How to Take a Taxi in Japan: Tips and Guide

If you are in Japan without a car, you will probably need a taxi sooner or later. Despite the many train lines, there are moments when a taxi is the simplest option, especially if you missed your last train. In this article, we will go through tips and a step-by-step guide on how to take a taxi.

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Where to find a taxi

If you are at a train station, big or small, there will usually be several taxi drivers outside waiting for passengers. If you are far from a station, you will need to 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 a 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, so write down a few 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 a taxi

This can be the hardest part if you have no knowledge of Japanese. Below, we will leave a short 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 ask: 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 likely give you an estimated arrival time.

Of course, the conversation on the phone will not always be exactly like this. If you do not understand what the taxi driver said, you can ask him to repeat it or speak more slowly.

もう一度いって下さい。
Mou ichido itte kudasai
Please repeat;

もっとゆっくり言って下さい。
Motto yukkuri itte kudasai
Please speak more slowly;

Arriving at your destination

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?)

Tell them 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 also show the address and say: Please go here!

ここへ行ってください
Koko e itte kudasai

If the taxi driver is having trouble finding the location, or if you do not know the exact address but know the streets and turns, you can help 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 and 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 also worth remembering that taxi doors usually close by themselves, so do not try to close the door on your own and avoid an awkward moment.

Source: survivingnjapan