The short answer
- Many city buses are boarded at the rear and paid for at the front when you leave. Watch what others do.
- Tap an IC card on the reader when you get on and again when you leave, if the bus has two readers.
- The taxi door opens by itself, so do not touch it. Sit behind the driver or on the left.
- Do not tip. A short ride costs little, and many taxis take cards.
Riding a bus
In many cities you board through the middle or rear door and leave through the front, paying as you get off. In others, you board at the front and pay when you get off, or pay a flat fare when you board. A sign by the door says which, and the display shows the next stop in English.
On a distance-fare bus, take a numbered ticket (seiriken) when you board. A board at the front shows the fare for each number, and you pay the amount for your number when you leave. An IC card removes the need to do that arithmetic. Press the button when you want to get off.
Taking a taxi
Taxis wait at stations and hotels, and can be flagged down. A red light on the dashboard means it is free. The left rear door opens and shuts automatically, so wait for it. Tell the driver the place name and show it on your map. Driver English varies, so an address on your phone helps.
Fares are metered. A short trip in the centre of Tokyo or Osaka costs around ¥1,000 to ¥2,000, and there is a surcharge late at night. Most taxis in cities take credit cards and IC cards. Some rural ones accept cash only, so ask first.
Apps and other options
Taxi apps such as GO let you call a car to your location and pay in the app, and Uber also works in several big cities. The apps are handy at night or in the rain, and when you do not have a street name to say.
Long-distance highway buses are a cheap way to travel between cities, such as Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka overnight. They are slower than the shinkansen, but the fare is much lower.
Good to know
- Make your phone silent and do not talk on it on a bus.
- Give up the priority seats to anyone who needs them.
- At night, a taxi is often the only way home after the last train.
Words you will see
- 整理券 seiriken
- numbered ticket on a bus
- 次は〜 tsugi wa ~
- the next stop is ~
- 空車 kūsha
- empty taxi
- 迎車 geisha
- taxi on its way to a booking
- 降ります orimasu
- I am getting off
See also
General practice in Japanese cities. Rules vary by operator. Fares and rules checked in November 2026. They change, so confirm current prices with the operator before you buy. Prices are rounded and given in yen. Rules differ between railway companies and regions.