Taking a taxi in Tokyo

Tokyo – The City Where the Subway Sleeps After Midnight. After midnight, you have exactly one option to get home: Taking a taxi in Tokyo. The subway has stopped running, night buses are rare, and good luck waiting for an Uber. So, what are you waiting for? Hop in – but first, here are some survival tips!

Taking a taxi in Tokyo – Luxury or necessity?

Taking a taxi in Tokyo can be expensive, but sometimes, you simply have no choice.

• After midnight? Taxi.
• Suitcase the size of a fridge? Taxi.
• Rain coming from all directions? Taxi.

But don’t worry, the cars are spotless, the drivers ultra-professional (often in suits and white gloves), and the doors open automatically giving you full James Bond vibes. Most taxis have navigation systems, so you can just show your destination on your phone in case the driver doesn’t speak English. However, it’s always a good idea to have the address written in Japanese.

GO App – How to book your taxi smartly

Forget hailing a cab from the sidewalk! With the GO App, Japan’s most popular taxi app, you can book a ride conveniently from your smartphone. Just enter your location, choose your destination, get an estimated fare, and wait. Bonus: You can pay via the app, so no need to fumble with cash – super handy if your Japanese is limited to “Arigato” and “Sayonara”. Plus, the app provides a map showing your route, so you’ll always know where you are. Wait times are usually short, especially in busy areas, but during rush hours or bad weather, you might need a little patience.

Other ways to get a taxi

If you’re going the old-school way, you can hail one from the street, but be careful: A red light in the front? The taxi is available. A green light? It’s already occupied. Hotels and larger restaurants are also happy to call a taxi for you.

What about Uber?

Then there’s Uber and DiDi, but beware their prices are often higher than regular taxis. Why? Because Uber in Tokyo doesn’t use a classic ride-sharing model but partners with local taxi companies. That means you can book through the Uber app, but prices and service don’t differ much from a standard taxi.

The costs: How much does a taxi ride in Tokyo cost?

Taking a taxi in Tokyo isn’t cheap, but it’s not outrageously expensive either. Base fare: Around 500–700 yen. Additional cost: Charged per kilometer. Night surcharge: Between 10 PM and 5 AM, expect a 20% increase. Long-distance rides: A trip from central Tokyo to areas like Odaiba or Yokohama can cost at least 5,000 yen. To save money, consider splitting the fare with friends.

Alternatives to taxis – Are there any?

If you can make it before midnight, the metro or buses are the way to go. But after that? Not so much. Night buses are rare, unreliable, and don’t cover much of the city. Ride-sharing services (like in other countries) are highly regulated in Japan, making Uber and similar apps a pricey and impractical option. If you’re out late, a taxi is your only real choice.