Why go
Use taxis selectively because rail is usually faster over long urban distances. Keep the destination name and address available in Japanese, confirm whether a pickup point is permitted, and allow for traffic around major stations and event districts. Use Taxis in Tokyo as the planning lens; details in Taxis in Tokyo connect each choice with concrete places and timing.
The full story
By taxi Taxis are very pricey, but may be a value for groups of three or more. Also, if you miss your last train, you may not have another choice. Fares generally start at ¥710 for the first two kilometers and can add up rapidly. A 20% night surcharge is tacked on from 22:00-05:00. As a rule of thumb, a daytime trip across the city from Tokyo station to Shinjuku station will cost approximately ¥3000, while a daytime trip from Tokyo station to Haneda Airport costs around ¥6200. These examples are based on standard routing and traffic conditions, so your actual fare may vary in relation to the estimated fare. Taxi rear left passenger doors are operated by the driver and open and close automatically. Don't open or close them yourself. Do not count on your taxi driver speaking English—or knowing more than the best-known locations, though most taxis have GPS "car navi" systems installed. The best and easiest thing to do is to prepare a map marked with where you want to go, and point it out on the map to the taxi driver. If you are staying at a hotel, they will provide a map. If possible, get a business card, or print out the address in Japanese of any specific places you wish to go.
Useful to know
- Confirm current details from the relevant official operator before relying on this taxis in tokyo advice.