Ride-hailing restrictions to be eased during 2025 Osaka Expo

Alright, listen up. Here’s the scoop—Japan is making some moves for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. The transport ministry just announced they’re easing ride-hailing restrictions to handle all the extra folks rolling into town from April to October. 24-hour services? On the table. They’ll start trial runs this month to figure out how many cars they’ll need. Now, here’s the deal: In Japan, ride-hailing's a bit different. Only licensed taxi companies can let people use personal cars to pick up riders. Since May, Osaka's been running a test—about 210 private cars filling in for taxis on weekends. But Expo numbers? Yeah, they’re predicting a daily shortage of 1,880 taxis. So, Osaka fought hard for this flexibility. Osaka’s Governor Yoshimura called the move a “big step forward.” He’s hyped to get locals and visitors moving smoothly. Long story short—more cars, around-the-clock rides, and way less waiting. #