Can Tiktok Fix Kyoto's Overtourism? the Mk Taxi Campaign Explained
By Robert Thorne
The geography of Kyoto makes mass transit fragile. Cradled by mountains on three sides, the city relies on a grid system laid out over a millennium ago. Its subway system runs on only two lines, leaving municipal buses to carry the heavy lifting. When global travel rebounded after border restrictions lifted, those buses buckled under the weight.
Municipal data shows daily ridership on flagship routes like the City Bus 206 exceeding designed capacity during morning peaks. Residents in eastern Kyoto report waiting through three consecutive bus cycles just to run basic grocery errands. Taxis offer little relief when stuck in the same surface gridlock near Gion and Arashiyama.
MK Taxi, led by President Hiroshi Maekawa, occupies an unusual vantage point. Founded in 1960, the company built its reputation on premium hospitality, fixed-rate airport transfers, and customized private sightseeing charters. When streets freeze, their drivers see the dysfunction firsthand. The partnership with TBWA HAKUHODO CEO Wataru Uchida seeks to intervene before visitors ever step foot on a train platform or flag a cab.
Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.
