Lesson 6 - Notes:
Taxis
(photo
by hans-johnson used
under terms of Creative Commons license.)
1. Getting a cab in Japan is much like getting a cab in the United States. You will find cabs near street corners and at cab stands in front of railroad stat ions, hotels, and large department stores. At these stands passengers line up, waiting their turns. A red light on top of a cab indicates that it is unoccupied, and you may flag it down.
2. Because the traffic in Japan keeps to the left, you enter the cab by the left rear door. This door is controlled by the driver - that is, he opens and closes the door from the driver's seat. When you are about to get into the cab, stand aside so that you are not struck by the opening door. In Japan the cabdriver does not help the passenger with luggage; so you are responsible for getting your luggage into the cab.
3. All taxis have meters, and fares are shown in Arabic numbers. You pay the fare while you are still seated in the cab. You need not tip the driver.
4. Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. you must pay an extra 20 percent of the fare, but some drivers agree to take only those passengers who are willing to pay double the fare shown on the meter. If you are willing to pay double, you raise your hand to a passing taxi with your first two fingers extended.
5. Street addresses mean little to a cabdriver because streets do not always have names and houses are not in numerical sequence. If you are going to a Japanese home, perhaps your host can sketch a map of the area for you and write some general directions in Japanese. If you are going to a well-known place, you might show the driver a picture of your destination or take a map and point out your destination.
6. According to Japanese law, a driver must accept a passenger if there is room in the cab. But drivers do refuse to take certain passengers for various reasons: the destination is either too close or too far; there are too many people in the party; the driver does not want to travel in the direction you do; or it is too late.