Police across Japan are using a new strategy to crack down on unlicensed taxi services—catching illegal taxis in the act at sightseeing destinations with the help of the transport ministry.

The strategy, which is proving effective, is part of an effort to combat a rise in unlicensed taxis that mostly target foreign tourists.

The relatively cheap but potentially dangerous services are called “shirotaku” (white taxis), because the cars usually have the white license plates that are issued for non-commercial vehicles.

Previously, the police were unable to act quickly against suspected shirotaku, due to the lengthy process of confirming whether a taxi was properly licensed or not.

However, the new collaboration with the transport ministry has sped the process up significantly.

THE STING

On the morning of July 1, 10 investigators from the Kanagawa prefectural police conducted a crackdown on shirotaku in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, a bustling hotspot for foreign tourists.

About 40 minutes into the investigation, a luxury minivan with a white license plate stopped near the approach to the famed Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine.

Seeing four passengers get out of the car, the officers called out to them and to the driver. The passengers, who were from two Chinese families, and the driver, who was also Chinese, were then questioned separately.

The prefectural police said the male driver insisted to investigators that he was “just giving some friends of a friend a ride.”

However, the passengers stated they had booked the ride through a Chinese travel app and planned to pay 40,000 yen ($270).

A police official telephoned the transport ministry while questioning the driver and the passengers, asking whether the cabby had the license required to operate paid transportation services legally.

The law enforcement officials concluded, 50 minutes into the interview, that the driver did not have the proper business license.

The man was immediately arrested on suspicion of violating the Road Transportation Law.

According to the prefectural police, the driver denied the allegation, which he called “unacceptable.”

CUTTING DOWN LENGTHY PROCESS

With the increase in tourism to Japan, unlicensed taxis targeting foreign visitors have become rampant across Kanagawa Prefecture in recent years.

Until last fall, police officers had to submit a written inquiry to the transport ministry each time they encountered a potentially illegal cab to confirm whether it was licensed.

This inquiry took two to three weeks to confirm, by which time the passengers of these suspected illegal taxis had often returned to their home countries.

Since tracing fare payments became unrealistic once the passengers left Japan, the police often had no choice but to drop charges against the illegal cabs.

Following extensive discussions with the transport ministry, the Kanagawa prefectural police established a new system in October last year allowing officers to determine over the phone whether a taxi driver has a commercial license through questioning.

This system has enabled the prefectural police to catch shirotaku drivers red-handed.

Six people were arrested on the spot in six cases within three months of the system’s introduction.

Since passengers increasingly reserve and pay for unlicensed taxis before coming to Japan, it is becoming easier to prove that the rides are paid for, making the crackdowns particularly successful.

ACROSS JAPAN

Similar tactics are being adopted by police across Japan.

The Shizuoka prefectural police ramped up cooperation with the transport ministry in May last year.

Across seven cases last year, the police found 13 individuals and one corporation involved in illegal taxi operations at locations including Shimizu Port, where cruise liners dock, and the Yume no Ohashi Bridge, a popular photo-taking spot for Mount Fuji.

“We see firsthand that the number of drivers operating shirotaku has dropped significantly,” said a representative from the Shizuoka prefectural police.

Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department adopted the same system in April this year.

Officials from both the police and the transport ministry, along with interpreters, are said to be on site during crackdowns on unlicensed taxis.

“Shirotaku may not comply with safety operation standards for cab operators,” warned a Metropolitan Police Department official. “Reckless management can lead to serious accidents.”

IDENTIFIED CASES RISE 2.4 TIMES

Statistics from the National Police Agency reveal that 80 unlicensed taxi cases were reported nationwide last year, 2.4 times the number in the previous year.

With the introduction of ride-sharing services in Japan last year, ordinary motorists registered with taxi companies can drive passengers for a fee.

“Cracking down on illegal shirotaku is indispensable to ensure fairness for drivers working in accordance with the law,” said an NPA representative.

Hirokazu Kato, a professor of public transportation policy at Nagoya University’s graduate school, noted that the rise in inbound tourism is driving up the use of unlicensed taxis.

According to data from the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of overseas visitors to Japan plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic but has rebounded, reaching a record high of 36.87 million in 2024.

Kato said the widespread use of taxi-booking apps is another contributing factor.

Kato argued that it is essential to work with app providers to eliminate unlicensed taxis from reservation services, while also ensuring that tourists are aware that unlicensed cabs are illegal in Japan.

“Spreading the word online and elsewhere about the good reputation of professional taxi drivers in Japan is significant too,” Kato said. “Cabbies offer comfortable services nationwide, as advanced driving skills are expected of them here.”

(This article was written by Arisa Inaba, Shuhei Nakajima, Natsuno Otahara and Daichi Itakura.)