Taxi!
A shorter entry from me today, but now that I have had the chance to take a few taxis in Japan, I wanted to share my experiences and how they compare to those back home.
In the UK, using taxis can often be quite expensive, so I typically rely on them only in the most urgent situations when I have no other options. When I travel, I usually prefer using Uber, as the app is available in English and accessible in many countries across Europe and America. It's important to be cautious in the UK, as taxis can be costly, and you should always verify that your taxi is licensed. Additionally, fare prices can increase depending on the time of day, especially at night or during holidays.
I have relied on taxis in Oita and Arita, and my experiences were quite different. My first attempt to catch a cab was frustrating; I mistakenly thought that simply saying a hotel name would be enough, but it wasn’t. I also made the error of showing the address in Romaji, which only caused more confusion. However, I learned from my mistakes, and I found it much easier during my second attempt to take a taxi.
My advice is to have the kanji or Japanese name of your destination saved on your phone. If you're just trying to reach the train station, simply saying "(Town Name) Eki" should be sufficient. I also found it helpful to use the landmark method; I identified a nearby convenience store and used that as my address. However, having the address written in Japanese and showing it to the driver is usually enough to get you to your destination. My experiences with taxis in Arita were much smoother, and there are several advantages to taking a taxi.
Taxis in Japan are quite affordable. I recently took an Arita taxi that drove me about 2 kilometers for a fare of 1,200 yen, which is roughly $6.20. This is possibly the cheapest I've paid for a taxi over that distance. The taxis are fast, and you generally don’t have to wait long, depending on your location. Thus, given the circumstances, I wouldn’t hesitate to consider taking a taxi in Japan.
