones or not, should be warned that there is no use of ride-sharing service in Japan.  No bother to download these apps.  

Don't worry!   Tokyo, and other smaller cities like Nagoya as well, has an excellent public transportation system.  Subways, JR (Japanese Railway Company) and private transpiration companies help you to travel comfortably to your destinations.  From the airports to downtown areas, special trains and buses are available (see our blog post for more information).