Was just informed by a friend that the GO taxi app will charge tourists an extra fee – of 200yen or roughly +10% extra on an average taxi fare.
It is clearly stated on their website and does not apply to local Japanese users.
GO taxi is a popular taxi app used by Japanese people. Would recommend using Uber instead, which does not charge foreign tourists any extra fees.
by retn0
24 comments
Thanks for this. I asked a few weeks back about the difference between Go and Uber and JapanTravel just deleted it.
So it looks like I just keep using UBER then. A total charge I get to see, without tourist charge and app charge.
I do have the GO app but never used it.
How does it know if one is a tourist or a resident?
I mean the charge makes sense? You’re traveling to a foreign country where you could support the local yet major transportation in Japan or maybe save a few dollars for a global app that prices out local taxi companies. I agree with countries measures to have fees on tourists to curb it while improving itself.
i’m sorry i would not use Uber in japan. outside of tokyo i found uber completely useless.
go taxi was reliable and honestly overall cheaper than uber for me every time i used it. also 200 yen is a 1.34 dollars…. not going to break the bank on your entire trip. and for the most part, how often are you taxing in japan?? lol
Yes I experimented with this. Go App charges more in the booking fee. The fate charge is roughly the same.
Okay. Still gonna use it.
Good for them
GO taxi app is reasonably priced and reliable in Japan. Much better than Uber.
I used DiDi. No issues there.
Holy fucking shit
If you’re an American, Go taxi is still dirt cheap compared to what we would pay for an Uber or Lyft to go the same distance back home. This really doesn’t bother me, I’ll happily pay it to be able to continue to use their services.
Go was still cheaper than Uber when I was there. Had nothing but good experiences as well.
Damn a whole dollar? That’s crazy. Still recommend it over uber.
Correct me if I’m wrong, Uber only books taxis on your behalf and does not actually have an operating license. So, not sure if you’re saving any money, if any. Uber is just taking a middleman cut.
Flagging a taxi outside the hotel was 1/2 the cost of booking through Uber for us
good thing i never use a taxi i guess
I get it. That 200 yen per ride is money that could be used for your konbini and Don Quijote experience.
Used both GO and Didi when I was in Tokyo (got back a week ago). Definitely a major price difference between the two, with Didi being much cheaper.
I’ll use it again when I go back, but will keep GO as a backup.
I used Go in Narita during a very time-constrained layover. It was great, I needed 2 taxis to haul 8 people, I clicked where I was, where I wanted to be, how many taxis, and it was done. Had a ride within 5-8 minutes every time. Worth every penny for the ease and speed of use.
The extra $2 is because you are getting a “foreigner friendly” taxi driver that speaks at least some English I believe?
It’s 200yen, $2 or less depending on your currency.
You seem to have a strong stance against taxi calling them corrupt, well don’t use it. Simple
I hate this anti foreigner campaign in Japan. Imagine if other countries imposed a Japanese tourist service charge? It would be called racism.
How about going to a taxi rank, hailing a taxi, or asking the hotel to call a taxi?
That’s all I did and worked fine.
But I also used buses and trains. All easy.
200JPY is nothing, anyway. Don’t try arguing over 200JPY and the ethics of Uber.
Tbh 200 yen is nothing I would happily pay that as the chances as a tourist there would be more issues with the address or just getting luggage in and out of the car so if it is for the driver then I have no issue.
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