If you are in Japan without a car, the chances of getting stuck somewhere are high. Despite the thousands of train lines, every now and then, you will end up needing a taxi, especially if you missed your last train. In this article, we will see tips and a step-by-step guide on how to take a taxi.
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Table of Contents
Where to find a taxi
If you are at a train station, big or small, there will always be several taxi drivers outside waiting for passengers to appear. If you are far from a station, you should make a call.
To get the number of a taxi driver, you can follow these tips:
- Write down the number of a taxi driver near the station.
- Search the Internet for: タクシー( takushii ) plus the name of the city. The results should show some places and the contact phone number.
- Look on the site taxitaxi.jp or taxisite.com. The site is in Japanese, but it is quite easy to use.
- Click on the prefecture you are in;
- On the page that opens, click on the city;
- Sometimes, you may also need to click on a ward;
- A list of taxi companies will appear, write down some numbers;
- If you are with a colleague or at a hotel, just ask them for help. Just say: タクシー を よん で ください” (takushii o yonde kudasai);
Calling for a taxi
This can be the most difficult part if you have no knowledge of Japanese. Below we will leave a dialogue for the call with a taxi driver.
When answering the phone, you can say: Could you come pick me up?
お迎えに来てもらえますか Omukae ni kitte moraemasu ka?
After he says yes, he will probably say: What is your address or where do you want to be picked up?
住所 は どこ です か Juusho wa doko desu ka?
Tell him your address in Japanese (or the address of where you are, or a landmark in the area).
In response, he may say: I am on my way.
今 から お迎え に 来 ます Ima kara omukae ni kimasu
The taxi driver will give an estimate of the time when he will arrive.
Of course, the conversation on the phone will not be exactly like this. If you do not understand what the taxi driver said, you can ask him to repeat, or to speak more slowly.
- もう一度いって下さい。
- Mou ichido itte kudasai
- Repeat please;
- もっとゆっくり言って下さい。
- Motto yukkuri itte kudasai
- Speak more slowly please;
Arriving at the place you intend to go
Once you are in the taxi, the driver will ask:
- どちらへ? ( dochira e? )
- どちらへいきますか?( dochira e ikimasu ka?)
Say where you want to go. You can say the name of the place plus “おねがいします” (onegaishimasu = Please) which is the most polite way to ask.
You can show the address, saying: Look here!
ここへ行ってください Koko e itte kudasai
If the taxi driver is having difficulty finding the location, or you do not know the address but know the streets and where to turn, you can help him by saying:
Turn right here, please.
ここで右に曲がって下し Koko de migi ni Magatte kudasai
Turn left here, please.
ここで左に曲がってくさい Koko de hidari ni Magatte kudasai
Go straight ahead, please.
真っすぐ行ってください; massugu itte kudasai;
It is next to _______.
_______の隣にあります; _______no tonari ni arimasu;
It is across from _______.
_______の向かいにあります _______ no mukai ni arimasu
It is near _______
_______の 近く に あり ます _______no Chikaku ni arimasu
It is next to the police station.
交番の隣にあります Kouban no tonari ni arimasu
So when you arrive at the place you want to get off, say: This is good;
ここでいいです Koko de ii desu.
It is not difficult to take a taxi in Japan, it is worth remembering that taxi doors usually close by themselves, so do not try to close the door by yourself, to avoid embarrassment.
Source: survivingnjapan
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