Getting around

Taxis

Clean, safe and metered. The door opens itself.

What to know

Doors open and close automatically. Don't touch them.
A red light in the windshield means the taxi is free. Green means it's taken.
In big cities taxis are everywhere. In smaller towns, look in front of the train station.
Fares are metered by distance, apart from some fixed-rate routes to airports and major sights. A 7 km daytime ride in Tokyo, about 25 minutes, runs roughly ¥2,500–3,000.
A late-night surcharge applies from 22:00 to 5:00. If the driver takes the expressway, you pay the tolls.
Credit cards generally work in big-city taxis. In the countryside, cash may be the only option.
S.RIDE, Uber, DiDi and GO all let you order a taxi in English.
Have your destination written in Japanese, especially if it isn't a well-known hotel or sight. Some drivers in big cities speak other languages.
Drivers don't expect or accept tips.

psst, show the driver the address in Japanese on a map app rather than saying the name. Hotel names often sound different in Japanese.