A private driver in Tokyo costs from ¥18,000 for the first hour in a Toyota Alphard or Mercedes V-Class, ¥42,000 for four hours and ¥74,000 for eight hours, tax included, on the published rates of Tokyo MK. A Lexus LM or BMW i7 starts at ¥48,000 for four hours and ¥84,000 for eight. Tolls, parking and admissions are extra. For a day out of the city the same company lists Minato ward to Hakone from ¥154,000 and to Nikko or the Mt. Fuji Fifth Station from ¥170,000 in an Alphard. From the airports, a chauffeured Alphard starts at ¥17,000 from Haneda and ¥45,000 from Narita, while the regulated fixed taxi fare from Narita to central Tokyo runs from ¥21,000 to ¥30,000 plus tolls.
This page sets out what a car with a driver costs around Tokyo, how hire fares are calculated, and when the train is the better choice. We checked every rate and condition on the operators' own websites and the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association's fare tables on October 14, 2026. The sources are listed at the end. For Kyoto, the chartered rates of a large Kyoto operator are already set out in how much a private guide in Japan costs, so we do not repeat them here.
Key points
- In Tokyo, Tokyo MK's published rate for an Alphard or V-Class is ¥18,000 for the first hour or 15 km, then ¥4,000 for every 30 minutes or 7.5 km, tax included. Four hours is ¥42,000 and eight hours ¥74,000.
- Tokyo's hire operators charge from the moment the car leaves its depot until it returns, and the fare is the higher of the time charge or the distance charge.
- Narita to central Tokyo by fixed taxi fare is ¥21,000 to ¥30,000 by zone, reservation required. Haneda to Chiyoda ward is ¥7,600. Tolls are added in both cases.
- Tolls, parking, admissions and, on overnight trips, the driver's lodging are paid by the passenger on top of the fare.
- Tipping is not customary for taxis in Japan, according to the national tourism organisation's travel site.
WHAT A CHAUFFEURED CAR COSTS IN TOKYO
Tokyo MK publishes one of the clearest rate tables in the city. It groups its cars into three classes and gives a starting price for each kind of booking. These rates took effect on May 21, 2026, and every figure includes consumption tax.
| Booking | Luxury Class: Alphard, Mercedes V-Class | Executive Class: Lexus LM500, BMW i7, Mercedes S-Class, HiAce | First Class: Rolls-Royce Ghost, Maybach GLS 600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour in Tokyo, up to 15 km | From ¥18,000 | From ¥21,000 | From ¥80,000 |
| 4 hours in Tokyo, up to 60 km | From ¥42,000 | From ¥48,000 | From ¥80,000 |
| 8 hours in Tokyo, up to 120 km | From ¥74,000 | From ¥84,000 | From ¥160,000 |
| Haneda Airport transfer | From ¥17,000 | From ¥19,000 | From ¥40,000 |
| Narita Airport transfer | From ¥45,000 | From ¥51,000 | From ¥80,000 |
The company describes these as approximate figures that move with traffic and road conditions. Tolls, admission fees and parking are not included. A booking that starts between 22:00 and 05:00 carries a late-night charge, and a driver who handles foreign languages or sightseeing, a meet-and-greet at the airport and child seats are all charged separately. Tokyo MK asks for bookings at least three days ahead, and its cancellation charge is 30% from 9:00 three days before, 50% from 9:00 two days before and 100% from 9:00 the day before.
Two other large Tokyo operators publish starting prices. Nihon Kotsu, which describes itself as the largest hire operator in Japan by share, lists a minimum booking of two hours or 30 km from ¥14,110 in a sedan and from ¥16,930 in a wagon, tax included. Hinomaru Limousine lists a standard sedan from ¥23,100 for one hour and a van from ¥27,280 for one hour, tax included. Each company counts time differently, so we compare quotes for the whole day.
HOW HIRE FARES ARE CALCULATED
A hire car in Japan is a different product from a taxi with a fixed booking. The rules behind it are printed in the fare schedule each operator files with the Kanto Transport Bureau, and three of them explain most surprises on the bill.
The Clock Starts at the Depot
A taxi charges only for the time you are in it. A hire car is charged from the moment it leaves its depot at your request until it returns. Nihon Kotsu states this on its price page, and Hinomaru Limousine's approved fares say the same, adding that if the car is early or late back for reasons on the operator's side, the normal travel time is used. A hotel close to the operator's depot keeps that empty driving short; a pickup in the suburbs or an early start in Hakone does not.
Time or Distance Whichever Is Higher
Hinomaru Limousine's approved fares set the first hour or 15 km, then each 30 minutes or 7.5 km, and the passenger pays whichever comes to more. Tokyo MK's table works on the same steps, which is why its four-hour rate covers up to 60 km and its eight-hour rate up to 120 km. A slow day of shops and lunches is charged by the clock. A fast day on the expressway runs past the kilometre limit before the hours are used, and the distance charge takes over.
The Vehicle Class Sets the Unit Rate
Hinomaru Limousine's filed rates, before tax, are ¥6,720 for the first hour and ¥3,060 for each further 30 minutes in its large-car class, and ¥8,070 and ¥3,670 in the special large-car class. The special class covers cars of 3,500 cc or more or with seven or more seats, which is where the Alphard, the V-Class and the HiAce sit. Tolls, ferry fares, parking and the driver's lodging are listed separately as costs the passenger pays at the actual amount.
ALPHARD LEXUS LM OR V-CLASS
Most travellers ask for an Alphard by name, and for most groups of two to four with luggage it is the right car. The table below sets out what the operators publish about seats, luggage and price class.
| Vehicle | Seats published | Luggage published | Price class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Alphard | Up to 6; 2 to 4 recommended (Nihon Kotsu) | Up to 4 suitcases or 4 golf bags (Nihon Kotsu) | Luxury Class at Tokyo MK; special large car at Hinomaru |
| Mercedes V-Class | 6 (Hinomaru) | Not stated in suitcases | Luxury Class at Tokyo MK; special large car at Hinomaru |
| Lexus LM | 5 (Hinomaru) | Not stated in suitcases | Executive Class at Tokyo MK; at Hinomaru the special large-car rate plus a ¥6,000 vehicle fee before tax |
| Toyota HiAce | Up to 9; 7 recommended (Nihon Kotsu) | Up to 8 suitcases or 4 golf bags (Nihon Kotsu) | Executive Class at Tokyo MK; special large car at Hinomaru |
| Large sedan: Mercedes S-Class, BMW i7, Toyota Century | 4 (Hinomaru) | Not stated in suitcases | Executive Class at Tokyo MK; special large car at Hinomaru |
Nihon Kotsu gives the Alphard about 20 cm more cabin height and about 1.2 m more cabin length than its Toyota Crown sedan. In practice, the Alphard and the V-Class carry a family of four and their suitcases; the Lexus LM has fewer seats and costs more, and is chosen for the cabin. Six adults with full luggage need a HiAce, or two cars. If the car you want matters, say so at booking: both Tokyo MK and Hinomaru charge for a named vehicle.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS FROM NARITA AND HANEDA
For a single trip from the airport, a fixed-fare taxi often costs far less than a hire car. The Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association publishes the fixed fares, which started on April 20, 2026. Tolls are added on top.
| Zone | Wards | Fixed fare | 22:00 to 05:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Katsushika, Edogawa, Sumida, Koto, Daiba in Minato, Higashi-Yashio in Shinagawa | ¥21,000 | ¥25,000 |
| B | Adachi, Arakawa, Taito, Bunkyo, Chiyoda, Chuo | ¥26,000 | ¥30,000 |
| C | Kita, Toshima, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Minato, Meguro, Shinagawa, Ota | ¥28,000 | ¥33,000 |
| D | Itabashi, Nerima, Nakano, Suginami, Setagaya, Musashino, Mitaka | ¥30,000 | ¥36,000 |
The Narita fixed fare must be reserved in advance. From Haneda no reservation is needed: you join the queue at any terminal's taxi rank. The Haneda fixed fare is ¥7,600 to Chiyoda ward, ¥8,500 to Shibuya and ¥9,000 to Shinjuku, rising to ¥14,000 for Musashino. Chuo, Minato, Koto, Shinagawa, Meguro and Ota wards are not on the table, and Tokyo MK states that rides to areas off the table run on the meter.
What a Booked Transfer Adds
Tokyo MK offers the same fixed fares as a booked transfer, and its terms show what each extra costs, tax included. A booking for a set time adds ¥1,000, a named vehicle ¥2,000. Tolls are capped at ¥1,950 from Haneda and ¥3,700 from Narita. A driver waiting at the arrival gate costs ¥8,000; at Haneda this is offered only at Terminal 3, and at Narita a pickup is offered only with it. An English-speaking driver adds ¥2,000 an hour from Haneda and ¥5,000 per car from Narita. The night fare applies only when the whole ride falls between 22:00 and 05:00.
A chauffeured transfer in a hire car costs more. From Haneda, Tokyo MK starts at ¥17,000 in an Alphard, Nihon Kotsu at ¥24,190 one way and Hinomaru Limousine at ¥24,410. From Narita, Hinomaru starts at ¥40,110, Tokyo MK at ¥45,000 and Nihon Kotsu at ¥49,500. All are tax included, and tolls and parking are extra. Tokyo MK's booking page adds its ¥8,000 meeting at the arrival gate to a Narita pickup, so its Luxury Class car (an Alphard or V-Class) comes to ¥53,000 before tolls. Nihon Kotsu says its drivers follow the flight and can meet you at the gate with a name board. A late flight, two families or a stack of luggage is where the hire car earns its price; two people with two suitcases into Shinjuku do well with the fixed fare.
DAY TRIPS FROM TOKYO BY CAR
Tokyo MK lists starting prices for five trips out of the city. Each starts from Minato ward, includes tax and excludes tolls, parking and admissions. The table does not say whether the price covers the return drive or the hours waiting at the destination, so we confirm both when we ask for your dates.
| Destination | Alphard or V-Class | Lexus LM500 or BMW i7 | Rolls-Royce Ghost or Maybach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maihama, for Tokyo Disney Resort | From ¥34,000 | From ¥39,000 | From ¥80,000 |
| Kamakura | From ¥122,000 | From ¥138,000 | From ¥280,000 |
| Hakone | From ¥154,000 | From ¥174,000 | From ¥360,000 |
| Mt. Fuji Fifth Station | From ¥170,000 | From ¥192,000 | From ¥400,000 |
| Nikko | From ¥170,000 | From ¥192,000 | From ¥400,000 |
Hinomaru Limousine publishes a Mt. Fuji and Hakone sightseeing day from ¥89,810, tax included, as a set course. A set course and a car that follows your own plan are priced differently, which explains much of the gap between the two companies; the quote you receive depends on the route, the hours and the car.
Tolls on Long Runs
Tokyo MK's terms of carriage allow it to charge the expressway tolls for the empty return as well, on toll-road trips to places roughly 50 km or more beyond its operating area, up to the first toll gate back inside that area. The driver must explain this before the trip. On a Hakone or Nikko day the tolls are a real line on the bill, so we ask for them in the quote.
Overnight Trips
If the car stays with you for two or three days, for example Tokyo to Hakone and on to the Fuji Five Lakes, the driver needs a room each night. Hinomaru Limousine's approved fares list the driver's lodging as a cost the passenger pays at the actual amount, alongside tolls and parking. We arrange the driver's room together with yours. Where Hakone fits in a trip is covered in our Hakone guide, and the Fuji side in Mount Fuji without the crowds.
THE EXTRAS THAT CHANGE THE BILL
The hourly rate is rarely the whole figure. These are the items we check in every quote.
- Tolls and parking. Excluded by Tokyo MK, Nihon Kotsu and Hinomaru Limousine, and paid at the actual amount.
- Admissions. Tokyo MK excludes temple and museum fees from its rates.
- Night hours. Tokyo MK charges a late-night rate when a booking starts between 22:00 and 05:00. For the airport fixed fares, the night fare is set out in the tables above.
- An English-speaking driver. Tokyo MK charges extra on hire bookings and publishes ¥2,000 an hour from Haneda. Nihon Kotsu has more than 100 drivers who speak English and Hinomaru Limousine about 80.
- A named vehicle. Tokyo MK charges ¥2,000 on taxi and fixed-fare bookings, and Hinomaru Limousine ¥6,000 before tax for a Lexus LM.
- The driver's lodging on trips of more than a day.
- Cancellation. At Tokyo MK, 30% from three days before, rising to 100% from 9:00 the day before.
Tipping is not one of them. The Japan National Tourism Organization's travel site says it is not common to tip for services such as taxis, hotels and restaurants. A thank you at the door at the end of the day is enough.
WHEN A CAR IS WORTH IT AND WHEN THE TRAIN IS BETTER
Booking a whole day in Tokyo does not lower the hourly rate. On Tokyo MK's table, the first hour is ¥18,000 and every later hour costs ¥8,000 on the 30-minute steps, so four hours come to ¥42,000 and eight to ¥74,000. What you save on a long booking is the cost of the depot run, which is paid again on each separate booking. Two short bookings on one day cost more than one longer one.
In Tokyo
Central Tokyo is quicker by train than by road for most of the day, and a taxi from the rank covers the short hops. We arrange a car for the arrival from the airport, for an evening when you are dressed for dinner across town, and for one day that strings together places far apart, such as a morning in Yanaka and an afternoon in Odaiba. For the other days, a four-hour block around the busiest part of the day usually covers it.
Tokyo to Hakone
The Romancecar runs from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto in about 80 minutes. The limited express fee is ¥1,200 per adult on top of the ordinary fare, and Odakyu's own example, published in April 2024, puts the total at ¥2,470 one way. For two people with luggage sent ahead, the train is hard to beat. A car makes sense for a family of four or five with luggage, for a ryokan high above the station, or when the day continues to Lake Kawaguchi. In those cases the Alphard from Minato ward starts at ¥154,000 before tolls.
Outside the Cities
In the countryside the balance turns. Stations are far apart, buses run once an hour, and a day with three stops is only possible by road. Here a car with a driver pays for itself, and we look first at operators based near the destination, since a car from the region does not charge for the long drive out from Tokyo. How the moves between cities fit together is covered in how luxury travellers move around Japan.
HOW STAYGO ARRANGES DRIVERS
STAYGO plans and arranges private trips across Japan from Tokyo. We choose the operator and the car for each day, ask for a written quote that includes tolls, the empty run from the depot and the driver's lodging, and arrange it in your name. You pay the operator directly at its own rate. We add no markup and take no commission. Our planning fee is separate: USD 3,500 for your group on a Signature trip of 7 to 14 days, or a Bespoke quote for anything else. The rest of a trip's spend is set out in what a bespoke Japan trip costs.
SOURCES AND HOW WE CHECKED
We read each operator's published rate page and terms, and the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association's fixed-fare tables, on October 14, 2026. We did not contact the operators. The rates are the starting prices each company shows; your quote depends on the date, the route and the car. We did not use figures from booking sites or press coverage.
- Tokyo MK, rates: hire rates by class and booking, day trips from Minato ward, booking notice and cancellation
- Tokyo MK, airport transfer fares: fixed fares, tolls, meet-and-greet, English-speaking driver and booking fees
- Tokyo MK, rate revision notice: revised rates from May 21, 2026
- Tokyo MK, terms of carriage (Japanese): return tolls on long trips
- Nihon Kotsu Hire, prices (Japanese): how hire fares are counted and starting prices
- Nihon Kotsu Hire, airport transfers (Japanese): Narita and Haneda one-way prices and gate meeting
- Nihon Kotsu Hire, by-the-day use (Japanese): two-hour minimum and English-speaking drivers
- Nihon Kotsu Hire, wagons (Japanese): Alphard and HiAce seats and luggage
- Hinomaru Limousine, approved fares (Japanese): hourly units, vehicle classes, depot-to-depot counting and costs paid by the passenger
- Hinomaru Limousine, vehicles (Japanese): seats by model and the Lexus LM vehicle fee
- Hinomaru Limousine, hire service (Japanese): airport, sightseeing and hourly starting prices, English-speaking drivers
- Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association, Narita fixed fares (Japanese): fares by zone, reservation and night hours
- Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association, Haneda fixed fares (Japanese): fares by ward from April 20, 2026, and boarding without reservation
- Odakyu, Romancecar: limited express fee and journey time to Hakone-Yumoto
- Odakyu, Romancecar travel tips: fare example from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto, April 2024
- Japan National Tourism Organization, tipping in Japan: tipping for taxis and other services
QUESTIONS ABOUT PRIVATE DRIVERS
How much does a private driver in Tokyo cost per day?
On Tokyo MK's published rates, eight hours within Tokyo, up to 120 km, starts at ¥74,000 in an Alphard or V-Class and ¥84,000 in a Lexus LM or BMW i7, tax included. Tolls, parking and admissions are extra.
How much is a private car from Narita Airport to Tokyo?
The fixed taxi fare from Narita is ¥21,000 to ¥30,000 depending on the ward, plus tolls, and must be reserved. A chauffeured hire car starts at ¥40,110 with Hinomaru Limousine, ¥45,000 with Tokyo MK and ¥49,500 with Nihon Kotsu, tax included, with tolls and parking extra. At Tokyo MK, a Narita pickup in an Alphard-class car comes to ¥53,000 with the ¥8,000 arrival-gate meeting, before tolls.
How much is a private car from Tokyo to Hakone?
Tokyo MK lists Minato ward to Hakone from ¥154,000 in an Alphard and ¥174,000 in a Lexus LM, tax included, before tolls. Hinomaru Limousine publishes a set Mt. Fuji and Hakone sightseeing course from ¥89,810. The Romancecar costs far less for two people travelling light.
Do I tip a private driver in Japan?
No. The Japan National Tourism Organization's travel site says tipping is not common for services such as taxis and hotels. A thank you at the end of the day is enough.
Who pays for the driver's hotel on a multi-day trip?
The passenger. Hinomaru Limousine's approved fares list the driver's lodging, with tolls and parking, as a cost the passenger pays at the actual amount. We arrange the driver's room together with yours and include it in the quote.
LET US PRICE THE DAYS THAT NEED A CAR
Send us your dates, how many of you are travelling and how much luggage you carry. We will tell you which days a car changes, which operator and vehicle we would use, and the full figure including tolls, before anything is arranged.
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