JAPAN TODAY

 

TOKYO — The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) has announced it will conduct a field test by lowering the starting fare of taxis in Tokyo to 460 yen in an effort to provide an easier and more comfortable way for people to use taxis.

The test will be conducted for two months from July throughout Tokyo’s 23 wards, as well as Musashino and Mitaka cities, Sankei Shimbun reported. The starting fare for taxis in Tokyo is currently 730 yen, which covers the first two kilometers.

However, taxis participating in the test will have a starting fare of 460 yen that covers 1.16 kilometers, and then an additional rate of 90 yen will be calculated for every increment of 280 meters.

By lowering the starting fare of cabs by nearly 40%, the ministry wants to find out whether more people would be willing to use taxis if the option of a short distance fare was available. These taxis will be accessible to passengers in front of train stations, office districts and in front of supermarkets. 



Japan Today