Foreign tourists visiting Japan may be able to use the Uber ride-hailing app in more areas of the country later this year as Uber Technologies Inc. is in talks with a major taxi service operator on a business tie-up.

Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo Co. said Monday it plans to join hands with the U.S. transportation network company in providing rides for its app users in major Japanese cities with international airports, including Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa.

While Uber has been providing ridesharing services involving private vehicles in limited locations in rural Japan, it currently has no major taxi service partner in metropolitan areas, it said.

Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo, headquartered in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, is separately in talks with Chinese ride-hailing app provider Didi Chuxing as well.

It said it is hoping the expansion of Uber's service in Japan will help the country address a rising number of unlicensed taxis in big cities.