Effective Ways to Avoid Long Taxi Wait Times in Japan
Effective Ways to Avoid Long Taxi Wait Times in Japan Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in foreign tourists to Japan, leading to long queues for taxi rides at many locations. This taxi shortage is especially prevalent at airports and tourist spots, where wait times can sometimes extend to several hours. A significant cause of this issue is the aging population of taxi drivers, compounded by a decrease in their numbers. From 2004 to 2022, the number of taxi drivers in Japan decreased by 31%, with the average age rising to 59 years. This age is significantly higher than the average age of 44.5 years across all industries in Japan, highlighting the severity of the aging issue among taxi drivers. Source: National Federation of Auto Transport Workers Unions Source: National Federation of Taxi and Hire Taxi Associations Additionally, with the implementation of the “Work Style Reform Bill” in April 2024, which limits drivers’ working hours, the shortage of taxi drivers is likely to become even more acute. Although there is active discussion around alternative solutions like ridesharing, a definitive resolution has yet to be reached. In response, our company proposes