How do I tell a taxi where to go in Japan?

When you enter the taxi, you let the driver know the destination by saying: (Placename) + ?? ??? ???? (made onegai shimasu) (… ?????????).



Communicating with a taxi driver in Japan in 2026 is most effective when you use a combination of visual aids and specific "trigger" phrases. While many drivers in major hubs like Tokyo now use translation tablets, it is a high-value peer tip to have your destination's Japanese address or a Google Maps pin ready on your phone. Most Japanese taxis use advanced GPS systems where the driver can input a phone number to find the exact location; providing the phone number of your hotel or restaurant is often the fastest way to get there. If you prefer to speak, use the phrase "[Destination] made, onegaishimasu" (To [Destination], please). It is a peer-to-peer essential to remember that you should never touch the taxi doors; they are operated automatically by the driver. For the best experience, carry a "business card" from your hotel to show the driver for your return trip, as many smaller streets in Japan do not have names and rely on a complex block-based numbering system.

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You can tell a taxi driver where you want to go by using the sentence pattern I need to get to + PLACE. The taxi driver might then respond by telling you how long it will take to reach your destination, ?It should take us about 30 minutes to get there.

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Tell them (or show them) where you want to go. You can say the name plus ??????? (onegaishimasu). If you show them an address, you can say ?????????? (koko e itte kudasai).

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Hailing a Taxi in Japan As in many other places in the world, simply raise your hand or wave your arm to get their attention. Cabs are most easily caught on main thoroughfares, or near traffic lights.

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Afterwards, add on something such as yoroshiku onegaishimasu (??????????), which roughly means thank you. In fact, it's the thank you you're supposed to say before someone does something for you. The thank you after they actually do it is arigatou gozaimashita (???????????).

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When you call up the taxi company, you can ask to book a taxi at a certain time by saying “May I book a taxi at (time)?” or if you would like one right away, you can say “When is the soonest I could book a taxi for?” Next, you need to tell the taxi operator where you are by saying “I'm at (address)” or “Could you send ...

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Many taxis accept payment by credit card, and an increasing number accept payment by IC card, such as Suica. Stickers on the door often indicate accepted payment methods. When paying in cash, try to avoid paying small amounts with large bills. Tipping is not done in Japan.

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Taxis in Japan have a sign on their roof that says “??” (kusha), which means “available” in Japanese. When you see a taxi with this sign, simply wave your hand to signal the driver that you want to ride.

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Most Japanese taxi drivers do not speak English, so you should try and show the driver a name card showing your destination in Japanese characters, or point out the place you wish to go on a map. Japanese cabs also now often have SAT NAV which will aid finding your destination if you know the telephone number of the ...

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A simple gesture of appreciation can go a long way. Next time you step out of a taxi, make eye contact with your driver and offer a warm smile accompanied by a genuine “thank you.” These words may seem small, but they hold immense power in acknowledging the hard work and commitment of these individuals.

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The polite thing to do when leaving a taxi is to say thank you and/or goodbye. As “goodbye” is different depending on if you are the party staying or leaving, the “goodbye” the driver will say to you will be different than the “goodbye” you say to the driver.

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Each driver is different but it's most common to take the back seat. I used to have the passenger seat as my little office and it wasn't easy to clear it for one passenger. You may ask the driver if you can sit in front of this is most desirable.

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Raise your hand in the air as the cab approaches. Raise your hand firmly and confidently so cabbies know you want to be picked up. Keep your hand raised until a taxi driver spots you and pull over. Step back onto the curb once you have caught a driver's attention, and wait for them to park before approaching.

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Tipping in Japan is not expected, and attempts to leave a tip will almost certainly be turned down (a potentially awkward moment). In Japan, it's thought that by dining out or drinking at a bar, you are already paying the establishment for good service.

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Go is Japan's highly successful taxi app, with a network of 100,000 cabs aggregated from multiple local taxi companies. Thanks to regulation that effectively bans Uber and Didi from operating private car-sharing services, Go commands 70% of the mobility market in Japan.

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In short, yes, you can use Uber in Tokyo, but mostly to hail a taxi. But, more often than not, stopping a random taxi on the street might be faster (and cheaper) than requesting a taxi via the ubiquitous app. Uber is relatively new to Japan, and as a result, its network isn't the largest.

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In Japan, you'll use a Suica (or Icoca) card for local transport and most small purchases, and a credit card for big purchases (hotels etc). But you still need Japanese cash for places that don't take cards.

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Before you get in the cab, ask the driver “Could you take me to (place)?” and either “How much will that cost?” or “Do you use a meter?” if you are somewhere where drivers charge by the mile.

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Taxi VS Cab The earliest form of horse-drawn vehicle available for hire was called a 'cab' (short for cabriolet). The name stuck when cab firms upgraded to motorized vehicles, fitted with a 'taximeter' (which measured how far you'd gone). These were called 'taxi-cabs'. Nowadays either word is used.

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When you see a cab, stretch your hand in the air. Some people give a little wave, some don't. But if you do wave, know that once is enough. If you make eye contact and see the car heading toward you, you can put your hand down.

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