Question
I’m flying to Tokyo next month and will probably take a taxi from the station to my hotel. I’d like to check the price before I get in so there are no surprises. How do I say “How much is the taxi fare?” in Japanese?
Answer by Professional Japanese Teacher
東京駅（とうきょうえき）まで、いくらですか。
Toukyou eki made, ikura desu ka?
How much is it to Tokyo Station?
A quick price check before you climb in is a smart habit. In front of a taxi driver, the most natural way to ask is to name your destination first — swap “Toukyou eki” for wherever you’re heading. Made means “as far as” or “to”, and ikura desu ka asks the price politely. Without a destination, the driver will usually ask どちらまで dochira made (“to where?”) right back.
For a ticket counter or any other context where the place is already obvious, you can use the more general phrase:
料金（りょうきん）はいくらですか。
Ryoukin wa ikura desu ka?
How much is the fare?
Most Japanese taxis run on a meter, so the driver will usually give you a rough estimate rather than a fixed amount. A clear arigatou gozaimasu when you get out goes a long way.
