Taxi apps in Japan for foreigners【2023/GO/Uber/DiDi】

The main taxi apps in Japan are as follows.

The author, who has been a taxi driver for a year in Tokyo, introduce the best app for you.

*"GO" and "S.RIDE" require a Japanese phone number for app registration
*The app "Japan Taxi" ended service in Japan. Integrated into "GO"

Japanese ver.

タクシー配車アプリおすすめ比較完全版2023

こんな方におすすめ タクシーをアプリで呼びたいすべての人 2023年9月現在、国内で使える主要タクシーアプリは以下です。 GO　　  ←全国でおすすめ！ S.RIDE　←東京・大阪・名古屋でおすすめ！ ...

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The best apps in Japan　⇒　GO or Uber

2023, the best apps in Japan is "GO" or "Uber" .

 

GO is the most popular app in Japan. It can be used in most major cities in Japan. Most likely to call a taxi immediately. The amount of promotion is also the largest. However, a Japanese phone number is required for registration.

>>Get a Japanese phone number

If you have a Japanese phone number, the best choice is "GO".

 

Uber works with foreign (your country) phone numbers. if you don't have a Japanese phone number, the best choice is "Uber"

 

Function of Taxi apps in Japan

app	Number of taxis	Airport fixed fare	English	promo
				Discount Price(JPY)	code
GO	many	available	available	7000	get from friends
S.RIDE	normal	available	available	2000	get from friends
DiDi	normal	not available	available	500	8474JVZU
Uber	normal	available	available	2000	AFFJPSEP40
Fulcul	few	not available	available	-	-
Japan Taxi	few	not available	available	-	-

 

Features of each taxi apps in Japan

 

①GO

【Features of GO】

• the most popular app in Japan
• Largest number of taxis and coverage areas
• a Japanese phone number required for registration　>>Get a Japanese phone number
• a reasonable flat rate between Haneda/Narita Airport and Tokyo
• many affiliated taxis in major cities in Japan
• many functions
• Max 7,000 JPY promo
• English language support

 

②Uber

【Features of Uber】

• You can register with a foreign phone number
• a reasonable flat rate between Haneda/Narita Airport and Tokyo
• Can be used in Japan and other countries
• 2,000 JPY promo code is "AFFJPSEP40"

 

③S.RIDE

【Features of S.RIDE】

• a Japanese phone number required for registration　>>Get a Japanese phone number
• Very easy to use app
• English language support
• 2,000 JPY promo

 

③DiDi

【Features of DiDi】

• No pick-up fee in Tokyo
• 500 JPY promo code is "8474JVZU" 
• English language support

 

⑤Japan Taxi

【Features of Japan Taxi】

• It cannot be used in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.
• Often used in local areas

 

⑥MK

【Features of MK】

• luxury car

 

⑦Fulcul

【Features of Fulcul】

• I can't confirm the dispatch, so there is no guarantee that a taxi will come.
• Pick-up fee completely free

 

Recommended apps in Japan for each purpose

 

Taxi apps fees in Japan

Prices for taxi apps in Japan are as follows:

• In principle, the same as the taxi fare when not using the app (Additional charges may apply in some areas)
• No need new registration or annual fee for the app
• Coupon makes the price cheaper

 

Approximate fare and travel time between major praces (in Tokyo)

From	To	Price (JPY)	Travel time (min)
Tokyo station	Narita Airport	20000-25000	60
Tokyo station	Haneda Airport	6000-8000	20-30
Shinjuku	Haneda Airport	7000-9000	20-30
Shibuya	Haneda Airport	7000-9000	20-30
Shinjuku	Shibuya	1500	15
Shibuya	Roppongi	1200	10
Shinjuku	Roppongi	2000	15
Haneda Airport	Tokyo Disney resort	8000-10000	30

 

Taxi fare system (in Tokyo)

【Standard-sized car】

Initial fare	420 JPY up to 1.052km
Additional fare	80 JPY per 233m
Fare combined with time and distance	80 JPY for every 1 minute and 25 seconds
Late night/early morning surcharge	20% increase from 22:00 to 5:00
Pick-up fee	Set for each operator（around 300 - 420 JPY）
Disabled discount	10% off
long distance discount	10% off for amounts over 9,000 JPY

Source: Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association

*Some taxi companies have their own pricing.

 

Available area in "Japan" of each app

All the apps in this article are available in central Tokyo (Roppongi, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa etc.).

Available area in "All Japan" of each app are as follows.

 

GO　⇒　Almost all of Major cities in Japan

• Hokkaido(Sapporo)
• Aomori
• Iwate(Morioka)
• Miyagi(Sendai)
• Akita
• Yamagata
• Fukushima
• Ibaraki(Mito)
• Tochigi(Utsunomiya)
• Gunma(Maebashi)
• Saitama
• Chiba
• Tokyo
• Kanagawa(Yokohama)
• Nigata
• Toyama
• Ishikawa(kanazawa)
• Fukui
• Nagano
• Shizuoka
• Gifu
• Aichi(Nagoya)
• Mie(Tsu)
• Shiga(Otsu)
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hyogo(Kobe)
• Nara
• Wakayama
• Okayama
• Hiroshima
• Yamaguchi
• Tokushima
• Ehime(Matsuyama)
• Kagawa(Takamatsu)
• Kochi
• Fukuoka
• Saga
• Nagasaki
• Kumamoto
• Oita
• Miyazaki
• Kagoshima
• Okinawa

 

・ up to 7,000 JPY promo

 

S.RIDE　⇒　Major cities in Japan

• Miyagi(Sendai)
• Ibaraki(Mito)
• Saitama
• Chiba
• Tokyo
• Kanagawa(Yokohama)
• Aichi(Nagoya)
• Osaka

 

・ 2,000 JPY promo

 

DiDi　⇒　Many major cities in Japan

• Hokkaido(Sapporo)
• Miyagi(Sendai)
• Saitama
• Chiba
• Tokyo
• Kanagawa(Yokohama)
• Shizuoka
• Aichi(Nagoya)
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hyogo(Kobe)
• Hiroshima
• Fukuoka
• Nagasaki
• Okinawa(Naha, Miyako-jima-island, Ishigaki-jima-island)

 

・3,000 or 500 JPY promo code is "8474JVZU" 

 

Uber　⇒　Major cities in Japan

• Nakatonbetsu
• Sendai
• Tokyo
• Yokohama
• Shizuoka
• Nagoya
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Kyotango
• Awajishima
• Hiroshima
• Fukuoka
• Aomori
• Fukuyama
• Koriyama
• Kochi
• Okinawa

・2,000 JPY promo code is "AFFJPSEP40"

 

Fulcul　⇒　central Tokyo

• central Tokyo

 

 

Door-to-door transfer service cheaper than taxi

「nearMe.」

Door-to-door transfer service cheaper than taxi

• Tokyo city ⇔ Haneda Airport（HND） ⇒ from 1,980 JPY/person
• Tokyo city ⇔ Narita Airport （NRT）⇒ from 5,980 JPY/person
• Osaka city ⇔ Kansai Airport （KIX）⇒ from 2,980 JPY/person
• Osaka city ⇔ Itami Airport （ITM）⇒ from 980 JPY/person
• Kyoto city ⇔ Kansai Airport（KIX） ⇒ from 4,980 JPY/person

>more about nearMe.

 

How to use taxi apps in Japan

General usage is maybe almost the same as taxi apps in your country. (like Uber, Grab, Lyft)

Big difference are as follows.

• Most drivers can't speak English
• Cash payment is only in local currency (JPY)
• the door of taxi opens and closes automatically

 

Below, how to use S.RIDE.

 

①Download app

Tap below to download S.RIDE for free on the app store

 

②Registration

Launch the app ⇒ Tap "First time use?"

 

Enter your phone number ⇒ Tap "Send SMS"

 

Enter the 4-digit "verification code" received by SMS ⇒ Tap "Next"

 

Enter Profile ⇒ tap "Confirm"

 

"Credit card registration" is required to use "online payment" with S.RIDE.
*You can register later.

 

Enter card information ⇒ Tap "Register"

 

Tap "ALLOW ONLY WHILE USING THE APP"

 

Tap "Agree to the Terms of Use"

 

Now you can use S.RIDE.

 

③Call taxi

Move the yellow pin on the map to set ride point, and Slide the yellow bar "Slide to call a taxi"

 

The app searches for taxis. Wait until a taxi is found. (Waiting time depends on the situation)

 

Found a taxi

④Ride taxi

The current location of the taxi, company name, vehicle number, arrival time, etc. are displayed.

Wait for the taxi at the ride position

 

Destination setting (optional)

You can set your destination on the app while waiting for a taxi. (This operation is unnecessary if you want to tell the driver directly when getting in.)

 

Tap "Enter before getting on a taxi."

 

Set the destination in the search bar or map, tap "Confirm"

 

When the taxi arrives, make sure the car number is correct before boarding the taxi. And tell your name to the driver.

There is no need to operate the app while riding.

 

⑤Payment(if pay by cash) and get off

If pay by online (pay by app), payment is no need when getting off.

If you select "pay by cash", please pay the fare in cash(JPY).

 

Q and A about Taxi in Japan

The author, who has been a taxi driver for a year in Tokyo, answers the questions.

Do Japanese taxi drivers speak English?

Most drivers can't speak English fluently.

Elderly drivers especially don't talk much.

 

However, Japanese learn English in compulsory education, so many people know simple words.

If the driver doesn't speak English, use google translate.

 

Is there a refusal to ride?

In Japan, it is rare to be refused a ride taxi.

Because the rules for cracking down on taxi drivers in Japan are very strict.

 

Do Japanese taxis unfairly charge fares?

In Japan, it is rare to be charged unfairly.

Because the rules for cracking down on taxi drivers in Japan are very strict.

 

Do you have a recommended taxi company?

In Tokyo, "Nihon Koutsu" and "km" are my recommend.

 

Can I use a credit card?

Yes. About 50% of taxis in Japan accept credit cards.

But credit cards may not be accepted even in taxis that accept credit cards. For example, Terminal troubles, insufficient balance, compatibility issues, etc.