カテゴリー別アーカイブ: English Speaking Service in Tokyo

Catching a taxi in central Tokyo is not so hard.  There are about 50,000 taxis operated in Tokyo.
The maximum number of passengers per standard size taxi (sedan) is 4.

HOW TO CATCH A TAXI
Major stations or hotels, they have cabstand.
If you go to the main street, you will be able to catch one quite easily.  (at night with rain, right after the pay-day (most of people get paid on the 25th or
15th for government worker),  and the time after the last train sometimes hard to catch one.)
First, you look for a taxi with the top lights on, also with red sign says ‘Kusha’. (*see the sign below)

Ku-sha (ku=empty sha=car) ; means vacant

Then just raise your hand.  (Look at the driver like you really want him to stop!)
The minimum fee starts from 710 yen for the first 2km. (some private taxi companies only charge 650 yen.)
After 2km, the charge will be added 90 yen per 1km.

There will be 20%-30% extra charge after 11pm until 5am, it is called ‘shinya warimashi ryokin.’ (late-night-charge).
And the sign looks like this:
 
  *So if you are looking  for a taxi after 11pm, you’ll see this sign.

OTHER TAXI SIGNS
1. Chinsou – no vacancy

2. Kaisou – out of service

3. Geisha or Yoyakusha – reserved, on a way for pick-up

4. Kashikiri – reserved for certain amount of time

TAXI CONVERSATION

When you get in a taxi, you will be asked:
Driver: “Where would you like to go?”    Dochira made?
You: “Please take me to Roppongi 3-chome”.    Roppongi san-chome made onegai shimasu.
Driver: “Ceretainly.”   Kashikomari mashita.

Giving directions
You: “Please turn left at the next corner.”     Tsugi no kado wo hidari ni magatte kudasai. (or Tsugi no kado hidari desu.)
        “Please stop just before the traffic lights.”    Shingou no temae de tomete kudasai.
        “My apartment (house) is right on the next corner.”    Watashi no apato (ie) wa tsugi no kado desu.
        “Please stop here.”   Koko de tomete kudasai.
        “How much?”   Ikura desuka?
        “Please give me a receipt.”   Ryoshusho wo kudasai / Reshiito wo kudasai.

WORDS
        Right: Migi
        Left: Hidari
        Straight: Massugu
        Turn: Magaru
        Stop: Tomaru
        Here: Koko
        There: Asoko
        This: Kore
        That: Are
        It: Sore
        I’m in a hurry: Isoide imasu.
        Please drive faster: Isoide kudasai.

TAXI RESERVATION
You can reserve a taxi in English with these companies:

1. Nihon Kotsu
    Reservation: 03-5755-2336
    24hours, 365 days on line in English       
    http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/en/taxi/ephone.html

2. Kokusai Motorcars
     Reservation: 03-3505-6001
     An English-speaking operator available on requiest.
     http://www.km-group.co.jp/