Taxi driver honesty

On the ride from Kyoto train station to the recently opened Hilton Garden Inn, our taxi driver got lost even with the address and GPS�c his GPS might not updated yet, I thought. He turned off the fare meter while searching for the hotel so I did not have to pay the fare for this period. I really commended his initiative: his honesty. Anyway, I did pay him the full fare which was included the period of searching for the hotel, plus a decent tip. I sure hope he accepted the tip without feeling bad or insulted as many comments regarding on taxi tipping.

In Japan, this is normal (as usual), so as a Japanese, we're not surprised about that, and no need to tip in this/similar cases.

Also, if the driver has not been a cab driver for a long time or comes from outside Kyoto city, such things sometimes happen.
Private cab drivers in Kyoto (independent from their companies) must pass a "geography test" to test their memory of famous hotels and tourist spots in order to debut as a cab driver, but cab company drivers do not have this test, so compared to Tokyo and Osaka, it is easier to be a driver than in However, taxi company drivers do not have this test, so their skills as drivers are a little lower than those in Tokyo and Osaka.

That driver would not have been honestly pleased with your tip, but he(?) would have reflected on his immaturity over a drink, i guess.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FjsH16fUcAAXck_.jpg

Not sure what your question is. Taxi driver got lost, switched off meter while searching and then departed again and potentially switching in meter again. Sounds like what a taxi driver should do in such a case. Not only in Japan. I have definitely had similar experience in Europe as well.

The driver would have been happy with or without the tip. Taxis are one of the few places in Japan where tipping is not uncommon. I doubt that your driver thought your tipping was an insult.

That said, it is the taxi driver's job to drive in the most efficient way possible. A local would not typically tip in your situation, unless the customer requested to go to an outrageously tricky place. The Hilton is a major hotel chain. The driver should have done his homework.

On a related note, a great number of taxi drivers aren't used to mechanical devices such as GPS and credit card machines, especially when the device is new. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the driver didn't know his way, but then I wouldn't think that the customer is to blame.

I'm just curious, though. How did you know the "full fare which was included the period of searching for the hotel" if he had turned off the fare meter? And what comments do you mean by "many comments regarding on taxi tipping"?

Hi Uco:

As I recalled I saw two numbers either on the fare meter display or on the receipt: the higher number and the smaller number. I paid the higher number.
On the subject of tipping: I did the search on the internet; most responses were NO due to culture; however, there were some comments from people who claimed they used to be taxi drivers, said �git is okay to leave the change or tip, and taxi drivers would not get insulted or confused and they appreciate it�c�h. As a not-too-poor retiree, I want to �ggive back to community without border�h so tipping is one way�c of course, no tipping in the restaurants and others as I respect the local culture.
Tony

About tipping taxi drivers in Japan: I (Japanese living in Tokyo) do tip a driver sometimes, when I took it for a rather late-night ride home and it was a comfortable ride, when the driver was nice, or when I was in a hurry to get somewhere and the driver simply made it in time for me, etc. I ask them to keep the change for a coffee, etc. and so far every driver has accepted it with thanks. So no reason to think that they might be insulted or something like that.

At restaurants if someone (westerner) leaves a 500-yen coin on the table (as an attempt at giving a tip), I have seen the waitress running out to tell the guest �goh you forgot this!!�h and giving it back. I never try it at restaurants.

Tony, thank you for your response. The only times I see two different prices in a taxi is when there is the distance fare and the Express-Way fare, if the car had taken a toll road. Other than that, I never realized two prices, but if the driver accepted it, that is that.

I don't think tipping professional workers is an insult, but some workers in Japan just won't know what to do with the tip (and they're often supposed to give it to their organization anyway). Where tipping is not common, one might give items instead. For example, I once spilled something at a local store, and a clerk mopped it for me, so I later handed her some canned drinks.

As for taxis, I think a lot of locals, like AK, tip according to their "own rule". For example, I often ask for no change if my ride is worth less than a 1000 yen bill. Or if I'm in a hurry, I'll ask for no change and rush out the car.

At many places in Japan, there would be a "no, I can't accept it" back-and-forth thing if you try to tip, but I've never had a taxi driver try to decline my tip, which is fine. And I doubt they give it to their organization either, which is fine too.

Lovely to hear your story, Tony. Reminds me of a nice encounter with a taxi driver in Kyoto, too. It was way back in 2016 and we took a taxi from Kinkakuji to Kiyomizudera thinking it was the fastest way. Unfortunately, traffic was really bad as there was some event going on. On the road, while stuck in traffic, the driver was saying something in Japanese with a whole lot of hand gestures. Took me a long time to understand he was trying to say he will stop the meter because it was almost 3,000 yen (if I remember correctly) but he will still bring us to Kiyomizudera.

To Uco:
By the way, this was our fifth trip to Japan, this time we covered a wide area from Tokyo to Fukuoka. And we had a lot of short ride taxi trips from train stations to hotels. All worked out fine with the tipping business.
To Andrea:
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

I lived in Japan for a year and took taxis by myself and as the guest of Japanese friends. Tipping does occur in taxis regularly but is not "expected" In the daytime with a easy trip it would be zero or "keep the change" of usually under 100-200 yen. If the trip was very long, or you gave confusing instructions, or you had many bags, it might be higher.
Late at night, especially after midnight, with a difficult to find location in the dark, or you or your friend were drunk (or drunk and obnoxious) or sick, I have seen and heard of tips of 1-5,000 yen. Seriously, if the passenger thinks they were a bother, or that the driver went above and beyond in service, people tipped them.
As I said, this was not just me but was done by Japanese people in the taxis as well, and they told me of times when they were drinking and "over-tipped" the taxi driver.

Arrived in Kyoto Station today, waited in line for taxi to my hotel, the total fare was 1100yen, the dishonest driver took the long route.

The driver then Robbed me.. thieving piece of sh*t.. he put his money tray down, I placed a 1000yen note on it, as I reached to get a 100yen coin, he pocketed the 1000yen note then demanded another 1000yen note claiming I didn't pay him.. he is a lying, thieving piece of sh*t.. my first bad experience in Japan is with someone who is supposedly trustworthy.. if he robbed me of 1000yen note, I bet he is robbing all foreigners:
Silver Toyota Prius, cab licence number 27:03, kyoto Station