Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan (Anadolu)
MANILA – Japan placed 17th in the latest Global Peace Index and it prides itself with 64 percent of tourists saying they feel safe, according to a survey conducted by its National Police Agency in October 2023.
Another study showed it was No. 14 in the 2023 most visited countries list while Filipino travelers ranked it 5th in a survey by a tour booking platform.
However, there is one particular kind of street crime that Japan is not immune to: Unlicensed or illegal taxi services that target foreigners.
Pinoys Everywhere, a group of Filipino workers based in Tokyo, has one basic tip that tourists may not be aware of: Legally licensed cabs in Japan have green plates while private or personal vehicles have white plates (shirotaku).
“If a vehicle has a white plate, it is not for business or service. It means it has no company affiliation nor is it a registered business. If something bad happens or it gets involved in an accident, even innocent passengers will be questioned,” Jed dela Vega, president of Pinoys Everywhere, told the Philippine News Agency.
“Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got a great deal. Think of what would happen if you’re availing of an illegal service,” he said.
In February, the Asahi Shimbun reported that Tokyo police arrested five Japanese and Chinese nationals on suspicion of operating unlicensed taxis that are catering to foreign tourists at Haneda Airport.
Two of the five suspects used an accommodation reservation website to pick up passengers while the others victimized travelers who used a Chinese car-hailing app.
At airports, transport ministry officials hand out fliers in English and Chinese stating "Beware! Unlicensed taxis are illegal and unsafe!" to international visitors.
"To ensure safe travel, we want travelers to use (authorized) taxis and hired vehicles that are well managed," Mitsuteru Yanase, head of the transport ministry's Chiba branch office, told Kyodo News in a story posted November 2023.
Uber and other apps are available in Japan but only for licensed cabs.
Dela Vega said the most common consequence of opting for illegal service is canceled booking.
“Money spent on this illegal operator will be lost,” he said. “An illegal operator is concerned only with money. If you’re a tourist who will avail of this service even if you know it’s illegal, you are contributing to the crime.”
In case of accidents, there is no insurance coverage. A legal taxi service, however, can provide compensation of as much 80 million yen, or about USD500,000.
Tourists may call the Metropolitan Police Department Traffic Investigation Division at 03-3581-4321 in case they fall victims to such illegal services.
“Your safety should come first,” Dela Vega said. “We love Japan and we want our fellow Filipinos to have the best experience while here.” (PNA)
