takushii タクシー たくしい taxi
Taxis in Japan are beautifully organised. They are very clean, almost over-decorated with lacy-looking covers. The chauffeur wears a suit, a cap and white gloves. Drivers are identified on the dashboard with a numbered photo in Japanese as well as in English. The car charges are clearly displayed on the outside window of the passenger seat as well as inside the car, so there can be no confusion. The meters are constantly monitored; all taxis have a GPS system, so fares that seem to go the wrong way are very quickly spotted by the computer – discipline is very tight.
This particular car is by now a slightly older model and outside any large city railway station one can usually choose from one hundred taxis or so. What is most noticeable is the service aspect. The chauffeur is very polite, without chatting up the passenger and poking his nose into private business.
If you want to share your divorce settlement and your emotional issues with a complete stranger/driver, Japan is absolutely not for you. LOL
Japanese taxi drivers are very helpful. They will place your suitcase in the back of the car, if need be. They will take you the quickest way,
BUT…
BUT…
BUT…
BUT…
there are a few matters you need to be aware of:
- Taxi charges are based on distance AND time.
- The taxi driver is not responsible for traffic jams or heavy traffic.
- Quite a few roads and streets are one-way, so the driver needs to drive “around the block” (in a good way).
- Japanese addresses are NOT based on the western road/street number system.
- Japanese addresses are based on blocks and although drivers know an awful lot of blocks and GPS and radio contact with Central etc., they cannot know them all.
- Taxi drivers do have a sort of “white pages” of addresses.
- Japanese taxi drivers are licensed and they have to sit examinations to become a driver. It is a reasonable income, so it is something valued.
- Taxi drivers will contact Central for information and consultation. Your trip is monitored.
- You can pay with Plastic Fantastic.
- You can request special vehicles for specific jobs.
BUT…
there are a few matters you need to know beforehand:
NEVER OPEN OR CLOSE A TAXI DOOR!
It is done automatically by the driver
SIT IN THE BACK!
Unless there are three passengers
YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING!
Be prepared
The easiest way to be prepared is to have the address written down on paper. This is important as kanji can be essential in an address. Often Japanese themselves have company MEISHI (business cards) of the place where they are going. Companies issue them. These days you can download them from the net. Drivers can do that too via Central.
The meter is sealed
NO SMOKING 禁煙 きんえん KIN-EN
(FILTHY HABIT anyway)
BUT BEST OF ALL: NO TIPPING
(another disgusting western habit of legalised begging – personal opinion)
By the way, to take a taxi from Tokyo Airport to anywhere downtown Tokyo is extremely expensive. To Yokohama it will cost an arm and a leg.
From Osaka Airport there are no taxis as it is on an island and you need to take an express train.
If you can do and remember all of these things, you will absolutely love Japanese taxis – Heaven on Wheels!
Lami Japan 
