Japanese phrases for a taxi, written to be shown
A taxi ride in Japan has four moments where language matters: getting in, agreeing how you will pay, changing something during the ride, and stopping where you actually want to stop. These are the sentences for each, written in Japanese so a driver can read them at a glance.
Getting in
Japanese taxi doors open automatically — do not touch the handle. Show the card as you sit down rather than trying to say the name.
| Japanese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| ここまでお願いします。 ここまでおねがいします。 Koko made onegai shimasu. | Please take me here. | Say this while showing the card. |
| 日本語が話せません。 にほんごがはなせません。 Nihongo ga hanasemasen. | I do not speak Japanese. | Heads off a spoken conversation. |
| だいたいいくらですか? だいたいいくらですか? Daitai ikura desu ka? | Roughly how much will it be? | Before you set off. |
| どのくらいかかりますか? どのくらいかかりますか? Dono kurai kakarimasu ka? | How long will it take? | When you have a train to catch. |
Paying
Most taxis in the big cities take cards and IC cards, but a small local firm may still be cash only. Ask before you set off, not at the end.
| Japanese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| クレジットカードは使えますか? くれじっとかーどはつかえますか? Kurejitto kādo wa tsukaemasu ka? | Do you take credit cards? | Ask before departing. |
| Suica は使えますか? すいかはつかえますか? Suika wa tsukaemasu ka? | Can I pay with Suica / an IC card? | IC cards work in most city taxis. |
| 領収書をください。 りょうしゅうしょをください。 Ryōshūsho o kudasai. | Please give me a receipt. | Useful if you leave something behind. |
| おつりをください。 おつりをください。 Otsuri o kudasai. | Please give me the change. | Japan has no tipping — the change is yours. |
During the ride
Point at the card again rather than repeating yourself in English; drivers navigate by address and landmark, not by romanised names.
| Japanese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| 急いでいます。 いそいでいます。 Isoide imasu. | I am in a hurry. | Politer than asking them to speed. |
| トランクを開けてください。 とらんくをあけてください。 Toranku o akete kudasai. | Please open the boot / trunk. | For suitcases. |
| 少し暑い(寒い)です。 すこしあつい(さむい)です。 Sukoshi atsui (samui) desu. | It is a little too hot (cold). | Gets the air conditioning changed. |
| 高速道路を使ってください。 こうそくどうろをつかってください。 Kōsoku dōro o tsukatte kudasai. | Please use the expressway. | Faster, but the toll is added to the fare. |
| 下道でお願いします。 したみちでおねがいします。 Shitamichi de onegai shimasu. | Please use the ordinary roads. | Avoids the expressway toll. |
Arriving
The door opens by itself again at the end. Wait for it rather than pushing.
| Japanese | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| ここで止めてください。 ここでとめてください。 Koko de tomete kudasai. | Please stop here. | When you can see the entrance. |
| 次の角を曲がってください。 つぎのかどをまがってください。 Tsugi no kado o magatte kudasai. | Please turn at the next corner. | For the last hundred metres. |
| 少し待っていてください。 すこしまっていてください。 Sukoshi matte ite kudasai. | Please wait a moment. | The meter keeps running. |
| ありがとうございました。 ありがとうございました。 Arigatō gozaimashita. | Thank you. | As you get out. |
Put one on a card
The generator prints any Japanese text large enough to read across a car, so a phrase works as well as a place name — paste one into the free-text tab if you want it on paper. Open the card generator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak any of these out loud?
No. Every sentence here is written to be shown. Japanese drivers read the sentence in a fraction of a second, whereas a mispronounced phrase usually costs both of you a minute. Point at the line you need.
Can I put a phrase on a card with my destination?
The destination card already carries the two lines that matter — ここまでお願いします ("please take me here") and 領収書をください ("please give me a receipt"). Use the note field on the generator for anything else you know in advance, such as a terminal number.
Is tipping expected in a Japanese taxi?
No, and offering a tip causes confusion rather than pleasure. The meter fare is the whole price; take your change. Some journeys add a toll or a late-night surcharge, which appear on the meter, not as a tip.