Although trains are the most convenient way to travel in Japan, it sometimes is better or faster to use the taxi. Taxi drivers in Japan generally do not speak any English, so that it is useful if you now a few words and phrases to communicate with the driver. You can also print this page and show the sentences to the driver.
Giving directions
| Kanji | 「東京駅」お願いします。 |
| Furigana | 「とうきょうえき」おねがいします。 |
| Romaji | [toukyou eki] onegai shimasu. |
| English | To [Tokyo station], please. |
| Kanji | 地図を持っています。 |
| Furigana | ちずをもっています。 |
| Romaji | chizu o motte imasu. |
| English | I have a map. |
It is most useful to have a map IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE of the place you want to go. Since the system of Japanese addresses is complicated almost every place has a map on how to get there. Ask someone in your hotel or the person whom you visit to get you a map for the taxi driver.
| Kanji | 「右」お願いします。 |
| Furigana | 「みぎ」おねがいします。 |
| Romaji | [migi] onegai shimasu. |
| English | Turn [right]. |
- 左 – ひだり – hidari – left
- 真直ぐ – まっすぐ – massugu – straight ahead
| Kanji | ここです。 |
| Furigana | ここです。 |
| Romaji | koko desu. |
| English | Stop here. |
Money / taxi fare
| Kanji | いくらですか？ |
| Furigana | いくらですか？ |
| Romaji | ikura desu ka? |
| English | How much is the fare? |
| Kanji | レシートお願いします。 |
| Furigana | レシートおねがいします。 |
| Romaji | reshiito onegai shimasu. |
| English | A receipt, please. |
| Kanji | カードで良いですか？ |
| Furigana | カードでいいですか？ |
| Romaji | kaado de ii desu ka? |
| English | Can I pay by credit card? |
Please be aware that it is not common to tip the taxi driver – they will decline it in most cases. If you want to pay by credit card, you should ask the driver in any case before using the taxi. Many taxis accept Japanese but no foreign cards, so that the stickers with the logos of the credit cards on the windows of the taxi can be misleading.
NIHONGO ICHIBAN 