Some of you already know there is no UBER or Lyft in Japan. All taxi cabs are licsed and issued a green licenseplate. Any taxi operating without taxi cabs license are called Shiro-Taku (White Taxi). It does not mean the car are white, but the lucence plates have white backgroung.
I usually choose white clolored taxi cabs. Because they are operated by individiuals not taxi companies. The cars are newer, cleaner and better service. Next time when you look for taxi, try white cabs. The prices are the same, so why not ry the better cabs.