Japan lifts partial ban on ride-hailing services in Tokyo, Kyoto, and other cities from April 1.

Japan lifts partial ban on ride-hailing services in Tokyo, Kyoto and other cities from April 1, allowing private-hire car drivers to operate on specified days and hours. This follows calls from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and former PM Yoshihide Suga to expand the ride-hailing market due to a shortage of taxis in tourist spots and rural areas. The services will also be available in parts of Sapporo, Osaka, Sendai, Saitama, Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka from May onwards.