Self-Driving Taxis and Buses in Japan: Where Tests Are Happening

Japan is moving from pilot rides to planned driverless services, with Tokyo taxis, Yokohama shuttles and rural buses leading the way.

Published October 26, 2026 at 9:36 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan allows Level 4 self-driving, meaning no human driver under set conditions, on public roads under a revised Road Traffic Act that took effect in April 2023. The first approved service ran in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture, in May 2023. As of autumn 2026, Waymo, Nihon Kotsu and GO are testing taxis in Tokyo with a driver on board and are aiming for driverless service in 2027, subject to permits.

Visitors who read about robotaxis may wonder whether they can ride one in Japan. The honest answer is that testing is active, a few small services run in limited areas, and large driverless taxi networks are still being prepared. This guide explains the levels of automation, what Japan's law allows, where trials are taking place in Tokyo, Yokohama and the countryside, and how travelers can follow developments without relying on a ride being available during a short trip.

The levels of automation in plain language

Self-driving is described in levels. In Level 2, the car helps with steering and speed but a human driver must watch the road constantly. In Level 3, the car can drive itself in limited conditions and ask the human to take over. In Level 4, there is no driver responsibility inside a defined area or set of conditions, such as a fixed bus route or a mapped district.

Japan's rules treat Level 4 as a special permission. The U.S. International Trade Administration notes that a revised Road Traffic Act took effect in April 2023 allowing Level 4 driving on public roads, and that the law mainly targets unmanned buses on specific routes in sparsely populated areas, with expansion to other vehicles anticipated. In practice, each service needs approval for its route, vehicle and monitoring arrangements.

Why Japan is investing in driverless transport

Japan's reasons are practical. The same trade source says the Nihon Bus Association projects a shortage of about 36,000 bus drivers by 2030, and that people aged 65 and older make up around 29 percent of the population. Rural areas with fewer drivers and older residents need dependable local transport, and automation offers one way to keep buses running.

The national government launched a program called RoAD to the L4, run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, to develop advanced mobility services. The program has been described as supporting local trials, vehicle testing and rules, and it set goals for expanding autonomous driving routes. Goals are not guarantees, so travelers should look for operator announcements about actual service.

Eiheiji: the first Level 4 service

The first Level 4 service to receive approval ran in Eiheiji, a town in Fukui Prefecture known for its Zen temple. Arab News Japan reported that it launched on May 28, 2023, on a roughly 2-kilometer walkway section, using a seven-seat vehicle with a top speed of about 12 kilometers per hour and a fare of 100 yen per adult in its early period. It ran on weekends and national holidays at that stage.

The service also showed that early deployments proceed carefully. The report noted that service paused for a period while the vehicle's recognition system was improved, and resumed in March 2024. Details such as schedule and fare may have changed since, so anyone planning a visit should confirm with the local operator or town tourism office.

Tokyo: taxi tests with Waymo, Nihon Kotsu and GO

Tokyo is the headline location for robotaxis. According to Travel Voice, in September 2026 the taxi app GO, Waymo and taxi operator Nihon Kotsu signed a strategic partnership aiming to launch Japan's first fully driverless Level 4 taxi service by the end of 2027. The companies have been running road tests across seven wards since 2025, and the tests continue with a Nihon Kotsu driver on board.

A Just Auto report from September 2026 says the service would begin with a smaller fleet that grows to about 100 vehicles across key Tokyo neighborhoods, with riders using the GO or Waymo apps. Both reports stress that the timeline depends on regulatory approval, safety validation and licenses under the road traffic and road transportation laws. In other words, a driverless taxi is planned, not yet a service visitors can count on.

Yokohama and other city trials

Yokohama is another testing ground. Travel and Tour World reports that Nissan intends to offer autonomous mobility services from fiscal year 2027, initially across a few municipalities, with demonstrations in the Minato Mirai, Sakuragicho and Kannai areas using up to about 20 vehicles and remote monitoring playing a central role. As with Tokyo, these are plans and trials, so details can change.

Bus makers and operators are also moving. A March 2026 Adnkronos report describes Toyota, with Tier IV, unveiling a planned transit system built around the e-Palette electric vehicle, with Level 4 as a target for fiscal 2027, while NTT Docomo Business and partners ran a four-day Level 2 autonomous bus demonstration at Yokohama's Zoorasia zoo in January 2026, aiming for Level 4 on selected public road sections by fiscal 2027. These are goals from company statements and should be treated as plans.

Rural buses and small towns

Many of the most meaningful trials are outside big cities. Small autonomous shuttles run on short fixed routes in towns, around resorts and near stations, often at low speeds and sometimes with a staff member on board. Their purpose is to test whether a bus can serve an area with few drivers, and local governments are usually involved.

For travelers, the appeal is a chance to see the technology in a calm setting. Because routes are short and schedules limited, check the town's official tourism site or the operator's page before planning a visit, and treat a ride as a bonus rather than the reason to travel.

What visitors should know

Practical tips are simple. Service areas, times and fares change, so check official operator pages. Follow the on-board instructions, keep seat belts fastened, and expect that a staff member or remote operator may monitor the vehicle. Public transport such as trains, subways and regular taxis will remain the dependable choice for most itineraries through 2026.

It also helps to keep perspective. Reported timelines say 2027 for the first fully driverless taxis in Tokyo, but permits and safety checks decide the actual date. Following operator announcements, rather than depending on rumors, is the surest way to know when and where a ride becomes available to the public.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can tourists ride a driverless taxi in Tokyo?

Not as a regular service yet. Waymo, Nihon Kotsu and GO are testing taxis in Tokyo with a driver on board and have said they aim for fully driverless Level 4 service by the end of 2027, subject to permits. Check the GO and Waymo apps and official announcements for any public riding opportunities.

Is self-driving legal in Japan?

Level 4 driving is allowed on public roads in specific approved cases. A revised Road Traffic Act took effect in April 2023, and the first approved service ran in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture, in May 2023. Each service needs approval for its area, vehicle and monitoring, so it is not a general right for any car.

Where can visitors see a self-driving bus in Japan?

Trials and small services operate in several places, including Eiheiji in Fukui and demonstrations in the Yokohama area. Routes, times and fares change, so check the local operator or town tourism office before traveling. Short routes and limited schedules mean a ride should be a bonus, not the main reason for a trip.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: Electric Vehicles in Japan: Charging for Drivers and Visitors, Drone Delivery and Smart City Tests in Japan and New Shinkansen and Rail Developments to Watch in Japan.