TOKYO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — Taxi fares in the Japanese capital Tokyo will rise for the first time since 2007 from Nov. 14 in response to rising fuel costs and fewer passengers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transport ministry has said.
According to Japan’s transport ministry, the starting fare for a standard-sized taxi will go up from 420 yen (2.87 U.S. dollars) for the first 1,052 meters to 500 yen (3.41 dollars) for the first 1,096 meters, and distance-based fares will tick up by 100 yen (0.68 dollars) for every 255 meters, instead of the current 80 yen (0.55 dollars) for every 233 meters.
The ministry said taxi companies had requested the fare increase due to the rising price of fuel.
The increased fares will be implemented in Tokyo’s 23 wards and two adjacent cities of Musashino and Mitaka.