The US-based company Waymo (part of Alphabet Inc.), the operator of the GO taxi-hailing app, and the taxi operator Nihon Kotsu announced on Tuesday their plans to launch fully autonomous taxi services in Tokyo in 2027.
According to a joint statement from the companies, this will be the first service of its kind in Japan.
The companies said they plan to start with a small fleet and then expand it to around 100 vehicles, covering key areas of Tokyo.
The project’s implementation depends on obtaining regulatory approvals and confirming the reliability of Waymo’s technology and operational model. Once these have been secured and the verification process completed, the service will operate without drivers, and journeys can be booked via the GO and Waymo apps.
“Since Waymo arrived in Tokyo in 2025, our three companies have been working actively to prepare for passenger service. Over the past year, Waymo’s vehicles have been learning the city’s streets just like local residents: they operate autonomously under the supervision of specially trained Nihon Kotsu staff, manoeuvring confidently through narrow streets and navigating safely in heavy traffic,” the press release states.