Substitute driving (daiko) in Fukuoka City: licensed operators by ward and how pricing works (2026)

This page lists substitute driving (daiko, 代行運転) operators licensed by the Fukuoka Prefectural Public Safety Commission, based on the Fukuoka Prefectural Police’s own list. It is general information, not a recommendation of any one operator. Prices, phone numbers and licence status can change — confirm with the operator, and check the price list before you book.

In Japan, if you drive to a place where you plan to drink, you cannot drive yourself home. A daiko (代行, “substitute driving”) service sends a driver to drive your own car home for you, with a second staff member following behind in a chase car. In Fukuoka City, prices are not fixed citywide — each company sets its own base fare and per-kilometre rate, so the same trip can cost different amounts depending on which company you call. 66 licensed operators have their main office inside Fukuoka City; this page lists them by ward, with phone numbers and addresses where available.

1. Calling one with an app

GO, Uber and DiDi are taxi-hailing apps — they do not dispatch daiko drivers. The app for daiko is AIRCLE (エアクル), whose official site lists Fukuoka City in its service area. You set your location in the app and a partner operator is dispatched. Outside AIRCLE’s service area, call one of the operators listed below directly. AIRCLE official site (Japanese) / app download (App Store / Google Play)

2. How to read this list

Fukuoka Prefectural Public Safety Commission

This list is drawn from operators licensed by the Fukuoka Prefectural Public Safety Commission, current as of the end of June 2026 (Reiwa 8). Each operator has a licence number, which you can use to confirm it is a licensed operator when you call. The prefectural police publish the current list themselves. List of substitute driving operators (Fukuoka Prefectural Police, Japanese)

3. Licensed operators by ward

Operators are grouped by where their main office is registered. Having a main office in a ward does not mean the operator only serves that ward — call and ask how far they cover.

Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City (7)

Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City (12)

Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City (17)

Minami Ward, Fukuoka City (12)

Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City (8)

Jonan Ward, Fukuoka City (6)

Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City (4)

Phone numbers: each operator’s official site, or the NTT iTownPage business directory (checked September 25, 2026). Licence list: Fukuoka Prefectural Police.

4. Prices are set by each company’s own rate sheet

Daiko fares are not set citywide — each company decides its own. The Fukuoka Prefectural Police state: “Substitute driving operators are required, under their terms of service, to show customers a price list in advance — please check it.” Ask what the fare will be when you call, before the driver is sent. About substitute driving (Fukuoka Prefectural Police, Japanese)

Some operators publish their rate sheet online. Fares for the same distance vary by company, since both the base fare and the per-kilometre step differ. Two examples:

Prices: each operator’s official site (checked September 25, 2026). Some operators set separate surcharges for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays, and separate waiting charges.

5. Only the customer’s car may carry passengers

In a daiko service, a driver drives your own car, with a second staff member following in a chase car (随伴用自動車). The Fukuoka Prefectural Police state clearly that passengers may not ride in the chase car. If your group is larger than your car’s seats, plan in advance how many people will ride in your car and how many will need a separate taxi.

Sources (checked September 2026)

• Fukuoka Prefectural Police: list of substitute driving operators (Japanese)
• Fukuoka Prefectural Police: operator list PDF, end of June 2026 (Japanese)
• Fukuoka Prefectural Police: about substitute driving (Japanese)
• AIRCLE official site (Japanese)
• Cherry Unten Daiko Chuo, Yell Unten Daiko (Japanese)