Booking a taxi in Japan in advance: airport runs, groups and rural areas
Short answer: in big Japanese cities you can hail a taxi on the street or call one with an app such as GO or Uber, which in Japan mostly sends licensed taxis. A reservation by phone is still the way to go for an early-morning airport run, a large group with luggage, a wheelchair-accessible car, a sightseeing charter by the hour, or a rural town where apps have few cars. Local taxi companies take those bookings in Japanese. YOROZU calls them for you, ¥1,500 per call.
When an app is enough
In Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and other large cities, taxi apps work well for a ride in the next few minutes. You set the pickup on a map, see the fare estimate and pay in the app. Street taxis with a red light in the window are free to hail.
When you need to phone a taxi company
- Fixed-time pickups — a 5 a.m. ride to the airport or the station. Apps match you with whoever is nearby at that moment, and at dawn that can be no one.
- Groups and luggage — standard taxis take four passengers and limited luggage. Larger vans exist but are few and need to be reserved.
- Wheelchair-accessible cars — universal-design taxis can be requested in advance.
- Sightseeing charters — many companies hire out a car and driver by the hour for touring.
- Rural areas and islands — app coverage is thin, and the local company may have only a few cars that need booking ahead.
What the taxi company will ask
- Pickup address — in Japanese, or the hotel name
- Date and time
- Number of passengers and suitcases
- Destination
- Your name and a contact number
Many companies add a pickup or reservation fee on top of the meter. Ask whether they take cards if you are outside a big city.
Left something in a taxi?
Contact the taxi company as soon as you can — the receipt shows its name and phone number. Our guide to lost property in Japan explains the rest.
Want us to book the taxi?
Send us the pickup place, time, number of people and luggage. A person in Tokyo calls a local taxi company in Japanese and confirms back.
Ask us — free to ask¥1,500 per call · You pay the fare to the driver · Replies 9:00–18:00 Japan time; outside those hours replies may take longer
Frequently asked
Can I book a taxi to the airport in Japan in advance?
Yes. Most taxi companies take reservations for a set time, which is the safest option for early-morning flights when there are few taxis on the street. Reservations are usually made by phone, and many companies add a pickup or reservation fee.
Is there Uber in Japan?
Yes, but in Japan the Uber app mainly sends licensed taxis rather than private drivers. Japanese taxi apps such as GO work the same way. Both are convenient in big cities; coverage in rural areas is thinner.
Can I get a taxi for a group of 7 or more people with luggage?
Some companies run larger vans, often called jumbo taxis, but they are limited in number and need to be reserved by phone. Tell the company the number of passengers and suitcases when you book.
Do taxis in Japan take credit cards?
Most taxis in large cities accept cards and IC transit cards. In smaller towns, carry cash in case the car only takes cash.
Can YOROZU book a taxi for me?
Yes. We call a local taxi company in Japanese, book the car for your time and address, and confirm the details back to you. It costs ¥1,500 per call; you pay the fare to the driver.