Photo/Illutration Vietnamese tourists use a ride-sharing service near Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward on April 19. (Yukiko Kitamura)

KYOTO—At least 90 taxi operators have already registered in the two weeks after a new ride-sharing service was launched here and in Tokyo.

While the majority of current customers are foreign tourists, taxi companies are hiring more drivers in anticipation of the service’s wider adoption.

On the evening of April 19, local taxi company MK Co. received a ride-share reservation through the Uber app from Vietnamese tourists who wanted to travel from Kiyomizudera temple to Kyoto Gosho.

Ninety percent of the company’s ride-sharing customers are foreign visitors, likely familiar with the service in their home countries. Domestic customers, on the other hand, are still unfamiliar with the concept.

Since joining the ride-sharing system when it launched on April 8, business has been good for MK.

On April 15, the company deployed 20 ride-sharing cars and received 110 reservations during its four-hour operating window starting at 4 p.m.

Unlike popular ride-sharing services abroad such as Uber and Lyft, drivers in Japan’s ride-sharing system must be hired by legitimate taxi companies—regulations brought about due to opposition from Japan’s taxi industry and concerns about safety.

So far, the new ride-sharing system acts as a supplement to taxis, operating only in designated areas and during peak times when extra vehicles are needed.

While ride-sharing services in some parts of the world are cheaper than taxis, the fees in Japan are generally the same as taxi fares.

However, ride-sharing drivers are not required to hold a Class 2 license, which is necessary for taxi drivers, and their vehicles are not required to have roof lights or meters.

Since the service is new, some domestic users appear unsure about its benefits or safety.

According to the transport ministry, some passengers who requested a taxi through an app received a ride-sharing car instead and canceled their ride.

While some concerns remain, many businesses are recognizing the growing popularity of ride-sharing services and taking steps to adapt.

Due to underestimating the demand, MK didn’t initially hire new drivers. Instead, it had management staff take the wheel of ride-sharing vehicles.

However, after the first week of using the new system, the company realized it couldn’t keep up with the surge in demand for ride-sharing services. To remain competitive, it opted to hire more drivers.

MK began recruiting ride-sharing drivers on April 18, placing job posters at their affiliated bowling centers, targeting students with the message, “Over 90 percent of customers are foreigners! This is your chance to put your language skills to the test!”

The company is offering an hourly wage of 1,300 yen ($8.35) and aiming to hire more than 30 drivers.

Go Inc., operator of Japan’s largest ride-hailing app, Go, has launched a new service connecting aspiring ride-sharing drivers with taxi companies.

The service is attracting hundreds of driver applications daily. Ninety percent of the applicants are men, and half already have experience as taxi or bus drivers.

(This article was written by Yukiko Kitamura, Kenta Nakamura and Yo Noguchi.)

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