Taxis in Japan, and the GO app

GO is the app most Japanese use to hail a taxi, with the widest coverage in cities, so install it first. Uber works too, but in Japan it dispatches a licensed taxi rather than a private car, since the cheap UberX private-car model is restricted. DiDi also operates in some cities.

The point of the app is convenience, not a cheaper ride: you see the car coming, avoid explaining directions in Japanese, and pay in the app. Coverage is strong in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and other cities, thinner in rural areas where you may phone a local company.

A taxi from Narita (NRT) to central Tokyo can run 20,000 to 30,000 yen, so unless you have heavy bags or a group, the train wins: the Narita Express (N EX) or the Keisei Skyliner reach the city in under an hour for a fraction of the price, and the Airport Limousine bus serves major hotels.

Haneda (HND) is much closer, so a taxi to central Tokyo is more reasonable (roughly 6,000 to 9,000 yen), but the Keikyu train or monorail are still far cheaper and quick. Buy an IC card (Suica or Pasmo, or the mobile version) on arrival and trains become tap-and-go.

A few things surprise first-timers. The rear passenger door opens and closes automatically, operated by the driver, so stand back and do not pull it. Drivers often wear white gloves, the cars are spotless, and the meter is honest, so there is no haggling or watching for tricks.

Have your destination written down or shown on a map on your phone, since not all drivers speak English and Japanese addresses are hard to convey. A green light in the windscreen means the taxi is available.

Fares are metered: a base fare of a few hundred yen plus a per-distance charge, with a late-night surcharge (roughly 22:00 to 05:00). Most city taxis take cards and IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) as well as cash, though a small-town taxi may be cash-only.

You do not tip in Japan, and trying to can cause confusion. Just pay the metered fare. For more, see tipping in Japan, cash or card in Japan, and the Japan money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Japan

The little money things nobody warns you about.

• Do I need cash in Japan, or can I use cards?Short answer: bring some cash, but you will tap and swipe for most of a city trip. The catch is that most Japanese bank ATMs reject foreign cards. Here is where to get yen, when you truly need it, and how to pay for the rest.
• How do you get the tax back when you shop in Japan?Japan changes how this works partway through the year, so the answer depends on when you travel. Here is what to do in each case, and the one mistake that costs you the refund.
• Bringing your dog or cat to Japan.Japan is one of the long-lead destinations. Two numbers decide everything: the lead time, which is 7 to 8 months because of a fixed 180-day wait you cannot shorten, and the all-in cost, which runs into the thousands. Miss the sequence and the clock resets. Here is the order, the official route, and what to budget.
• Tipping in JapanThe answer here is simple and genuinely freeing: do not tip. Japan has no tipping culture, nobody expects one, and leaving extra money can cause confusion rather than gratitude. A polite thank-you is all that is needed.
• Do US citizens need a visa for Japan?Short answer: no, for stays up to 90 days, and there is nothing to apply for. Japan is one of the easiest countries for Americans to enter. Here is what you actually need, what Visit Japan Web does, and the change that is coming but is not here yet.
• Staying connected in Japan.Japan is the rare country where you can stop thinking about coverage entirely, because it is excellent almost everywhere including at 200 miles an hour on a bullet train. That leaves one question, and it is purely about money.
• Do you need a Japan Rail Pass?For years the answer was a reflexive yes. Since the 2023 price jump it is usually no, and the honest test is arithmetic you can do in about a minute before you spend anything.
• Common money scams in Japan, and what they cost youJapan is one of the safest countries in the world to visit, and on the great majority of trips none of this comes up at all. Most of what surprises Americans is not a con but a charge nobody explained: a seat fee at an izakaya, a service charge at a hotel restaurant, a card machine offering dollars. There is one genuine scam, it lives in a handful of nightlife blocks, and a single habit defuses it completely. Here is each one, what it costs, and how to sidestep it.
• What does getting sick in Japan cost a visitor?Japan is a country where the per-visit price is reasonable and the payment mechanics still catch people out. A resident covers about a third of the bill. You cover all of it, at the counter, before you go.