Uber’s Quest to Crack Japan Leads Through a Rural Hot-Springs Town
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Uber has faced significant regulatory barriers in Japan since its 2014 entry, with strict rules limiting its app to licensed taxis in a market traditionally protected by officials.
- Japan's declining population and aging rural communities have led to a shortage of public drivers, prompting some local governments to ease restrictions on ride-sharing services.
- In Kaga, a rural hot-springs town, peer-to-peer ride-sharing has been permitted, marking a rare exception in Japan's taxi industry and allowing Uber to operate more freely.
- Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently experienced this new model firsthand, riding with a local soba restaurant owner acting as a driver in Kaga.
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