Japanese - Taxi Rides

Lesson 110 of 168

A friendly taxi driver and a passenger in Japanese city street — Taxi Rides lesson in Japanese, preparing phrases for destination, payment, and stops.

Goal: Common phrases for getting in, riding, and paying

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready for short, useful phrases you can use the next time you hop in a taxi? This lesson focuses on polite, everyday lines for telling the driver where to go, checking price and time, and finishing the ride. Have fun — stay practical!

Level A2: In this short, CEFR-aligned lesson you'll practice essential taxi phrases: telling the driver your destination (___までお願いします。), asking about cost and time, requesting stops or waiting, confirming bookings, and asking about payment and receipts. You'll listen, repeat, do quick quizzes, and say each phrase out loud so you can use them confidently in real rides.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Practice polite taxi requests and confirmations using phrases like 「___までお願いします。」 (___ made onegai shimasu).
  • Ask about fare and travel time: 「いくらぐらいかかりますか。」 and 「どのくらい時間がかかりますか。」
  • Ask the driver to stop, wait, or take the fastest route, and confirm bookings and pickup points.
A passenger stepping into a taxi and telling the driver the destination in Japanese — useful lines for pickups and drop-offs.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

___までお願いします。

___ made onegai shimasu.

Can you take me to ___?

Meaning: Can you take me to ___?

When to use: Use this polite frame when you want the driver to go to a specific place. Put the place name in ___ and say it to the driver.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use に instead of まで (e.g. 渋谷にお願いします。) — in taxis まで is the most natural.

渋谷までお願いします。

Shibuya made onegai shimasu.

Please take me to Shibuya.
ホテルニューオータニまでお願いします。

Hoteru Nyū Ōtani made onegai shimasu.

Please take me to Hotel New Otani.

___までお願いします。

___ made onegai shimasu.

I'm going to ___.

Meaning: I'm going to ___.

When to use: Use the same polite sentence to state your destination. The grammar is identical to the request form; context (you speaking to a driver) makes the meaning clear.

新宿までお願いします。

Shinjuku made onegai shimasu.

I'm going to Shinjuku (please).
池袋までお願いします。

Ikebukuro made onegai shimasu.

I'm going to Ikebukuro (please).

いくらぐらいかかりますか。

Ikura gurai kakarimasu ka.

How much will it cost?

Meaning: How much will it cost?

When to use: Ask this when you want an estimate of the fare. 「ぐらい」 softens the question — it means 'about'.

渋谷から空港までだと、いくらぐらいかかりますか。

Shibuya kara kūkō made da to, ikura gurai kakarimasu ka.

About how much will it cost from Shibuya to the airport?
このルートだと、いくらぐらいかかりますか。

Kono rūto da to, ikura gurai kakarimasu ka.

How much would this route cost?

どのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long will it take?

Meaning: How long will it take?

When to use: Use this to ask about travel time. You can also say the short form 「どのくらいかかりますか。」

渋谷から空港まで、どのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Shibuya kara kūkō made, dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long does it take from Shibuya to the airport?
道が混んでいると、どのくらいかかりますか。

Michi ga konde iru to, dono kurai kakarimasu ka.

If the roads are busy, how long will it take?

ここで止めてください。

Koko de tomete kudasai.

Can you stop here, please?

Meaning: Can you stop here, please?

When to use: Say this when you've reached your exact drop-off point or need the driver to stop at a specific spot.

Tip: Don't say 止まってください (tomatte kudasai) to the driver — use 止めてください to ask them to stop the car.

ここで止めてください。荷物を下ろします。

Koko de tomete kudasai. Nimotsu o oroshimasu.

Please stop here. I'll take down my luggage.
この交差点で止めてください。

Kono kōsaten de tomete kudasai.

Please stop at this intersection.

少し待ってもらえますか。

Sukoshi matte moraemasu ka.

Can you wait a minute, please?

Meaning: Can you wait a minute, please?

When to use: Use this when you need the driver to wait briefly while you step out or handle something.

ちょっとコンビニに行きます。少し待ってもらえますか。

Chotto konbini ni ikimasu. Sukoshi matte moraemasu ka.

I'm going to the convenience store for a moment. Could you wait a bit?
友達を呼んできます。少し待ってもらえますか。

Tomodachi o yonde kimasu. Sukoshi matte moraemasu ka.

I'll call my friend. Could you wait for a little while?

カードで払えますか。

Kādo de haraemasu ka.

Can I pay by card?

Meaning: Can I pay by card?

When to use: Ask this when confirming the payment method. 「カードで」 indicates payment by card.

Tip: Some learners say クレジット (kurejitto) only — drivers understand it, but カードで払えますか is more natural and short.

カードで払えますか。

Kādo de haraemasu ka.

Can I pay by card?
カードで支払ってもいいですか。

Kādo de shiharatte mo ii desu ka.

Is it OK if I pay by card?

領収書をもらえますか。

Ryōshūsho o moraemasu ka.

Can I have a receipt, please?

Meaning: Can I have a receipt, please?

When to use: Ask this after payment if you need a receipt. For business, you can mention the company name when needed.

領収書をもらえますか。宛名は会社名でお願いします。

Ryōshūsho o moraemasu ka. Atena wa kaisha-mei de onegai shimasu.

Can I have a receipt? Please make the name the company name.
支払い後、領収書をもらえますか。

Shiharai go, ryōshūsho o moraemasu ka.

After paying, can I get a receipt?

___さんのお迎えですか。

___-san no omukae desu ka.

Are you here for ___?

Meaning: Are you here for ___?

When to use: Drivers or app confirmations use this to check the passenger name. Put the passenger name in __ and add さん for politeness.

田中さんのお迎えですか。

Tanaka-san no omukae desu ka.

Are you here for Mr./Ms. Tanaka?
スミスさんのお迎えですか。

Sumisu-san no omukae desu ka.

Are you here for Mr./Ms. Smith?

一番早く着くルートでお願いします。

Ichiban hayaku tsuku rūto de onegai shimasu.

Please take the fastest route.

Meaning: Please take the fastest route.

When to use: Use this to request the driver prioritize speed (usually to avoid scenic routes or known slow roads).

急いでいるので、一番早く着くルートでお願いします。

Isoide iru node, ichiban hayaku tsuku rūto de onegai shimasu.

I'm in a hurry, please take the fastest route.
渋滞を避けたいです。一番早く着くルートでお願いします。

Jūtai o saketai desu. Ichiban hayaku tsuku rūto de onegai shimasu.

I want to avoid traffic. Please take the fastest route.

___の名前で予約しました。

___ no namae de yoyaku shimashita.

I booked a ride under the name ___.

Meaning: I booked a ride under the name ___.

When to use: Say this when confirming a reservation or pickup under a specific name. Put the name in __.

山田太郎の名前で予約しました。

Yamada Tarō no namae de yoyaku shimashita.

I booked under the name Taro Yamada.
中村の名前で予約しました。

Nakamura no namae de yoyaku shimashita.

I reserved under Nakamura's name.

乗車場所は___です。

Jōsha basho wa ___ desu.

The pickup point is ___.

Meaning: The pickup point is ___.

When to use: Use this to tell the driver exactly where to pick you up. Put the place in __.

乗車場所はロビー前です。

Jōsha basho wa robī mae desu.

The pickup point is in front of the lobby.
乗車場所はホテルの入口です。

Jōsha basho wa hoteru no iriguchi desu.

The pickup point is the hotel's entrance.

___の入口にいます。

___ no iriguchi ni imasu.

I'm at the ___ entrance.

Meaning: I'm at the ___ entrance.

When to use: Tell the driver the exact spot by naming the building or entrance (e.g., east exit 東口).

駅の東口の入口にいます。

Eki no higashi-guchi no iriguchi ni imasu.

I'm at the station's east entrance.
北口の入口にいます。すぐに見つかります。

Kita-guchi no iriguchi ni imasu. Sugu ni mitsukarimasu.

I'm at the north entrance. You'll find me right away.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Pickup at a hotel lobby and a short ride to the airport.

Two people speaking in a taxi (passenger and driver) — short dialogue using destination requests, time and price questions, and stop requests.

Where does Anna ask to go?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

山田太郎の名前で予約しました。

Yamada Tarō no namae de yoyaku shimashita.

I booked a ride under the name Taro Yamada.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

山田さんのお迎えですか。

Yamada-san no omukae desu ka.

Are you here for Mr. Yamada?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

はい、空港までお願いします。

Kūkō made onegai shimasu.

Yes, to the airport please.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

渋滞だと、どのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Jūtai da to, dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

If there's traffic, how long will it take?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

渋滞がなければ一時間ぐらいです。ルートはどうしますか？

Jūtai ga nakereba ichi-jikan gurai desu. Rūto wa dō shimasu ka?

If no traffic, about an hour. Which route would you like?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

急いでいるので、一番早く着くルートでお願いします。

Isoide iru node, ichiban hayaku tsuku rūto de onegai shimasu.

I'm in a hurry — please take the fastest route.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

到着したら、ここで止めてください。

Tōchaku shitara, koko de tomete kudasai.

When we arrive, please stop here.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase asks, 'Can I have a receipt, please?'

How do you ask 'Can I pay by card?'

Which says 'Can you wait a minute, please?'

You need the driver to stop now. Which phrase do you use?

I want to go to the airport. I say: 'Please take me to the airport.'

空港に行きたいです。『___』と運転手に言います。

I'm worried about the fare. I ask the driver: 'How much will it cost?'

料金が気になります。『___』と運転手に聞きます。

While I'm putting luggage in the car, I say to the driver: 'Can you wait a minute, please?'

荷物を車に入れている間、運転手に『___』と言います。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

___までお願いします。

___ made onegai shimasu.

I'm going to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___までお願いします。

___ made onegai shimasu.

I'm going to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

いくらぐらいかかりますか。

Ikura gurai kakarimasu ka.

How much will it cost?

Say this phrase out loud:

どのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long will it take?

Say this phrase out loud:

ここで止めてください。

Koko de tomete kudasai.

Can you stop here, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

少し待ってもらえますか。

Sukoshi matte moraemasu ka.

Can you wait a minute, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

カードで払えますか。

Kādo de haraemasu ka.

Can I pay by card?

Say this phrase out loud:

領収書をもらえますか。

Ryōshūsho o moraemasu ka.

Can I have a receipt, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

___さんのお迎えですか。

___-san no omukae desu ka.

Are you here for ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

一番早く着くルートでお願いします。

Ichiban hayaku tsuku rūto de onegai shimasu.

Please take the fastest route.

Say this phrase out loud:

___の名前で予約しました。

___ no namae de yoyaku shimashita.

I booked a ride under the name ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

乗車場所は___です。

Jōsha basho wa ___ desu.

The pickup point is ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___の入口にいます。

___ no iriguchi ni imasu.

I'm at the ___ entrance.