When you get into a taxi in Japan, the rear passenger door may open even though the driver has not physically touched it. When you get out, you usually do not need to open the door yourself either.
However, this is a little different from the kind of automatic door that opens when a sensor detects someone.
In many Japanese taxis, the driver controls the rear passenger door from the driver’s seat. From the passenger’s point of view, the door seems to open and close automatically, but the driver is actually deciding when to operate it.
Many taxis in Japan today use the Toyota JPN TAXI. On this model, the rear passenger door slides sideways rather than swinging outward, and the driver can still operate it from the front. The shape of the door has changed from older sedan-style taxis, but the basic idea remains the same: passengers usually do not need to open or close it themselves.
This system is useful for more than just polite service.
The driver does not have to get out of the car every time a passenger gets in or out, which makes boarding quicker. It also allows the driver to check for approaching cars or bicycles before opening the door, which can improve safety.
That is why Japanese passengers normally wait for the rear door to open rather than reaching for it themselves. After paying the fare, they also usually wait for the driver to open the door before getting out.
This is not a strict rule of etiquette, though.
If a foreign visitor does not know how the system works and reaches for the door, most Japanese people would probably just think, “They didn’t know.” It would not normally be treated as rude behavior.
So waiting for the taxi door to open is not really a special Japanese manner. It is simply what people naturally do because the driver-operated door system has been common for a long time.
If you are riding a taxi in Japan for the first time, just wait a moment after the taxi stops. In many taxis, the driver will still open the door for you.
References
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), “Taxis in Japan”
- Toyota, “JPN TAXI”
- Toshin Tec, “Taxi Automatic Door”
