Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Japan or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
Used taxis in Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. About half accepted my Commerzbank debit card, the others were cash only. One driver let me use Suica, which was unexpected. Apps like Uber and GO work great in the big cities and support cards. But if you flag down a cab on the street, always be ready with cash. Some drivers will politely decline card payments even if the terminal works.
In Yokohama and Tokyo, most taxis I took had working card terminals and I used my Revolut Visa without problems. One taxi in Nagano had a machine but it was “out of service” so I had to pay cash. I also downloaded GO app (formerly JapanTaxi) and it was super useful for prebooking with card. Overall, cards are accepted in cities but I wouldn’t assume it everywhere. Carry cash, especially if you're out late or in smaller towns.
I got into a taxi at Fukuoka Airport and when I tried to pay with my Maybank Mastercard, the driver said “cash only.” I later found out that smaller cities often don’t support cards, especially in older taxis. In Tokyo though, I used Uber Japan and paid with my card in-app. Safer bet is to have at least ¥5,000 in cash on you if you're relying on taxis outside major cities.
Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Japan or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
I used taxis in Tokyo and Osaka a few times and had mixed experiences. In Tokyo, I used JapanTaxi app (now merged into Mobility) and paid with my Chase Visa directly in the app, worked perfectly. But in Kyoto, a street-hailed taxi told me they only accepted cash. Always check for a credit card sticker on the window or ask “card ok?” before getting in. I carried cash just in case.