There are approximately 50,000 taxies operated in Tokyo.
The maximum number of passengers per one small- or medium-size
taxi is four persons. You can take one from a taxi depot
at the airports and most train stations. On the street,
you can catch a cruising taxi when you let the driver know
by raising your hand and the car is also vacant. To tell
whether the car is vacant or not, look for the red sign
of " (vacant)" on the car's windshield or see
if the lamp on top of the car is on. The left rear door
is opened and closed automatically by a driver for a customer.
You make a payment as indicated by the fare meter when the
car arrived at the destination. Credit cards are accepted
by some taxies and the types of acceptable credit cards
should be posted inside the car. Remember that not all taxies
accept the credit card, and even when they do, it may require
certain conditions such as the payment has to be more than
5,000 yen, etc.
Approximately 90 percent of Tokyo's taxies are medium-size
taxies. Besides them, there are other kinds of taxies available
as follows
Small-size
taxi
The maximum number of passengers is four persons and is
the same as the medium-size taxies. If you want to catch
a small-size taxi whose fare is a bit lower than that of
medium-size taxies, the easiest way is to go to a taxi depot
exclusive for small-size taxies, which is available at six
locations in Tokyo, including the west underground exit
of Shinjuku Station, the Marunouchi north exit of Tokyo
Station, and the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. In addition,
there are other five locations of the taxi depots which
small-size taxies share with medium-size taxies to ply for
customers. This includes the one at the international terminal
of Haneda Airport.
Minivan
taxi ("wagon taxi")
Wagon taxies are convenient when you have much luggage.
By the controlled allocation system, there are always a
certain number of wagon taxies available at Narita and Haneda
Airports as well as Tokyo City Air Terminal. Some wagon
taxies may cruise in the city. The rate is the same as that
of medium-size taxies except a case of a called dispatch.
Radio taxi
("musen taxi")
There are about 30,000 radio taxies operating in Tokyo.
You first call a taxi company and they will send the one
available to the location you desire. While they charge
an extra dispatch fee, the basic rate for the ride is the
same as standard medium-size taxies.
Limousine
taxi ("hire")
Limousine taxies use better grade cars than standard taxies.
4,000 limousine taxies in large-size and medium-size, and
"saloon taxies" are available in Tokyo.
Share-ride
taxi ("noriai taxi")
Share-ride taxies are something between taxies and buses.
Customers who head to the same destination share the ride,
paying less than standard taxies. They are available from
both Narita and Haneda Airports to central Tokyo.
Tokyo
Tourism Info
Taxicabs in Tokyo
(Japanese Only)
Japan Independently-owned Taxi Drivers Association
(Japanese
Only)
Tokyo
Kojin Taxi Association
(Japanese
Only)
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