Tokyo Taxi [Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association(THTA)]

Taxi Types

Regular taxis

In Tokyo there are a total of 50,000 taxis being operated, including by companies and individuals, and they include standard-size cars, large vehicles and extra-large vehicles.

Special-needs and universal design (UD) taxis

Special-needs taxis include special-purpose vehicles patients can board while in a wheelchair or a bed, and general cars also operate as special-needs taxis under contracts with local governments and can be used by anyone. We also offer a "care transportation service" for disabled persons and the elderly who need help when going out.
And for the future accessible society, there is a new type of taxi, the universal design (UD) taxi. Their biggest advantage is a standard-equipment ramp that allows people in wheelchairs to get in and out. They feature innovations that allow customers with back and mobility problems to easily get in and out, and they can hold a lot of baggage. As of March 31, 2013, there are 28 of these taxis in operation. For the drivers of these vehicles, to improve the experience of these customers, educational training is already being carried out by the Tonai Musen Cooperative and various taxi companies, and beginning in December of 2012, the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association began providing "universal driver training". One hundred and three drivers are attending as of April 2013.

Sightseeing taxis

These taxis allow customers to enjoy Tokyo sightseeing freely with family or friends, or as a couple, with a small number of people, and so have an experience unavailable with a bus tour or group travel. A driver arranges sightseeing locations to match the wishes and schedules of customers, then escorts them and provides information. Since July 2012, the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association has been carrying out "Tokyo Sightseeing Taxi Driver Certification Training", which covers the basic services and knowledge necessary for a sightseeing taxi driver, and as of April 2013, 468 drivers are attending.

Radio taxis

In Tokyo at present there are approximately 23,000 taxis for hire that can be ordered using a telephone, operating out of 115 base stations. In recent years, as the transition from analog to digital radio has advanced, the wait time to dispatch a car has been greatly reduced.

Ordering a taxi with a smart phone

With the increase in the number of smart phones in recent years, it has become possible to use an application to quickly and easily order a taxi. Because these applications feature many functions and eliminate the need to tell a driver your address or destination, their use is growing.

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
No. of radio taxis 32,781 33,138 33,487 33,799 32,942 31,363 32,408
No. of above
that are dispatched using digital radio
      1,861 8,089 14,028 18,486
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012  
No. of radio taxis 33,308 30,882 30,357 26,720 22,488 22,392  
No. of above
that are dispatched using digital radio
23,598 24,515 24,467 23,992 21,675 21,827  

Radio taxi contact list

Hired cars

Hired cars play one part in public transportation in the capital, Tokyo. Responding to various needs not fulfilled by taxis, they offer a menu of transport options including large-sized cars, medium-sized cars and sedans, fulfilling an important role 24 hours a day. As of March 2013, there are 3,361 hired cars at various places of business, and they are dispatched in a timely and appropriate manner in response to requests. To improve service further, we are working to thoroughly educate drivers, and we are also operating cars that can carry beds to meet special needs such as transport between hospitals.