Taking a Taxi

In this lesson you will learn how to take a taxi in Japan — from hailing one or asking someone to call one for you, to telling the driver your destination, giving directions along the way, and paying the fare. Taxis are a convenient backup when trains and buses feel overwhelming.

Dialogues (会話)

Situation 1 — To the Ginza, Please

Mrs. Black is going shopping at Mitsukoshi in the Ginza. She stops a cruising cab.

Romaji	English
Burakku: Ginza made onegai shimasu.	Ginza, please.
Untenshu: Hai.	Yes.
(after a short while)
Untenshu: Okyaku-san, Ginza desu yo.	Miss, we are at the Ginza.
Burakku: Mitsukoshi no mae de tomete kudasai.	Please stop in front of Mitsukoshi.
Untenshu: Hai.	Yes.
(the taxi stops)
Burakku: Ikura desu ka?	How much is it?
Untenshu: Gohyaku gojuu-en desu.	It’s 550 yen.

Situation 2 — To Tokyo Station for the Shinkansen

Ms. Parker is going to Kyoto by bullet train. She flags down a taxi to Tokyo Station.

Romaji	English
Paakaa: Tokyo Eki made onegai shimasu.	To Tokyo Station, please.
Untenshu: Yaesu-guchi desu ka, Chuuo-guchi desu ka?	Do you want to go to the Yaesu entrance or the Chuo entrance?
Paakaa: Yoku wakarimasen ga, Shinkansen no noriba desu.	I’m not sure. The Shinkansen boarding area.
Untenshu: Aa, wakarimashita.	Oh, I see.

Situation 3 — To Aoyama 4-chome

Mrs. Clark is going to visit a friend in Aoyama who will be waiting in front of a large supermarket.

Romaji	English
Kuraaku: Aoyama yon-chome made onegai shimasu.	Aoyama 4-chome, please.
Untenshu: Aoyama yon-chome no doko desu ka?	Where in Aoyama 4-chome is it?
Kuraaku: Yoku wakarimasen ga, ookii suupaa maaketto no mae desu.	I don’t know the exact location, but it’s in front of a large supermarket.
Untenshu: Soo desu ka. Suupaa no namae wa?	I see. What’s the name of the supermarket?
Kuraaku: Meijiya desu.	Meijiya.
Untenshu: Aa, wakarimashita.	Oh, I see.

Key Vocabulary (語彙)

Romaji	English	Kana
…made onegai shimasu	to…, please (giving destination)	…までおねがいします
de	at (marks where an action happens)	で
tomete kudasai	please stop (TE form of tomemasu)	とめてください
ookii	big, large	おおきい
suupaa maaketto	supermarket	スーパーマーケット
suupaa	supermarket (abbreviation)	スーパー
namae	name	なまえ
…wa?	what about…?	…は？
yonde kudasai	please call (TE form of yobimasu)	よんでください
tomemasu	stop (transitive)	とめます
tomemashooka?	(where) shall I stop?	とめましょうか

Grammar & Usage Notes

1. Telling the Driver Your Destination

For well-known places, simply state the destination with made onegai shimasu:

• Amerika Taishikan made onegai shimasu. — To the American Embassy, please.
• Ginza made onegai shimasu. — To the Ginza, please.

For less well-known places, give the area name first. The driver will ask for more details when you arrive in the area:

• Aoyama yon-chome made onegai shimasu. — Aoyama 4-chome, please.

The driver may then ask: Aoyama yon-chome no doko desu ka? — Where in Aoyama 4-chome?

In that case, mention a nearby landmark:

• Mitsukoshi no tonari desu. — Next to Mitsukoshi department store.
• Ookii suupaa no mae desu. — In front of a large supermarket.

2. Asking Someone to Call a Taxi

If you are at a hotel or visiting a friend, you can request:

• Takushii o yonde kudasai. — Please call a taxi (for me).

3. Stopping the Taxi

When you want the taxi to stop at your destination:

• Koko de tomete kudasai. — Please stop here.
• Tsugi no shingoo de tomete kudasai. — Please stop at the next traffic light.
• Mittsu-me no koosaten de tomete kudasai. — Please stop at the third intersection.
• Mitsukoshi no mae de tomete kudasai. — Please stop in front of Mitsukoshi.

4. Giving a Written Destination

If you’re not confident pronouncing the destination, have a Japanese friend write it in kanji on a piece of paper and show it to the driver:

• Koko made onegai shimasu. — To this place, please. (while showing the paper)

5. Paying the Fare

Every taxi has a fare meter. There is no tipping in Japan. Simply check the meter and pay:

• Ikura desu ka? — How much is it?

After paying: Doomo (arigatoo). — Thank you.

Keep 500-yen or 1,000-yen bills available for short trips, as drivers may not be able to change large bills.

6. Ookii — “Big / Large”

The adjective ookii can come before a noun or at the end of a sentence:

• ookii suupaa — a large supermarket
• Ano suupaa wa ookii desu. — That supermarket is large.

Practice Exercises (練習)

A. Destination Drill

Base sentence: Ginza made onegai shimasu.

Practice with: Aoyama yon-chome, Akasaka, Roppongi, Toranomon, Kabukiza, Roppongi san-chome

B. Stopping Location Drill

Base sentence: Mitsukoshi no mae de tomete kudasai.

Substitute:

1. Koko (here)
2. Tsugi no kado (next corner)
3. Tsugi no shingoo no mukoo (beyond the next traffic light)
4. Tsugi no koosaten no mukoo (beyond the next intersection)
5. Eki no mae (in front of the station)
6. Ano ookii biru no mae (in front of that large building)

C. Where in the Area? Drill

Base sentence: Aoyama yon-chome no doko desu ka?

Practice answering with landmarks:

1. Ginza → Mitsukoshi no mae desu (in front of Mitsukoshi)
2. Roppongi → Hotel Okura no chikaku desu (near Hotel Okura)
3. Toranomon → Kasumigaseki Biru no mae desu (in front of Kasumigaseki Building)
4. Aoyama san-chome → Kinokuniya suupaa no mae desu (in front of Kinokuniya supermarket)
5. Tokyo Eki → Shinkansen no noriba desu (the Shinkansen boarding area)

D. Role Play — Full Taxi Ride

Practice the complete sequence:

1. Tell the driver your destination: (Place) made onegai shimasu.
2. The driver asks for specifics: (Place) no doko desu ka?
3. You answer: Yoku wakarimasen ga, (landmark) no mae/chikaku desu.
4. When you arrive: Koko de tomete kudasai.
5. Ask the fare: Ikura desu ka?
6. Thank the driver: Doomo.

E. Pattern Check — Particles

Fill in the correct particle (de, no, ni, o, or e):

1. Tsugi ( ) tsugi wa Yokohama desu ka? → no
2. Aoyama ( ) tsuitara oshiete kudasai. → ni
3. Kono densha wa Shinjuku ( ) ikimasu ka? → e
4. Kono chikaku ( ) chikatetsu ( ) eki ga arimasu ka? → ni / no
5. Koko ( ) tomete kudasai. → de
6. Takushii noriba wa doko ( ) arimasu ka? → ni
7. Yokohama ( ) ikitai n desu ga, kono hoomu desu ka? → e
8. Kono densha wa Shinbashi ( ) tomarimasu ka? → ni

Cultural Notes

Taxi Basics in Japan

• Taxi doors open and close automatically — the driver controls the rear passenger door. Do not try to open or close it yourself.
• The sign on the dashboard shows the taxi’s status:
  • 空車 (kuusha) — for hire (available)
  • 回送 (kaisoo) — not in service
  • 予約 (yoyaku) — on call / reserved
• There is no tipping. Simply pay the metered fare.
• Drivers may not be very talkative. Some may not say anything until you give your destination. This is normal.

Giving Directions to Your Home

Finding a specific address in Japan can be very difficult — most streets don’t have names, and house numbers are not sequential. When going to an unfamiliar destination, it is best to:

1. Know a nearby landmark to mention to the driver.
2. Have the address written in kanji to show.
3. Be prepared to guide the driver once you are in the general area.

The Word “Onegai shimasu”

Onegai shimasu is one of the most versatile polite expressions in Japanese. With taxi drivers, it functions like English “please” when giving a destination. You will also hear it in restaurants, hotels, and many other service situations.

Reading Practice (漢字)

Kanji	Romaji	English
空車	kuusha	for hire
回送	kaisoo	not in service
予約	yoyaku	on call / reserved
停留所	teeryuujo	a (bus) stop
案内所	annaijo	an information desk or booth