Yellow Cabs

Im a huge fan of public transportation. I love taking the train and the subway in Tokyo is second to none in the world. That being said, sometimes you just need to take a taxi. Unfortunately, the taxis in Tokyo are useless...

A little background:

While Tokyo is a technological marvel as far as cities go, it has the most illogical address system known to man. The address system is based partly on location and partly on building history.

For example, here is a typical Tokyo address: 3-1-19 Roppongi. Yea, exactly.

The first and second number are based on "cross-streets" like column '3' and row '1.' Well, that would make sense but the grids and columns are not always in numerical order. Column '6' could be between column '2' and column '5.'

The third number in the address represents the building location on the block. However, those numbers are not in numerical order either. Instead, those numbers are ordered by the date in which the building was built. Therefore, building '19' could be between building '4' and building '11.' In other words, the last building to be built will have the highest number regardless of its location on the block.

It has been said that Tokyo mailmen are geniuses.

ok, back to my taxi issues...

The terrible address system creates terrible taxi drivers. Like every other person in Tokyo (except the mailmen) the taxi drivers dont know any addresses. "Take me to 3-1-19 Roppongi." Um, good luck.

So what is the solution?

You are forced to tell your taxi driver to take you to a general area, a train station, or a major intersection. Then direct him with "right here," "left at the light," and "STOP" until you reach your destination.

It is no wonder that in nearly every Japanese language course 'Taxi Conversation' is the second lesson after 'Basic Greetings.'

ugh..."Eki wa doko ka wakarimasu ka?" [Do you know where the train station is?]

Note: I decided that the only pictures that will appear on this blog are ones that I have taken myself. Let me say that while Tokyo taxi drivers may not know where they are going, they definitely know that they dont like their picture taken. It was only after narrowly avoiding death that I managed to snag a few quality shots.