The Ultimate Tokyo Taxi Guide

Haneda Airport (HND) › Tokyo Taxis

Tokyo Taxi Options

Similar to Japanese services and culture, taxis in Tokyo offer safe and efficient services, are well-maintained and clean, and guarantee pleasant and reliable rides. Thus, although they are often regarded as somehow expensive, they are a widely chosen transit option, especially when traveling with children, heavy luggage or late at night, when the effective trains and buses are not running. Tokyo taxis can be of many colors (yellow, orange, green with yellow lines, black). Still, all vehicles bear a light on their roof displaying their company’s logo and indicating availability during the night, and a light on the left side of the front windshield.

Some of the most popular Tokyo taxi companies are: 

• Kokusai Motorcars
• Nihon Kotsu
• Tokyo Musen
• Hinomaru

While taxis in Tokyo are known for their reliability, unlicensed drivers do exist . Those taxis, often called “shirotaku”, are not official. Therefore, drivers don’t have an official taxi license and rides aren’t insured. As a result, passengers risk getting overcharged or even questioned by the police during an inspection and are certainly not covered in case of an accident. How can you recognize an unlicensed taxi in Tokyo? Official Tokyo taxis are green or white with green frame license plates. All other vehicles have white plates. In any case, you should never accept rides from drivers approaching you on the street. It’s important to remember that the polite, professional Japanese taxi drivers never tout customers.

Our Tip: Some taxi companies also offer sightseeing services. In that case, taxi drivers are tour guides at the same time, while rides are typically more expensive.

Tokyo Taxi Fare: How Much Do Tokyo Taxis Cost 

As already mentioned, taxis in Tokyo aren’t cheap. Still, they justify their fares as they are safe, clean, reliable, and known for the quality of the services they provide. Overall, they are metered. Hence, their prices are calculated by taximeters based on the distance to the final destination and the traveling time. That being said, rides from and to Tokyo Airports (Tokyo Haneda Airport and Narita Airport) come with flat fares. In any case, the Tokyo taxi fare system is structured as follows:

• Tokyo 23 wards, Musashino city, Mitaka city

Initial Rate: ¥500 ($3,25/€3,09) for the first 1.096km/0.68 miles

Fare per 255m/0.15 miles: ¥100 ($0,65/€0,62)

Waiting time (traffic): ¥100 ($0,65/€0,62) per 95’’

• Tokyo (Tama Area)

Starting fee: ¥500 ($3,25/€3,09) for the first 1.091km/0.67 miles

Fee per 233m/0.14 miles: ¥100 ($0,65/€0,62)

Waiting time (traffic): ¥100 ($0,65/€0,62) per 85’’

Rides with Tokyo taxis late at night or early in the morning (10:00 pm to 05:00 am) are 20% costlier, while passengers who call for their cab should also expect to pay an extra fee. Moreover, toll fees for expressway journeys are also added to the final price. A 10% discount applies to travelers with disabilities and long-distance rides priced more than ¥9000 ($58,60/€55,70). On the other hand, tipping the driver isn’t obligatory, nor is it a common practice.

Payments can be made in cash or via credit cards. If you plan to pay with cash, you should carry small bills as the taxi driver may not have enough change otherwise. Some taxi drivers also accept e-money payments. Tokyo taxis have stickers on their doors or windows that indicate the available payment methods.

How to Hire a Taxi in Tokyo

More than 50.000 taxis circulate the Japanese capital. Thus, catching a taxi in Tokyo isn’t usually a challenging task. You can easily hail one from the street, provided you are standing at a suitable location, are visible, and raise your hand. All taxis feature lights on the left side of their front windshields that show availability. While most Tokyo taxis have signs in Japanese, some also include English. Depending on the written sign, the taxi might be:

• Vacant
• Occupied
• Charging an extra fee (night rides)
• On the way to pick up passengers
• Close to dropping off passengers and available
• At the end of the shift

When the light on the windshield is red, the Tokyo taxi is available. When it is green, the taxi is occupied.

On the other hand, you’ll find numerous taxi ranks around Tokyo. Primarily located close to the main transit hubs (train stations and bus terminals), Tokyo taxi stands can also be found in front of the most popular city attractions, shopping malls, and hotel facilities. Please note that during the night, when the trains and buses don’t operate or are scarcer, you may have to wait in line to get your taxi cab. In particular, you’ll most likely have to wait during Friday and Saturday nights. 

To elevate the quality of services, Tokyo features special taxi ranks where only qualified and highly skilled drivers can offer their services and/or where only electric and hybrid vehicles (EV taxis) are allowed to line up.

Finally, you can call your cab. In fact, you can use either telephone services or the relevant taxi apps to book a ride or even ask your hotel to call a Tokyo taxi, letting the staff know your dropping-off location. If you use a taxi app, keep in mind that you may need a SIM card, as some companies require an SMS verification system. It’s also important to remember that if you call your taxi, you’ll have to pay an extra fee.

Tokyo Taxi to Tokyo Haneda Airport

Tokyo taxis are, without a doubt, a very comfortable way to travel from Tokyo to Tokyo Airport. You can hail one from the street or head to the nearest taxi rank to catch a Tokyo taxi. On the other hand, calling a cab is certainly recommended to make sure you’ll arrive at the airport on time for your flight. 

Taxis in Tokyo are metered. However, if you take a Tokyo airport taxi to Haneda Airport from the following areas in Tokyo, you’ll be charged a flat fee.

Thus, the ride, for example, from Setagaya to Tokyo International Airport costs ¥8100($52,70/€50,11) during the day and ¥9600 ($62,50/€59,40). In addition to those fares, you’ll also have to pay the toll fees. If you wish to avoid the toll fees, you can ask the driver not to take the expressway. In that case, your ride will be metered, as only taxi journeys to Haneda Airport via the expressway are charged a set fare. Additionally, if you want to benefit from the fixed fares, you’ll have to book your ride at least one hour before the pick-up. Therefore, if you hail a taxi from the street, the Tokyo taxi journey will be metered. 

There are no extra calling fees on airport rides that come with a set price.

Our Tip: If you want to pick up more passengers during the ride, you should keep in mind that the journey will still be set-priced if the pick-up location is on the way to the airport. However, if the driver has to change the route, the journey will be fixed-priced until the pick-up location and metered from that point onward. On the other hand, if the taxi drops off passengers at different terminals, the fares are the same, as all terminals are part of the HND complex.

More Info About Taxis in Tokyo

• Ride-hailing companies also operate in Tokyo (Uber, Go, DiDi). Overall, they are considered more expensive than ordinary taxis while undergoing many restrictions by the Japanese government. However, they don’t have extra night fees. Therefore, they are usually more affordable for night rides.
• Tokyo taxis can be of various vehicle types. Thus, passengers can easily find the most suitable vehicle for them depending on their needs and preferences.
• Some taxi stands feature different lines for different categories of vehicles.
• Although most Tokyo taxi drivers speak English, it is highly advisable to have the address of your destination written in Japanese on a piece of paper. All taxis are equipped with GPS systems. Thus, you’ll help the driver locate your journey’s end more easily.
• Tipping is neither obligatory nor customary.
• You don’t have to open the door of your Tokyo taxi. Indeed, drivers usually open the rear taxi doors remotely.

FAQs

Are taxis expensive in Tokyo?

Tokyo taxis are metered. Only airport rides come with set fares under specific conditions. Thus, the flag fare is ¥500 ($3,25/€3,09), and the fee per 255m/0.15 miles is ¥100 ($0,65/€0,62). Overall, they are considered quite expensive. Still, they offer reliable and premium services.

Do you tip a taxi in Tokyo?

Passengers aren’t obligated to tip their Tokyo taxi driver. In fact, locals usually don’t tip taxi drivers. They don’t even round up the final fare. Therefore, you can leave a small tip to the driver. However, you aren’t expected to.

Do Tokyo cabs take credit cards?

Tokyo taxis accept cash and card payments, while many of them also accept e-money. Therefore, you can use your credit card to pay for the taxi ride. In any case, taxis in Tokyo have stickers with the accepted payment methods displayed on their windows or doors.

How to get a taxi in Tokyo?

You can easily catch a taxi from the street in Tokyo. Verily, Tokyo taxis are numerous (more than 50.000). Therefore, passengers don’t face difficulties in hailing one from the street. Alternatively, many taxi ranks are located around the city, while you can also call your cab.