KOBE - Six Pakistani men were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of operating unlicensed taxi services for foreign tourists at popular sightseeing destinations in Japan, investigative sources said.
The joint investigation team of Hyogo and Kyoto prefectural police forces said the group repeatedly provided illegal taxi services during this summer, sharing specific vehicles for their operations in a suspected violation of the Road Transportation Act, the sources said.
The suspects, all in their 20s, are believed to have transported tourists apparently from Europe and North America to sightseeing spots including Arashiyama in Kyoto, Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture and the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.
Police are investigating the extent of the operations, believing more people may have been involved.
Illegally operated taxis with white plates for private vehicles are commonly known as "shirotaku," or white taxies, while licensed commercial vehicles such as official taxis bear green plates.
Unlicensed taxi services have increased rapidly in recent years amid a surge in foreign visitors to Japan. According to the National Police Agency, police cracked down on 132 cases of illegal taxi operations in 2025.
