Japan Travel – How to Ride in a Japanese Taxi
Etiquette and Tips for Taxi Riding in Tokyo or Japan Generally
Sep 29, 2009
Traveling inside Japan can be very complicated. Between the complex train systems and the winding roads with poor signage and a completely abstract addressing system, travelers often have problems figuring out where they are going. The same is sometimes true for cab drivers, especially if they do not have a GPS unit attached to their vehicle.
It is still possible to climb into a taxi where the driver will manually look up the address in a tattered paper atlas of the Tokyo streets. The following etiquette tips will help a traveler and a cab driver to have a less stressful journey together.
Don't Touch the Door of the Cab by Yourself
In Japan, the doors are automated. This means that when you hale a taxi, and it comes to a halt, the driver will pull a lever inside the door to open the cab. You will climb in, and the driver will hit the lever to shut the door. The procedure is the same when you arrive at your destination. The driver will open and shut the door with the lever. Trying to open and shut the door yourself can actually damage the mechanism, so leave opening and shutting the door to the driver.
Provide an Address in Japanese or a Map or Both if Possible
In Japan, often people riding in cabs, even Japanese people, will provide the taxi driver with a map of the place they are trying to get to. This is because the address system is not laid out in an orderly fashion the way many other countries are. In Japan, a building has three numbers associated with it. They are in ascending or descending order depending on whether the address is written in Japanese. So, if you hand a taxi driver an address in English, he may sometimes get confused between the numbers.
As written in Japanese, the address goes from chome to ban to go, with go being the house number on the block, and the ban being the block, and the chome being the section of the city. In English, the address is written with the chome first, then the ban, then the go. To help out your cab driver, if you can count in Japanese, try reading him the address in Japanese, with the chome, ban and go added onto the numbers. If you have a Japanese address, just hand it to the driver. If there is a map available, print it and bring it with you to show the driver.
Alternatively, Provide a Landmark or Train Station
If you do not have a map or directions, provide the driver with a well-known landmark instead. For instance, saying Hachi-ko onigaishimasu would be appropriate if traveling to Shibuya for shopping. Other acceptable landmarks are major hotels, government buildings, well-known office buildings, and train stations.
Be Polite and Respect the Interior of the Taxi
Say good day, Konnichi-wa, or good evening, Konban-wa when getting into the cab. Be sure to say arigatou gozaimashita, which translates to "thank you for what you have done" when you arrive at your destination. Bow your head slightly as you enter and leave the cab. Also, be sure not to dirty the interior of the taxi. Japanese taxis are extremely clean. Most drivers put nice white doilies inside and line the cab with plastic. However, just be respectful of the interior space of the taxi.
Do Not Tip the Driver
There is no tipping in Japan. Sometimes, taxi drivers even take insult if you try to tip them. When you pay in cash, they will provide exact change for you and expect you to take it. Some taxi drivers have gotten used to foreigners tipping them, but often, especially in more rural areas, they will not appreciate it. It is a good rule of thumb for etiquette to just avoid tipping all together. Thanking them for their service will be appreciated, but tipping will not.
Taxi Rates Increase After Last Train
The last train in Tokyo runs between 11:30 and 12:15 depending on which station the train is departing. If a you miss the last train to your destination, expect to pay significantly more for a taxi ride to where you need to go. This is not a tip, so much as a head's up!
This basic information should help a visitor to Japan survive cab travel. If you find yourself in a Japanese cab, just remember these basics, and your taxi ride will be smooth and enjoyable.
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