04-07-2025
Chinese woman accused of giving tourists a lift without a license
A vehicle that the suspect allegedly used to transport Chinese tourists. The photograph was taken in Kobe on June 17. (Momoe Harano)
KOBE—A Chinese woman is accused of illegally driving tourists from her home country to areas around the Kansai region for about two years without a taxi license.
She was arrested on suspicion of picking up an arriving Chinese family at Kobe Airport on June 17 who flew from Taiwan for sightseeing, investigative sources said.
The 40-something woman, who lives in Kobe, had promised to take her customers to Kyoto for 1,000 yuan (20,000 yen, or $140), cheaper than a regular taxi fare, the sources said.
The suspect admitted to the allegations, saying she received payment, they said.
Hyogo prefectural police suspect that she has repeatedly transported Chinese tourists without a license by cashing in on a tourism boom due to the Osaka Kansai Expo and other factors.
The woman picked up her customers at Kobe and Kansai airports after connecting with them through an intermediary using the Chinese social media app WeChat and other means, the sources said.
In China, a ridesharing arrangement allows ordinary drivers to give others a lift for a fee, and Chinese have different perceptions of taking private vehicles instead of taxis, investigative sources said.
However, these 'unlicensed taxis' could be more dangerous and disadvantageous to riders than official ones.
Taxi operators check drivers' health conditions and conduct alcohol tests in roll calls at the start and end of business hours, according to the Kinki District Transport Bureau.
Taxis are required to undergo safety inspections more frequently than private vehicles, and a certain amount of automobile insurance is also mandatory.
