Though Hakodate is a relatively compact city, some of its sightseeing areas are far from one another. If you want to see as much as possible in a limited time, taxis are a convenient option. Taxis are plentiful in Hakodate and can be found at transport hubs such as Hakodate Airport, Hakodate Station and sightseeing spots. Aside from getting you from one place to another, they can be hired for sightseeing courses.
Taxi stand in front of Hakodate Station
Taxis in Japan are known for their safety and polite service. More and more taxis can be hailed with apps such as JapanTaxi and LINE. Aside from boarding at taxi stands at airports and train stations, you can hail a taxi on the street by sticking your arm out horizontally, palm down.
Many taxi drivers in Japan do not speak English, so if you’re not going to a well-known destination, be sure to have the address written in Japanese. Some taxis in rural areas still don’t accept credit cards or smart cards, so have cash on hand just in case. Always enter and exit taxis in Japan by the rear left-side door, which the driver will open and close for you.
Taxis at the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Fares
The basic fare for a standard-size taxi in Hakodate is 570 yen for the first 1.3 kilometers. After that it’s an additional 80 yen for each 284 meters. Going from Hakodate Station to Hakodate Airport, for example, will cost about 2,500 yen to 3,000 yen.
The fare for riding in larger vehicles such as minivans will depend on the operator.
Sightseeing tours
Taxi operators in Hakodate offer chartered tours to popular sightseeing spots such as Mt. Hakodate, famed for its evening views of the city. Tour details and prices depend on the operator. Smile Taxi, for example, offers a 60-minute Hakodate Night View Tour to the top of the mountain. The fee is 6,240 yen to 18,720 yen for standard-size taxis, depending on pickup location, and 12,630 yen for larger taxis. Hakodate Taxi offers a two-hour, standard-size taxi tour of sightseeing spots such as Goryokaku Park, Motomachi and Mt. Hakodate for 12,480 yen.
Hakodate Taxis
Hakodate taxi companies
Smile Taxi Tel. 0138-47-0005 http://www.smile-taxi.com/eng/
Hakodate Taxi Tel. 0138-51-0168 https://www.hakotaxi.co.jp/top-en.shtml
Kotobuki Dai-ichi Taxi Tel. 0138-55-2525 http://kotobuki.0152.jp/
Article by Tim Hornyak. All rights reserved.
