“Can I just grab a taxi at Shinjuku Station without booking?”

Yes! Taxis are always available at the taxi stands. No reservation needed.

Taxi Stands at Shinjuku

“Where do I find them?”

Multiple taxi stands at Shinjuku Station:

• South Exit - Large taxi stand, usually short wait
• West Exit - Near the hotels, always taxis waiting
• East Exit - Busy area, taxis available
• New South Exit (Busta Shinjuku) - Near the bus terminal

Just walk to any exit and look for the taxi stand sign (タクシー乗り場).

Useful Taxi Tips

“Anything I should know?”

Nice surprise: Most Tokyo taxis have USB-A charging ports!

• Bring your own cable
• Usually in the back seat area
• Great for charging while traveling

Other tips:

• Doors open automatically - don’t pull them
• Pay by IC card (Suica/PASMO), credit card, or cash
• Drivers are honest - meters are always used
• Show your destination on Google Maps if there’s a language barrier

Taxi Costs

“How expensive are taxis?”

• Starting fare: ¥500
• Short rides (5-10 min): ¥700-1,200
• Shinjuku to Tokyo Station: about ¥3,000
• Late night surcharge: 20% extra after 10 PM

For groups of 3-4, taxis can be cheaper than individual train tickets!

What Japanese People Actually Do

Most locals:

• Use taxi stands rather than hailing on the street
• Know that taxis are plentiful at major stations
• Use taxi apps (GO Taxi) for booking to specific locations
• Split taxi fares with friends after a night out

Extra Travel Tips

1. No tipping - Just pay the meter amount

2. Taxi app “GO” - Useful for booking when there’s no taxi stand nearby

3. Have your hotel card - Show the driver your hotel’s address in Japanese

4. Late night - Taxis get busy after last train (around midnight)

5. Receipts - Drivers always offer receipts automatically

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