Uber in Tokyo

When I visited Tokyo back in 2019, Uber was not a thing. It was hardly a useful app, only being able to call a taxi and useful in just a few spots around Tokyo. In 2023, it has changed but is still an expensive option.

In the US, Uber, among the rest of the ride share apps, have proven to a reliable way to get around town or just to the airport. You have to deal with surges in price due to demand, especially for the airport, but outside of that Uber is an easy way to get around town and pretty reliable.

In Tokyo, however, Uber only can call you a taxi or a private car that will take you anywhere you are headed. It’s useful, but you will have to deal with high prices and wait times for the private cars to come find you. Uber can call you a taxi, but you shouldn’t have a problem flagging a cab when on the streets in Tokyo.

Another issue is the meeting spots for the private cars, they will often require you to be outside of big landmarks like hotels or well known buildings, using the GPS to find you along the way. This can be an issue if you are on a remote street that is not in a high traffic area or if the meeting spot (like a hotel) is a bit of a walk. That can be an issue especially with a lot of luggage.

Overall, having Uber at your fingertips is useful in Tokyo. It can take away the issue of flagging down a cab and with the GPS location selected, the language barrier with a driver (and if they take credit card or not) is eliminated. However, just be ready to pay for this service, it is not cheap and not for the budget traveler. Overall, it’s a good option to have and a useful tool if you know what you are doing with and need an option for a ride in Tokyo.