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CalculateTaxiFare

Tokyo · JP · verified Apr 15, 2026

Taxi Fare in Tokyo

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
¥500
Per km
¥413
Per minute
¥50
Currency
JPY

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Tokyo?

A taxi fare in Tokyo is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Tokyo taxi rates are set by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and combine three components: a base fare of ¥500 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of ¥413 per km, and a slow-traffic rate of ¥50 per minute that applies when the cab is stopped or moving slowly. Surcharges, taxes and tip can shift the final amount by another 10–30%.

02Attributes

Tokyo taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Tokyo taxi tariff exactly as published by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-15. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Tokyo taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
¥500
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-km rate
¥413 / km
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
¥50 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
¥500
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
JPY
Distance unit
km
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Tokyo

Type any pickup and destination inside Tokyo. We pull the real OpenStreetMap distance and apply the tariff above.

Calculate a fare in Tokyo

Local addresses, the Tokyo tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Tokyo airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Tokyo because their distance is fixed. Where the regulator imposes a flat fare, the meter is bypassed and the price is locked. Otherwise the standard tariff applies and the estimate below reflects realistic departure-hall waiting plus the metered ride.

06Vehicle classes

Tokyo vehicle classes and rates

Tokyo licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-km rates because their fuel and licensing costs are higher. Ride-sharing apps also offer parallel categories (UberXL, Lyft XL) that compete with the licensed taxi minivan tier.

Vehicle classes and rates in Tokyo
Vehicle classBasePer kmPer minMin fare
Standard sedan
Tokyo MLIT-regulated. ¥500 first 1.096 km + ¥100 per 255 m thereafter (~¥412.5/km).
¥500¥413¥50¥500

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Tokyo taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Tokyo taxi fares can include a night surcharge. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Tokyo taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Night surcharge22:00 → 05:00, every day+20%Surcharge

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Tokyo

Tipping is not customary for taxis in Tokyo. A small round-up to the nearest convenient amount is appreciated for good service but never obligatory.

09Side by side

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft in Tokyo

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in Tokyo on price, but their tariffs swing with surge multipliers. A taxi’s price is fixed by the meter and the regulator — there is no surge. For routine rides our data typically shows rideshare 10–25% cheaper than taxi outside surge windows, and 20–60% more expensive at peak. Airport routes are the exception: many cities (including Tokyo where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Tokyo. Numbers below combine the live tariff (taxi) and crowdsourced per-city rate sheets (rideshare). Apps surge in real time, so we surface min · median · max.

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft fare comparison in Tokyo
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cab¥4,785¥4,560¥5,865
UberUber Premium¥4,150¥3,943¥6,640

10Public transit

Public transit alternative in Tokyo

For short city-centre trips, public transit in Tokyo is consistently cheaper than a taxi — a single fare typically costs less than the taxi base alone. The trade-off is travel time: transit is slower door-to-door, runs on a fixed schedule, and may not serve every airport hour. The dedicated transit fare calculator below estimates a single-leg fare on the local subway, metro or bus network using the published zone or flat structure.

Public transit in Tokyo

For trips inside the central zones, a single transit fare is typically a fraction of even the lowest taxi estimate. The trade-off is travel time and route flexibility.

See transit fares

11FAQ

Tokyo taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Tokyo?
Tokyo taxis charge a ¥500 base fare plus ¥413 per km of distance and ¥50 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 8-km ride costs roughly ¥3,950 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Tokyo taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is ¥500. This is set by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Tokyo taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Tokyo taxis are metered. The regulator requires drivers to use the meter on every trip; negotiating off-meter is generally illegal and unwise. Flat fares apply only on a small list of pre-approved airport routes.
Do I tip taxi drivers in Tokyo?
Tipping is not customary for taxis in Tokyo. A small round-up to the nearest convenient amount is appreciated for good service but never obligatory.
How do night and weekend rates work in Tokyo?
A night surcharge of 20% applies between 22:00 and 05:00 every day, including weekends.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Tokyo?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Tokyo taxis. During peak demand, surge pricing can push rideshare 20–60% above the metered taxi fare. For airport runs, regulated taxi flat fares often beat both. Use the rideshare comparison above to see today's typical numbers.
Can I trust the calculator above?
Yes. We compute distance and duration from real OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) and apply the published Tokyo tariff straight from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 8-km taxi ride take in Tokyo?
In free-flow traffic, a 8-km ride in Tokyo takes roughly 13 minutes on average city streets. Heavy traffic can double that, which is why our maximum estimate uses a 60% slow-time assumption.
Are credit cards accepted in Tokyo taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Tokyo accept major credit and debit cards; always carry cash as a backup, particularly for short journeys. Confirm with your driver before starting the trip, and contact Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Tokyo taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) at https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_tk3_000003.html (last verified 2026-04-15). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.

12Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the recognised authority that sets Tokyo taxi rates. We re-verify each record at least every 180 days; the timestamp below confirms when this page was last reconciled with the primary source.

Primary source

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

Last verified
April 15, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

Editorial notes

Tipping is not customary in Japan and may be refused. Night/early-morning surcharge 20%.

Spotted an inaccuracy? Report it and we will reconcile within 48 hours.