Didi Mobility Japan, a joint venture between Didi Chuxing and SoftBank Corp., have launched their joint taxi-hailing service in Tokyo and Kyoto.

Didi Japan now offers services in three core cities in Japan, following its launch in Osaka in September 2018.

With their combination of culture, nature, and commerce, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are home to over 50 million people, nearly 50% of Japan’s population, and are popular destinations for the over 30 million tourists visiting the country each year.

Didi Japan partners with leading taxi companies to improve taxi utilization and provide more flexible travel options. The company’s digital platform proves a data tool for taxi operators to improve dispatching efficiency and expand user base.

Since Didi Japan’s launch in Osaka six months ago, the number of Didi’s taxi operators tripled in the platform and the business has achieved 60% monthly growth. In March 2019, Didi was selected as the taxi-hailing app with the highest user satisfaction in the Osaka area.

To encourage local residents and visitors to experience Japan’s taxi service in a new way, Didi Japan will be launching new promotion programs including a booking fee waiver for Tokyo riders, and a mileage program for loyal riders. Passengers may also hail a Didi Taxi directly from popular apps including Google Maps and Yahoo! Transit. The company is also exploring more diversified payment options through cooperation with PayPay.

Didi Japan is also attracting a growing fan base among Chinese visitors to Japan. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Japan hit a record high in 2018, exceeding 8 million with a year-on-year growth of 13.9%. Existing Didi users in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong will be able to hail a taxi in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka from their native app, aided by in-app real-time Chinese-Japanese text message translation and 24/7 Chinese customer support.

Didi Japan aims to continue building relationships with local communities and expand into additional new cities later this year.

Globally, Didi connects over 2 million taxi drivers across China, Latin America, and Japan.