For using a taxi in Tokyo area

General information

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Useful information

Notice to visitors from overseas


1. In Tokyo, public traffic is on the left side, so you are required to get on and off from the left side of the taxi.

Usually, it is on the left side of public roads in Japan. And, getting on and off the car is common on the left side. Not only the taxi cab, but most of the cars are equipped with a right-hand steering wheel. There are two ways to take a taxi. At a taxi stand that taxis are waiting for you or by stopping a taxi that is driving on the public roads. On the public roads, getting on and off from the left side of the taxi cab is a wise to avoid accidents as much as possible for your safety.

2. Taxi stand

They are mainly located in public facilities, stations and hotels. Especially recommended are the "Excellent Service" taxi stands.
Now, this "Excellent Service" taxi stand, we have 23 stands in Tokyo. There are in Haneda Airport, Ginza, and major stations.
In the "Excellent Service" taxi stand, the only driver that has been certified by some particular organization will wait for you.
Normally, you can ride from the left side of taxi cab. In some cases, there is better to ride from the right side of the vehicle for your safety.

3. Outside display of Taxi

There is a display device on the dashboard for the passenger outside, you can see through the front windshield.
Especially on public roads, it will be a sign of taxi usage.


" 空 車 / Ku-sya ", this means " Vacant / In service for passengers ".


" 回 送 / Kai-so", this means " Not in Service / Out of order ". They can not pick up passengers.

The taxi in use by passengers will display as some followings, or sometimes nothing.
" 賃 走 / Chin-so" is in general, or " 割 増 / Wari-mashi" means " on the increased fare ", this is only displayed from 10pm to 5am.

" 迎 車 / Gei-sya", not " 芸 者 / Gei-sya", this means " Reserved and allocated ". They are on the way to their customer and unavailable for others.

" 予 約 車 / Yoyaku-sya", this means " Reserved and Waiting ". They are waiting for their customer and unavailable for others, too.

" 自家使用 / Jika-shiyo", this means " For personal use ". Especially, although it is approved for the owner driver, there are certain conditions that are strict to use.

4. Automatic door ( Left side rear )

Most of the taxis in Tokyo are equipped with automatic door that operated by the driver. Left side rear door is opened by sending your signal to the taxi driver. Right side rear door, most of the cases, the driver will open manually for ensuring safety of you. And note that traffic moves on the left-hand side, so please exit on the left side to ensure your safety.

5. Use of the trunk is free / Seating Capacity

Normal sedans can only fit 4 passengers.
There are wagon taxis for passengers with a lot of luggage, for up to 9 passengers. For wheelchair access, as well as easy access for elderly, disabled, or pregnant passengers, universal taxis and wagon taxis are also available.

Seat Belt

" Please fasten your seat belt for your safety. "
Seat belts are required by the law to be worn.

6. Payment Method

You can pay by cash, credit cards (Visa, DC, Mastercard, etc.), taxi tickets, transportation electronic money and QR electronic payments. Note : some taxi vehicles cannot be handled.
Foreign currency is not accepted, so please pay in Japanese yen and check before riding. The payment method is updated from time to time. Please refer to the logo mark list below for the main available methods.






7. Ginza's No-Ride Area / Ginza boarding prohibited area

In the designated area of Ginza, you can only board from the designated taxi stand between 22:00 and 1:00 (excluding weekends and holidays) so that everyone can use the taxi fairly. In order to regulate the flow of passengers, in accordance with the law under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Special Measures Law Concerning Taxi Service Regulation), from 10 pm to 1 am (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), the Ginza area taxis are only allowed to pick the passengers up from designated taxi stands. The taxi stands are within about 150m, so please refer to the map below.

8. Total Smoking Ban in Public Facilities

Japan is one of the signatory nations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tabacco Control, which came into force in 2005. Its guideline says only 100 % smoke-free enviroments provide effective protection from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Japan has been urged to take measures to comply with the guideline by February 27th,2010. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry called on local goverments to ban smoking in public facilities such as schools, hospitals and other places used by the public to protect people from second-hand smoke. It has also requested that railways, buses and taxis implement a smoking ban.
Now, Tokyo law prohibits smoking on the road or while walking.
Total smoking bans in almost of taxi cabs in Tokyo.
Please refrain from smoking inside of the taxi.

9. Fare Price List

Taxi fare and fee will be displayed in the meter for the standard vehicle in the Tokyo 23 wards including Musashino City and Mitaka City.
Fare-payment method / Tokyo personal taxi cooperatives


01. Time and distance combination fare

Basic fare : 500 yen for the first 1.096 kilometers
Additional fare : 100 yen for every 255 meters
( 100 yen per 95 seconds, when it is traveling at 10 km/h or less speed, excepting for on the toll roads from 5:00 to 22:00. )

02. Late Night & Early Morning Surcharge

20% increase from 22:00 to 5:00

03. Discount fares

03-1. Handicap discount :

If you have a disability certified by a Japanese public institution, in the section you boarded, you can use a taxi at 10% discount of the regular fare under the following conditions.

i. It will be applied to the boarding section of them.
ii. Please show the following Japan-issued notebook to the driver.
(Physical disability Certificate, Rehabilitation Notebook, Mental patient health welfare Notebook or Certificate issued by a public agency in Japan)
iii. By the presentation of the photos that have been attached to the notebook, they will be the identification.

03-2. Long distance discount :

10% discount on the normal fares for the amount of the over 9,000 yen

04. Pick-Up Fee
( Allocation service )

300 yen per 1 time

05. Highway tolls & Parking fees

Highway tolls and Parking fees will be charged to the customer separately.

06. Hourly contract fare

Base fare: 5,360 yen for the first hour.
Subsequent addition: 2,450 yen for each 30-minute extension.

This hourly contract fare requires advance reservation. In addition to this, depending on the distance you are using this hourly cotract fare may not be available. Heading to or picking you up at Narita airport, Haneda Airport, or transfer to a destination other than Tokyo will be charged separately.

October 1st, 2019

10. Fixed Fares

You can use some of affordable fixed fares for your rides between Narita International Airport (NRT), Haneda Airport (HND) and various locations within some of wards in Tokyo.
Flat-rate fare / Tokyo personal taxi cooperatives


Haneda Airport straight-line /
Fixed fares (from/to Haneda Airport)

Fixed fares depend on the Haneda zone rates.
(Between Haneda Airport and the following areas)

Ward, City NameFixed fare
Chiyoda-ku / 千代田区6,900 yen
Shibuya-ku / 渋谷区7,800 yen
Setagaya-ku / 世田谷区8,100 yen
Edogawa-ku / 江戸川区8,200 yen
Shinjuku-ku / 新宿区8,300 yen
Sumida-ku / 墨田区
Taito-ku / 台東区
8,400 yen
Bunkyo-ku / 文京区8,600 yen
Nakano-ku / 中野区9,100 yen
Arakawa-ku / 荒川区9,500 yen
Suginami-ku / 杉並区9,900 yen
Kita-ku / 北区10,100 yen
Toshima-ku / 豊島区
Adachi-ku / 足立区
10,200 yen
Katsushika-ku / 葛飾区10,400 yen
Itabashi-ku / 板橋区11,300 yen
Nerima-ku / 練馬区11,700 yen
Mitaka City / 三鷹市12,200 yen
Musashino City / 武蔵野市12,800 yen
Haneda Airport straight-line / Tokyo personal taxi cooperatives

Narita Airport straight-line /
Fixed fares (from/to Narita International Airport)

Fixed fares depend on the Narita zone rates.
(Between Narita International Airport and the following zones)

Zone NameWard, City, Area NameFixed fare
A zone Katsushika-ku / 葛飾区
Edogawa-ku / 江戸川区
Sumida-ku / 墨田区
Koto-ku / 江東区
Minato-ku Odaiba / 港区お台場
Shinagawa-ku Higashiyashio / 品川区東八潮
19,000 yen
B zone Adachi-ku / 足立区
Arakawa-ku / 荒川区
Taito-ku / 台東区
Bunkyo-ku / 文京区
Chiyoda-ku / 千代田区
Chuo-ku / 中央区
23,000 yen
C zone Kita-ku / 北区
Toshima-ku / 豊島区
Shinjuku-ku / 新宿区
Shibuya-ku / 渋谷区
Minato-ku (except Odaiba) / お台場を除いた港区
Meguro-ku / 目黒区
Shinagawa-ku (except Higashiyashio) / 東八潮を除いた品川区
Ota-ku / 大田区
25,000 yen
D zone Itabashi-ku / 板橋区
Nerima-ku / 練馬区
Nakano-ku / 中野区
Suginami-ku / 杉並区
Setagaya-ku / 世田谷区
Musashino City / 武蔵野市
Mitaka City / 三鷹市
27,000 yen
Narita Airport straight-line / Tokyo personal taxi cooperatives

Notes

1. Advanced reservations are required,
excepting for the use of from Haneda Airport taxi stand.

2. Some areas are except from the Fixed fare.
Please check the fare table.

3. Late Night & Early Morning Surcharge for the Fixed fares.
20% increase from 22:00 to 5:00

4. Highway tolls and Parking fees will be charged to the customer separately.
As the Fixed fare is based on the use of toll roads such as Shuto-ko/首都高, if you request some ordinary way, the Fixed fare is not applicable.

5. Handicap discount
We will discount 10% than the normal fare by the following conditions, when the use of persons with physical, intellectual, or mental disability.

i. It will be applied to the boarding section of them.
ii. Please show the following Japan-issued notebook to the driver.
(Physical disability Certificate, Rehabilitation Notebook, Mental patient health welfare Notebookor Certificate issued by a public agency in Japan)
iii. By the presentation of the photos that have been attached to the notebook, they will be the identification.

6. In the following cases, even if there is a Fixed fare contract, the display price of the fare fee meter unit will be charged.
i. When you cancel your contract on the way due to the customer's circumstances.
ii. When the destination is changed to a location other than the contract.
iii. When it is far away from the scheduled course due to the customer's circumstances.

7. Fixed fares have been approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

November 14th, 2022

inserted by FC2 system