S.RIDE – There When You Need It Most! 🚖✨
With over 10,000 taxis operating in Tokyo, about 1 in 3 taxis in the city supports S.RIDE. Currently available in 9 prefectures across Japan, it’s especially recommended for those staying or traveling in Tokyo.
S.RIDE also offers multiple payment options—not just cash and credit cards, but also QR code payments like Rakuten Pay, making it easy for international travelers to pay seamlessly.
Whether you’re heading to a meeting, catching a train, or exploring the city, S.RIDE is a fast and convenient way to hail a taxi anytime. 🗼✨
| Services | S.RIDE |
| Scheduled Ride Booking | Available |
| Payment | Cash, Credit Card, and QR Payments |
| Service Areas | Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Aichi, Osaka, Miyazaki *excluding some areas |
What is S.RIDE? 🚖📱
S.RIDE is a taxi-hailing app operated by S.RIDE Inc., a joint venture between five major Tokyo taxi companies (including Kokusai Motorcars) and Sony Group & Sony Payment Services.
One of S.RIDE’s key features is its simplicity—just launch the app and swipe once, and the nearest available taxi will be dispatched. No need for complicated settings or adjustments.
By registering a credit card or other payment method in advance, users can pay online for a cashless, hassle-free ride.
Thanks to Tokyo’s largest taxi network, S.RIDE can quickly dispatch the closest available taxi, helping you reach your destination without delays. Ideal for fast, efficient travel in Tokyo and beyond. 🗼✨
Benefits of Using S.RIDE
Benefits of S.RIDE
- Integrated with the Tokyo Metro app
- Offers exclusive campaigns and promotions
- Supports cashless payments
- Provides fast taxi dispatch
Integrated with the Tokyo Metro app
With the integration of the “Tokyo Metro my! app,” when the route search displays a taxi route, you can select “Call a Taxi,” and S.RIDE will be an option.
If the route to your destination is within S.RIDE’s service area, the route information will be transferred to the S.RIDE app, and a taxi will be dispatched.
Offers exclusive campaigns and promotions
S.RIDE offers a unique “Ride Program” where you earn Ride Points each time you book a taxi through the app. Once you collect 10 points, you can enter an instant lottery for a chance to win monthly rotating gifts.
This is a special campaign not available with other services, making it one of S.RIDE’s standout features.
Supports cashless payments
By registering your payment method in advance on the app, you can get out of the taxi smoothly without needing to interact with the driver at the end of your ride.
S.RIDE supports “S.RIDE WALLET,” which is compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Additionally, receipts and ride details are stored within the app, helping prevent issues like lost receipts and making expense tracking easier. 💳📱🚖
Provides fast taxi dispatch
S.RIDE’s core mission is to make taxi-hailing as simple as possible: “Just launch the app and slide— the nearest taxi will come to you right away.” The booking process is designed to be quick and easy, minimizing hassle.
If your plans change after dispatch, you can simply tap the “Cancel” button in the app to cancel the ride. However, please note that frequent cancellations may result in your account being temporarily suspended, so it’s best to use this feature responsibly. 🚖📱⚠️
Disadvantages of Using S.RIDE
Disadvantages of S.RIDE
- Limited service areas
- Your ride may be canceled by the driver
- Pickup fee is not shown in advance
Limited service areas
S.RIDE is not available in all regions—in fact, many areas are not covered. The app primarily focuses on major business hubs such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi.
Before using the service, it’s important to check the available coverage area to ensure S.RIDE is supported where you are. 🚖📍
Your ride may be canceled by the driver
As with other ride-hailing services, there may be cases where your ride is canceled if the driver cannot arrive on time due to traffic conditions.
When using a taxi app, it’s recommended to book your ride with extra time in mind to avoid delays or cancellations.
Pickup fee is not shown in advance
Depending on the taxi company, pickup fees may range from ¥200 to ¥420.
To check the exact pickup fee, you’ll need to contact the specific taxi company you’re booking through for confirmation.
How to Use S.RIDE
Here’s how to use S.RIDE:
- Request a Ride
- Get In
- Get Out
Request a Ride
When you launch the app, a yellow pin is automatically placed on the nearest roadside location based on your current position. If needed, you can set your destination, choose a fare type, select a payment method, apply coupons, or specify a vehicle type.
Slide the yellow arrow from left to right, and after 3 seconds, the app will begin searching for a nearby taxi. Once matched, details such as the taxi company name, vehicle number, and vehicle color will be displayed.
Get In
After getting in, the taxi will generally take the shortest route to your destination, but you can also request a specific route if you prefer.
Depending on the driver, they may ask to confirm your destination or the route as a precaution to ensure a smooth journey.
Get Out
Once you arrive at your destination, the fare will be automatically charged using the payment method registered in the app, so there’s no need for any action at drop-off.
If you’re paying with cash or other non-app methods, you will need to settle the fare directly with the driver.
Summary
In this article, we introduced how to use S.RIDE along with its key advantages and disadvantages. While the app currently has limited coverage, it’s extremely user-friendly and convenient for those using taxis within Tokyo.
S.RIDE also offers exclusive features and programs, such as its unique point-based reward system—so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out!
You can find information on other taxi-hailing apps at the link below.
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