Job Discussion Forums

Polina · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 71

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm going to need to take a taxi ride which will last about 30 minutes in Nara Prefecture because there are no trains or buses. Could anyone tell me approximately how much it will cost? It'd be much appreciated.

stretch · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 59

I once took a 15 minute taxi ride home from an Izakaya. It was a special service that was 1.5x the normal price as it came with a second driver!!!! who actually drove my car home. Anyway, this 15-20 minute ride cost me about 8000 yen.
Distance and time play a factor of course, but I imagine for 30 minutes you'd be looking at a similar price.
Just a guess though.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Unfortunately that info means absolutely nothing to even TRY and give you a ballpark estimate. 30 minutes to me can mean anything. I can easily spend 30 minutes getting 5 blocks if the traffic is backed up! (And I don't even live anywhere close to Tokyo or another big city).

Taxi meters slow down to almost nothing if the cab isn't moving. It's a combination of distance and time that make up the fare. Your best bet BY FAR is to call a cab company (or get a Japanese-speaking friend if you can't do it on your own) and say, "Listen, can you give me a rough cost of what it would be from A to B?" In addition, be prepared to tell them what day and approx. what time you'll be going, because they also need to take into account traffic & whatnot.

You'll get a much more reasonable response than from us here on Dave's. No offense to Stretch, I know he was trying to be helpful, but his estimate is no more accurate than a blind man throwing darts on a dart board. Not that mine would be any more accurate.... Smile

Good luck.

JD

stretch · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 59

A definite shot in the dark. I can only go from my past experience but like Jim said it's totally dependent on distance. I lived in a small town with NO traffic whatsoever at any time so a 20 minute drive for me was a heck of a lot further than you'll go in a city in rush hour.
Like he said call the company to be sure.

Polina · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 71

Thanks for your replies so far. I know the area is not in the middle of the city and I'll be riding the taxi at a time when the traffic will be quite light - that was the 30 minute estimate. Any idea???

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Please, re-read the answers you've received. Once again, no one can give you anything even CLOSE to a ballpark figure that's realistic. Save yourself a lot of hassle and just call the company. Really.

You posted your question on Monday the 27th. It is now Thursday the 30th and there's only been 2 replies to your question. Could it be because people have no way of guessing?