DiDi in Japan
Yes, DiDi works in Japan, mainly as a taxi-hailing app. It books licensed metered taxis in parts of 42 prefectures, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido and Okinawa.
How DiDi works in Japan
In Japan DiDi is a taxi app, not a private-car service like DiDi Express in Mexico or Australia. You enter a pickup point and destination, the app sends the nearest available licensed taxi, and you follow its position and see the car details in real time. The fare runs on the taxi meter.
The service is run by DiDi Mobility Japan Corp., founded on June 28, 2018. Its shareholders are SoftBank Corp. and DiDi Mobility Pte. Ltd., and its head office is in Minato, Tokyo. The first service started in Osaka on September 27, 2018, covering Osaka City and the area around Kansai International Airport.
Besides taxis, the official site lists:
- Japanese-style rideshare (日本型ライドシェア) in specific areas.
- Designated driver service (運転代行), in parts of Okinawa and Fukuoka according to the app listing.
- Kantan-haisha: QR codes that hotels and venues use to call a taxi for guests.
- DiDi Business for company travel.
Where DiDi works in Japan
As of October 2026, the official service page lists areas in 42 prefectures. Many are covered only in some cities, so check the map in the app for your exact location.
| Region | Prefectures listed |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido and Tohoku | Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima |
| Kanto | Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa |
| Chubu | Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi |
| Kansai | Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara |
| Chugoku | Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi |
| Shikoku | Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi |
| Kyushu and Okinawa | Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa |
Not on the list as of October 2026: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Fukui and Wakayama.
Which app tourists should download
The DiDi taxi app in Japan is the same app as DiDi Rider: on the App Store both have the ID 1362398401, published by DIDI MOBILITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. In the Japanese store it is shown with a Japanese name (DiDi（ディディ）タクシーが呼べるタクシー配車アプリ). The listing includes English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Arabic among its languages.
What this means for visitors:
- If you already use DiDi Rider in Mexico, Australia or another DiDi country, you have the right app for Japan.
- The Chinese DiDi app (DiDi China: Ride Hailing) is a different app. DiDi Japan's FAQ says its own app does not work in mainland China.
- DiDi Japan's website and FAQ are only in Japanese, so the in-app screens are your main guide.
This guide could not confirm on an official page whether every foreign phone number and foreign-issued card is accepted at sign-up. Set up the app and add your card before you need a taxi, ideally at the hotel.
How to book a DiDi taxi in Japan
- Open the app and enter your destination.
- Confirm the pickup point on the map.
- Choose how to pay: in the app, or in the taxi.
- Request the taxi and watch it arrive on the map. Check the car details in the app.
- At the end, if you chose app payment, you can get out without paying the driver.
You can also book ahead: from 30 minutes to 3 days before departure, in all areas except Aichi. Bookings are not guaranteed, and in Hokkaido, Miyagi, Hyogo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa a booking fee of 300 to 780 yen applies.
Fares: how much a DiDi taxi costs
DiDi does not set its own price for taxi rides. You pay:
- the meter fare of the taxi,
- a pickup fee (迎車料金) where the taxi company charges one,
- expressway tolls if the route uses them.
DiDi does not charge riders a commission. Meter fares are set by region and taxi company, so this guide does not print a per-km price.
Payment: app, PayPay, cash and DiDi Pay
When you order, you choose one of two ways to pay:
- App payment: a credit or debit card registered in the app, or PayPay (link it from the side menu under payment methods). Coupons apply only to app payment.
- Cash or other payment in the taxi: you pay the driver with whatever the taxi company accepts.
You cannot change the payment method after the order is confirmed.
DiDi Pay is a newer option for taxis you did not book in the app, for example at a taxi stand or hailed on the street. In a taxi that supports it, you scan the QR code inside the car with the DiDi app, the PayPay app or your phone camera, and set up payment during the ride. It started in Okinawa and Osaka in September 2026, with more areas planned.
Cancellation fee
For regular taxi orders, the FAQ lists a 500 yen cancellation fee if you cancel more than 3 minutes after a driver accepts, or after the driver has already reached the pickup point. Other cases, such as bookings made in advance, have their own rules, so check the app before you cancel.