Osaka Taxis

Taxis are plentiful, reliable and clean in Osaka. They’re great if you have a lot of luggage or small children traveling with you. Here are all the details.

Osaka taxis: Prateep oun/Shutterstock.com

The Takeaway:

• Osaka taxis are not as expensive as you might fear.
• The standard fare for a regular taxi in Osaka is Y660 for the first 2km, and Y80 for each additional 296 meters (medium and large taxis cost slightly more). Thus, you can cross town for about Y2,000.
• It’s very easy to catch a taxi in Osaka.
• Osaka taxi drivers are honest and safe.
• There are taxi ranks outside most train stations, bus terminals and some larger shops. You can also flag taxis on just about any street in the city.
• There is no need to tip a taxi driver in Osaka.

The Details:

How To Take A Taxi In Osaka

• You can wait in a taxi rank outside a train or bus station, but it’s often easiest to flag a taxi off the street.
• Just try to choose a place where the taxi can stop easily.
• Flagging a taxi is done like other places: just raise your hand at an oncoming taxi.
• At night, it’s easy to spot an open taxi: the light on the roof will be illuminated.
• In the daytime, it can be harder to tell if a taxi is open. Look for people inside the car and the light in the lower left corner of the windshield. If it is free, the light will say: 空車 . If it is full, it will say: 賃走中.
• You enter the taxi on the left side of the vehicle. The driver will open the door for you. There is no need to open it yourself.
• It helps to smile and say “Ohayo gozaimasu,” “Konnichi wa,” or “Konbanwa” when you board (good morning, hello or good evening, respectively). This will set the driver at ease.
• Most drivers know enough English to understand where you want to go, but it always helps to have someone write your destination in Japanese. If you’re returning to your hotel, just hand the driver the business card from your hotel.
• The driver will always turn on the meter and you do not have to worry about “being taken for a ride.” The meter will show the fare.
• Osaka taxis have satellite navigation systems. If you know the address or phone number of your destination, tell the driver and he can likely find it using the navigation system.

Check Osaka Hotel Availability

Destination

Check-in date

Sat 12 Oct 2024

Check-out date

Sun 13 Oct 2024

Osaka Taxi Fare and Payment Methods

• Most taxis cost Y660 for the first 2km. Thereafter, the fare rises Y80 for each 296 meters traveled. The fare also rises when the taxi is stuck in traffic. Medium (chugata) and large (oogata) taxis cost slightly more.
• All taxis accept cash, and some taxis also accept credit cards.
• It is not necessary to tip a taxi driver, but some people round up the change to the nearest round number.
• As a general rule, it will cost around Y2,000 to cross Osaka in a taxi (for example, from Shin-Osaka Station to Namba Station).

How many people can fit inside a Osaka taxi?

• Osaka taxis come in three sizes: kogata (small: 小型 ), chugata (medium size: 中型 ), and ogata (large size: 大型　). At some taxi ranks, like the ones at bigger train stations, there are different lines for each size taxis.
• Four people can fit into a kogata (small) taxi, while five people can fit into a chugata (medium) or ogata (large) taxi. Note, however, that some taxi drivers will refuse to allow five large foreigners into their taxi. In this case, you’ll have to take two different taxis. Note also that if the taxi in question lacks a bench seat in front, it will only be able to take four people, no matter how large the car is.

Osaka Taxi Tip

• Osaka taxis have satellite navigation systems that can use phone numbers or addresses to search for places. Bring the business card of your intended destination, or have someone at your hotel write the name, phone or address of your destination. Or, print it out from a computer or just show your smartphone to the driver. Your driver will appreciate this and you’ll have no language issues.

Airport Taxis

For information on taking a taxi to/from Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM) airports, see our Osaka Airport Transport page.

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:

• Open the Osaka map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Osaka District Map

• Shin-Osaka Area
• Kita Area
• Central Osaka Area
• Minami Area
• Tennoji Area
• Osaka Castle Area
• Osaka Bay Area