When you're hauling golf bags between a rural golf course, your hotel, and downtown restaurants, there's no friend more reliable than a taxi. Fukuoka's taxis are clean and courteous, but the Japanese can feel daunting. Luckily, with the GO / DiDi apps you don't need to explain your destination out loud or count out cash. This chapter covers how to call one with an app, plus the "automatic door" rule of the regular taxis you hail on the street.
A taxi app is the answer — GO vs. DiDi
In Fukuoka, both apps get you a ride easily. Both support Korean/English screens, let you sign up with an overseas (Thai) phone number, and pass your destination automatically once you drop a pin on the map — so you don't have to say a word to the driver. Before you leave, while you have good Wi-Fi, finish installing them and registering payment.
🚖 GO
#1 in coverage across all of Japan (all 47 prefectures). The screen is clean and its English support is reliable. With in-app card payment "GO Pay," payment is processed automatically when you get out. Each vehicle shows a unique number, so you easily spot your taxi.
🚕 DiDi
Operates in Kyushu (including Fukuoka), Kansai, Tokyo, and Hokkaido. Its strength is multilingual support including English and Chinese, and dispatch is fairly fast (about 6 minutes). You can choose card or cash, so you can call a ride first even without registering a card.
This is what the app screens look like
Learning the actual screen layout in advance keeps you from fumbling on the spot. Below are example mockups recreating the key screens of the two apps (the actual screens may vary by version). The common flow is the same — confirm your pickup location on the map → enter your destination → see the estimated fare and call a ride.
Depending on the time and area, one will get you a ride faster. Install both, and if one can't find a car, try the other. Especially in outlying areas like Asakura, it's hard to hail an empty taxi on the street, so an app request is often effectively the only option.
Calling a taxi with an app — step by step
- Install the app and sign up (recommended before departure)Install "GO" or "DiDi" from the App Store/Play Store. Sign up by entering your name, phone number, and email. SMS verification works with a Thai phone number.
- Set your pickup location pinPlace the pin exactly where you're standing on the map. In front of a hotel or clubhouse, the building name is often picked up automatically.
- Enter your destinationSearch for your destination or designate it with a pin. Search by name, like "博多駅 (Hakata Station)" or "天神 (Tenjin)," or drop a pin directly on the map.
- Confirm the vehicle and estimated fareThe screen shows the estimated fare and travel time and nearby vehicles. Choose your payment method (card/cash) and confirm the amount.
- Press "今すぐ呼ぶ (Call now)"Pressing the call button starts the dispatch. The license plate, vehicle type, and driver's location appear on the map in real time.
- Find your vehicle and boardConfirm your taxi by the vehicle's unique number on GO, or by the license plate on DiDi, and get in. Wait for the automatic door to open (see below).
- Get out with app/card paymentWith in-app card payment (GO Pay, etc.), you simply get out with no fare settlement, and the receipt is saved automatically in the app. If you chose cash, pay the metered fare in cash.
When you call with an app, a small dispatch (call) fee may be added on top of the metered fare. It's usually included in the estimated fare shown on screen before you call, so you can decide after seeing the amount.
Hailing a regular taxi on the street — beware the "automatic door"
When an app can't find a car, or an empty taxi is right in front of you, just raise your hand to flag it. Japanese taxis have two rules that differ from Korea.
- The driver opens the door — don't touch it. The rear door opens and closes automatically. Trying to open or close it yourself can cause a breakdown or accident, so get in after the door has fully opened, then step back and wait for it to close.
- Sit in the back seat. In Japan, unless your party fills the car, you leave the front passenger seat empty. A rear seatbelt is legally required.
- Show your destination on a screen or note. If the pronunciation is hard, showing a hotel business card, a map screenshot, or a translation-app screen as is is the most foolproof.
- Remember the late-night surcharge. Typically from 10 PM (or 11 PM) to 5 AM the next day, the fare is about 20% higher.
- No tipping. Just pay the amount on the meter. Check whether cards or transit cards (Suica, etc.) are accepted by the stickers on the windshield or seat.
Large golf bags have to go in the trunk. A regular sedan may not fit a full set all at once, so if you have a lot of people or luggage, it's safer to select a large vehicle (wagon/jumbo) in the app or split into two taxis. Ask the driver to open the trunk for you.
The receipt (ryōshūsho) has the taxi company's contact and vehicle information on it, which is a decisive clue if you leave something behind or there's a problem with the fare. If you paid cash, you can get one by saying "ryōshūsho o kudasai." App payments are stored automatically in the app.
A word in the local language — in the taxi
With an app you mostly won't need to speak, but in a regular taxi these few phrases are a great help.
The fare structure, late-night surcharge hours, and app payment policies can vary by operator and area. We recommend confirming based on the estimated fare shown when you call with the app and the guidance inside the vehicle.