Tokyo Taxis

Taxis are everywhere in Tokyo and they are clean, safe and very easy to use. While trains and subways are usually the fastest and cheapest way to get around Tokyo, taxis can be extremely convenient when traveling with luggage, children, late at night or during bad weather.

Tokyo Taxi © Savvapanf Photo/Shutterstock.com.

Tokyo Taxi Takeaways

• Best for: luggage, late nights, rain, families.
• Payment: cash, credit cards, Suica/PASMO, contactless.
• Tipping: not required.
• Uber: works in Tokyo and other big cities (uses regular taxis).
• Typical cross-town fare: ¥3,500–¥5,000.
• Keep in mind: For short cross-town trips with luggage or families, taxis are often easier and less stressful than navigating Tokyo’s huge train stations.

The Details

How to Take a Taxi in Tokyo

• You can wait in a taxi rank outside a train or bus station, but it’s often easiest to flag a taxi off the street. Just try to choose a place where the taxi can stop easily.
• Flagging a taxi is done like other places: just raise your hand at an oncoming taxi.
• At night, available taxis are easy to spot because the roof light is illuminated. During the day, look for the illuminated sign in the windshield reading 空車 (“available”).
• You enter the taxi on the left side of the vehicle. The driver will open the door for you. There is no need to open it yourself.
• It’s polite to greet the driver when boarding. Even a simple “Konnichiwa” goes a long way.
• Some drivers speak basic English, but many do not. It helps enormously to show the destination on your smartphone, hand the driver a business card, or show the address written in Japanese.
• Tokyo taxi drivers are honest and professional, and you generally do not have to worry about overcharging.
• All Tokyo taxis have GPS navigation systems and drivers can usually search by phone number, address or map location.

Payment options in a Tokyo taxi © Chris Rowthorn.

Tokyo Taxi Fare and Payment Methods

Taxi fares in Tokyo are metered and generally start at around ¥500 for the first kilometer, with additional charges added based on distance and time spent moving slowly or waiting in traffic.

As a rough guide, a taxi ride across central Tokyo (for example, from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku) will usually cost around ¥3,500 to ¥5,000 depending on traffic and time of day.

Suica and credit card payment in a Japanese taxi © Chris Rowthorn.

All taxis accept cash, and most also accept:

• Credit cards,
• IC cards like Suica and PASMO,
• Contactless payment,
• Smartphone payment apps.

There is no need to tip taxi drivers in Japan.

Uber taxi in Japan © Jun Kitayama.

Does Uber Work in Tokyo?

Uber works in Tokyo and other major cities. Unlike Uber back home, in Japan it summons regular licensed taxis rather than private rideshare drivers. The Taxi GO app is another excellent taxi-hailing app that is widely used throughout Japan, including many rural areas where Uber coverage is limited. For more information on Uber and Taxi GO see Is There Uber in Japan.

How Many People Can Fit Inside a Tokyo Taxi?

Most Tokyo taxis can comfortably fit four passengers. Some larger taxis can fit five passengers, but this depends on the vehicle type and luggage. If you are traveling with a lot of luggage or a larger group, you may need two taxis.

Airport Taxis

For information on taking a taxi to/from Narita or Haneda airports, see my Tokyo Airport Transport page.

If you want to arrange an airport taxi in advance, Klook offers online bookings with instant confirmation for private airport taxis from Narita and Haneda airports. The rates are usually cheaper than just grabbing a cab off a taxi rank. Here are their offerings for these airports:

• Narita Airport private transfer.
• Haneda Airport private transfer.

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