Japan guide

Getting around

Taxis

Taxis are clean, safe and metered. Drivers may not speak your language, so the trick is having the destination ready in Japanese.

10 steps · 4 common mistakes· Show in Japanese (3)
A Japanese taxi with its rear left door standing open, white seat covers inside.

Photo: Naha Mama Pavilionz / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Getting one

A taxi stand at Tokyo Station with the sign タクシーのりば (taxi stand) and taxis waiting in line.Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Step by step

  1. Use a taxi stand at stations and hotels, or raise your hand on the street.

  2. A red sign in the windscreen saying 空車 (kūsha) means the taxi is free.

  3. Ride-hailing apps such as GO also work in English in many cities.

Common mistakes

  • Waving at a taxi showing 賃走 or 迎車 — it's already taken.

The doors open by themselves

A yellow taxi with its rear left door already open; a traveller with a suitcase waits for the door instead of pulling it.

Step by step

  1. Step back from the rear left door: the driver opens it with a lever.

  2. Get in and leave the door — it closes by itself too.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling the door open or slamming it shut yourself.

Showing where you're going

Step by step

  1. Show the address in Japanese or a map pin on your phone.

  2. A phone number of the place works well too: drivers can enter it in their navigation.

Common mistakes

  • Saying only the English name of a hotel or a small restaurant.

Good to know: Each place on HAKOBUNE Spot has a card with its address in Japanese — show it to the driver.

Paying

Step by step

  1. The fare is shown on the meter.

  2. Cards and IC cards are common in cities, but not every taxi takes them — ask before you get in.

  3. Wear your seatbelt in the back too. No tip.

Common mistakes

  • Getting into a rural taxi without cash.

Sources

Sources (checked 2026-11-04). Facts, numbers and prices on this page come from these official pages.

  1. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)Getting Around Japan(opens in a new tab)JNTO: getting around Japan by train, bus and more
NextLuggage: lockers & forwarding

More in this section