JAPANESE SNAPSHOTS – #26 – CATCHING A RIDE

Japan is a nation that runs on public transportation.  The public and private rail service is unmatched.  Demographers and transportation planners refer to the daily train service into and out of Tokyo each day as the world’s biggest “mass migration”.  And amazingly enough, everything runs on time.

The bus service is equally efficient and unlike America, buses are not just for the poor.  Everybody rides the buses in Japan.  And they too run on time.

Cars and parking are so prohibitively expensive that they are truly a luxury that most Japanese can do without, unless, of course, they live in the country where distances require personal transportation.  And most of the privately-owned vehicles are these goofy box-like mini-vans.

Uber is starting to get a foothold in Japan, but there are so few drivers that you might wait twenty or thirty minutes for them to arrive, which is a waste of time.  And they cost about the same as a cab, and cabs are everywhere, so cabs are the number one choice in Japan for those not taking public transportation.

As a general rule, the fare for a standard four-passenger taxi start at around 400-700 yen ($3.50 to $6.20) for the first two kilometers and increase by around 80–90 yen for every additional 300-400 meters traveled.  The cost also increases if the taxi is just sitting, like at one of the zillion traffic lights in Tokyo.  The five mile ride from Sky Tree to Tokyo Station cost us $30.  When you start measuring fares in kilometers and meters it can get expensive real fast.  The train would have cost $2 and taken much less time.

According to Japan Guide, “To hail a taxi, either go to a taxi stand (usually located in front of train stations) or flag one down at a location where it is safe for it to stop. A plate on the dashboard in the lower corner of the windshield indicates whether a taxi is vacant or not. Usually, a red plate indicates that the taxi is vacant, while a green plate indicates the opposite. During the night a light on the roof of a taxi can indicate that the taxi is vacant. You can also call a taxi by phone, app or via your hotel reception; in large cities there is usually no additional charge for calling a taxi while in more rural areas a small fee may be charged.

“When you board a taxi, note that the vehicle’s left rear door is opened and closed remotely by the driver. You are not supposed to open or close the door by yourself, except when using a different door. If you do not speak Japanese or if your destination is not well-known, it is recommended to give your driver the address of your destination on a piece of paper or – even better – point it out on a map, since the Japanese address system can be confusing even to local taxi drivers.”

“Many taxis accept payment by credit card. Stickers on the door often indicate accepted payment methods. When paying in cash, try to avoid paying small amounts with large bills. Tipping is not done in Japan.”

The thing I liked the most about Japanese taxis were the retro-style cabs.   The government mandates that all drivers use the Toyota Comfort that was originally designed in 1995.  They are usually a mustard color in Tokyo, orange and white in Kyoto, green and white in Shizuoka, and black in Osaka.  The rear view mirrors are raised and mounted on the front hood giving each cab a distinctive look.   And they are crowned with a little globe light that looks vaguely like a robot’s head.   Japanese cabs are way cool.

The second thing I liked were the cab drivers.  They dress like they are going to a formal dance, and most wear white gloves.  They make you feel like royalty and take their job very seriously.

The average annual salary for a taxi driver is about  $35,000, while the national average is almost twice that amount.  This disparity in wages provides a window into Japanese culture.  There are no menial jobs.  A job gives you your purpose in life and provides an opportunity to serve others.  The staff in the McDonald’s I ventured into in Osaka acted like they were working in the finest Chicago chop shop.  The street cleaners in Tokyo swept up every piece of trash — every leaf.  The gardeners in Kyoto acted like lords of the land.  And the garbage men in Shizuoka were dressed immaculately in clean white coveralls.  The Japanese take great pride in what they do.  And therein lies a valuable lesson for us all.