11/24/2018 Taxis in Kyoto – Kyoto Station

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Taxis in Kyoto
If you have missed the last train, are carrying heavy luggage, or are simply too
tired to face a prolonged bus ride, a taxi ride in Kyoto can be a swift and
comfortable travel alternative. Hailing a taxi can also be cost effective over
short distances if there are two or more passengers to share the bill. In this
article, we look at basic taxi etiquette, how to pay, where to find taxis and
which taxi companies you should look out for.

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The taxi rank on the north side of Kyoto Station

Basic Taxi Etiquette & Payment

On most streets hailing a taxi is easy. Just raise your hand for an
oncoming taxi as you would in your home country. If the light in the
passenger’s side window is green, the taxi is already occupied. If the light
is red, then the taxi is available. At night, a light on the roof of the taxi also
indicates that the taxi is vacant.
The majority of taxi drivers cannot speak English. It’s a good idea to show
them a map to your destination, or to have the address written down in
Japanese.
The rear doors of taxi cabs open and close automatically. You don’t need
to open and close them yourself, in fact it is better if you don’t.
All taxi cabs have meters, and taxi drivers are generally honest, so you
don’t need to worry about being cheated.

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There is no need to tip in Japan. You simply pay the fare shown on the
meter. If you try to tip the driver, you will probably just embarrass or
confuse him.
Not all taxis accept credit cards, so it is best to have the appropriate
amount ready to pay in cash. If you wish to pay with a credit card, you
should check that your card is acceptable with the driver before the
journey begins.

Waiting for a taxi at Kyoto Station

Types of Taxi
Taxi fares differ according to the size of the taxi. There are three basic sizes
small (kogata 小型), medium (chugata 中型) and large (ogata 大型). Basically
taxi fares will increase with the size of the taxi. A small kogata taxi can seat

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four people, but if you have more people in your group you will need either a
bigger vehicle or a separate taxi.

A Kyoto taxi opening its automatic door

Where to Get a Taxi

There are two taxi ranks at Kyoto Station on the north and south side of the
building. You can also find taxi ranks at most other rail stations and bus
terminals. At other locations it is fairly easy to hail a taxi on the street. At taxi
ranks, the taxis line up and customers board them in the order they become
available. For this reason, when boarding at a taxi rank, you cannot choose a
particular taxi company. When hailing a taxi on the street however, you might
want to pick out the better companies by their taxi logos.

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An independent taxi detail: 個人 or “kojin” means independent

Kyoto’s Best Taxi Companies
Not all, but some independent (個人 kojin) taxi drivers are not as polite as they
should be, or drive in a careless manner, so if possible try to get a taxi from a
reputable company. Of all the taxi companies in Kyoto, MK Taxi and Yasaka
Taxi have the best reputation for service. These two companies also have
English websites. However, as a rule if you wish to book a taxi by phone, you
will need to do so in Japanese, or have someone do it for you. Below we
introduce these two companies and some others you might wish to look out
for.

MK Taxi

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An MK taxi and logo

MK Taxis can be recognized by the heart-shaped logo on their roof. Purely for
the level of service this taxi company wins hands down. Their drivers are
unfailingly polite and well-groomed, and will often step out of the car to open
and close the taxi doors for you. Some MK taxi drivers can speak English too.
MK taxis are also renowned for having the cheapest service.

The basic fare for a small sized taxi (seats 4) is 600 yen for the first 2
kilometers and then an additional 80 yen every 415 meters. This compares
favorably with other taxis that charge 590 yen for just the first 1.7 kilometers
followed by an additional 80 yen every 324 meters. MK taxis also have a
special 10% discount service for customers who dress up in a kimono. In
common with most taxi companies however, they do charge a 20% surcharge
for taxis taken between 23:00 and 5:00 am.

Tel: 075-778-4141
English website: http://www.mktaxi-japan.com/

Yasaka Taxi

A Yasaka taxi and logo

Yasaka Taxis can be recognized by the green clover logo on their roof. They
charge regular fares and give reliably good service. Some Yasaka taxi drivers
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can also speak English. This company also charges the regular 20% surcharge
for taxis taken between 23:00 and 5:00 am.

Tel: 075-842-1212
English website: http://www.yasaka.jp/english/

Ecolo Taxi

The Ecolo taxi air turbine

Ecolo taxis can be recognized by the tiny windmill or air turbine on their roof.
The company was inspired by the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, and tries to promote
ecological energy-saving practices. For example, the clean energy generated by
the taxi’s roof-top air turbine can be used to charge passengers’ mobile phones.
Ecolo taxis also shut off their engines when idling to reduce emissions, and
improve fuel efficiency. The most stand-out practical benefit for their
passengers though is their bicycle carrying service. Many Ecolo taxis are
equipped with a bike rack, so they can carry a bicycle at the back of the vehicle.
If you book a taxi specifically for this purpose, there is a 200 yen pick-up fee.

Ecolo Taxi charges regular rates and also has a 10% discount for people over
the age of 65. There is a 20% surcharge for taxis taken between 23:00 and 5:00
am. Most of their taxi drivers cannot speak English and telephone bookings
should also be made in Japanese.
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Tel: 075-803-2228
Website (English available): http://www.ecolo21.com/

Hailing Taxis at Night

Most taxis (including the ones above) charge a 20% surcharge between 23:00
and 5:00 am. If you wish to avoid paying that extra fee, look out for one of the
following companies that do not have the surcharge.

Miyako taxis can be recognized by the 都 (miyako or “capital”) character on

their rooftop logo.

A Miyako taxi and 都 logo

Aoi Group taxis can be recognized by their crescent moon rooftop logo.

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An Aoi Group taxi and crescent moon logo

Rakuto Group taxis can be recognized by their white elephant rooftop logo.

A Rakuto Group taxi elephant logo

Kyoto Taxis with English Speaking Drivers

There are a number of options if you would like to specially hire an English
speaking driver whether for touring or for business.

Yasaka Taxi has a Limousine Service with an English speaking driver that can
be used for private sightseeing or business transportation. They can also make
bookings for you for restaurants, events, or geisha entertainment. Find out
more at their website or call 075-842-1214.

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The Rakuto Group has a set of English language taxi tours to choose from with
a range of choices in both location and duration. Find out more at their website
or email: info@rakuto-taxi.co.jp .

MK Taxi have an English speaking chauffeur service for business

transportation and a huge range of sightseeing packages. Check their website
for details or call: 075-757-6212.

You can also walk directly from Kyoto Station to their VIP Station and make a
booking there. The MK VIP Station is located directly opposite the Hachijo exit
of Kyoto Station’s south side, in the Ibis Styles Hotel building. Here is a map
.

The MK Taxi VIP Station

Airport Shuttle Services

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Both Yasaka Taxi and MK Taxi operate excellent door-to-door shuttle services
between Kyoto and Kansai International Airport, and at comparable prices.
Both companies require a reservation at least two days in advance of your trip
but early bookings are advisable in case seats become unavailable. Yasaka
Taxi’s shuttle service can be booked online here . MK Taxi’s shuttle service
can be booked online here .

Read our article, Traveling Between Kyoto and Kansai International Airport to
find out more about travel options between these two destinations.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.

Questions? Ask on our forum 

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