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Uber Is Making Moves in Japan

May 23, 2018
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2 min read
China Online Companies
Uber Is Making Moves in Japan
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Even though Uber is blocked from setting up its own ride-sharing operations in Japan, that isn't stopping the global startup from expanding in the country with a taxi-hailing pilot service that connects riders with other available taxi services.

Uber plans to set up the program in the next few months on the Japanese island of Awaji and run the service through March 2019. The app's test run will allow passengers to hail taxis from more than 20 local car services through Uber.

A spokesperson for Uber Japan told Reuters the company would like to eventually expand this program throughout the entire country.

It's not Uber's first foray into Japan. The startup is forbidden to operate its traditional ride-sharing service in the country because Japan has laws barring non-professional drivers from shuttling paying customers. But Uber operates a similar service that connects passengers with local car services in Tokyo, and its food delivery service, UberEats, is up and running in four cities across Japan. It also has a couple of test programs in the nation's rural regions that focus on ride-sharing for the elderly — a rapidly growing population in Japan.

Uber has good reason to pull out all the stops to compete in the Land of the Rising Sun — Japan's taxi industry is reportedly worth a total of $16 billion. The nation could prove to be an important outpost for the company in that region of the world, as it sold off its operations in Southeast Asia to ride-sharing rival Grab earlier this year.

H/T: Reuters

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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