6 Licensed Green Plate Companies for Private Tokyo Airport Transfers

Helen Foster
Latest posts by Helen Foster (see all)

If you’re looking for licensed drivers to pick you up from the airport in Japan, and you want to book via the English booking engines, as so many people do, here are some names to look for.

What Is a Green Plate Driver?

Japan has very strict rules for vehicles that can be used to transport people around professionally. Officially, the drivers of these cars must have a specific type of driving license, registration and insurance – and once they do, they are given special green number plates to show that.

However, not every company driving people around in Japan goes through the green plate process. Some companies just operate with normal cars and normal licenses. They will likely still get you from A-B if you book them, but sometimes the authorities clamp down on these unofficial drivers, meaning your ride might get cancelled while you’re in the air, or, in the unlikely event that you get into an accident, the car’s insurance might not be valid.

Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

Therefore, Japanese officials request that tourists only use green-plated cars. But there is a problem here, they don’t make these easy to find in the places most tourists use to book their airport transfers, like Klook, Booking.com or Viator.

So, I went through the list for you and found those who offer licensed green plate drivers.

Interestingly, I found most of them on Viator, who seem to work directly with more Japan-based companies, which makes it easier to check them out. The other booking sites tend to work with international companies that then contract local drivers. This doesn’t mean they aren’t using licensed drivers or aren’t good companies in other ways, but I couldn’t independently check them.

The ones listed below clearly ticked the important boxes. And here they are…

1. Kings Japan

This company sell via Viator under the name KJ Tour.

This is the link on the Viator website for Haneda bookings. They charge from AU$147 for a trip from Haneda to Tokyo for a car that seats four. They do offer vehicles that carry more people.

This is the link on the Viator website for their Narita bookings. They charge from AU$275 for a journey from Narita Airport to central Tokyo.

NB: Prices are listed in Australian dollars as that’s what I see. They may change depending on route, time of day and number of people, so use them more as a rough comparison between companies than a set in stone amount.

2. GT Transfer

Their website states that they run officially licensed Green Plate taxis in Japan.

A journey for up to five passengers from Haneda to Central Tokyo will cost from AU$160. They also have cars that seat up to nine people. You can make a booking here.

If you are coming from Narita, expect to pay from AU$257. You can make a booking here.

3. JC Limousine Service

They charge from AU$193 from Haneda to central Tokyo. They have cars that can carry up to nine people.

Book their service from Haneda here.

4. Holiday in Japan

Find their Haneda pick up service here. They charge from AU$165 for a journey from Haneda into Central Tokyo.

Or, you can find their Narita Airport pick-up service here. They charge from AU$256.00 for a journey from Narita to Central Tokyo.

5. Tokujin – 徳仁国際

Their cars can carry up to nine people. A journey from Narita to Tokyo will be from AU$238. You can make the booking via this link.

6. The KT Tokyo – 金山交通

Their Narita to Tokyo service costs from AU$256 yen.

They can accommodate groups of up to nine people and offer vehicles, including TOYOTA HIACE and TOYOTA  VELLFIRE. Find a link to their Narita pick up service here.

Booking engines do sometimes swap out listings, so if you do use the links above, double-check the transfers are still being run by the same companies as the ones listed before booking.

Things to Consider When Booking

All of the cars above run officially licensed cars to and from Tokyo’s airports. Some also go to the Yokohama Cruise Port. While price may be a factor in deciding who you choose, there are a few other things to check when deciding exactly who to book with.

Waiting Time

How long will the car wait for you – and when does that time start ticking?

Air travel can be unpredictable with timings, so aim for a service with flexibility.

Car Size and Luggage Space

How many people can the car accommodate, and how much luggage do they allow per person?

They may not be able to take you if you are over their safe limits.

Late Night Fees

Are there any extra fees if you are arriving outside of normal working hours? Or discounts if you’re not.

How Will The Driver Contact You?

Many companies will use messaging apps like Whatsapp – so make sure you have this installed and that you have an internet connection when you land. Our guide on getting online in Japan can help you find the best method if you haven’t sorted this out yet.

Need Extra Planning Help?

Our Japan trip planners can help. You might like our First-Timers Japan Planner, which will help you plan your trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka step-by-step, including tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing and dining. Or our super-duper Tokyo Disney Planner makes arranging your park trip MUCH easier. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.

Ease of Communication

Do they have English support? And/or English-speaking drivers.

This will be helpful if you can’t find your driver or get delayed. It never hurts to carry your hotel address in Japanese as well, especially if you are going to a hotel with multiple branches in Tokyo.

Kid’s Facilities

Do they carry baby seats or child seats? Some will charge extra for these. Make sure you let the company know if you need them as not all cars will have them as standard.

And I think that’s all you need to know. I’ll add to the list as I find more companies that fit the bill.

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