Taxis wait outside Fussa Station, near Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, Feb. 28, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is encouraging people at this airlift hub in western Tokyo to use a local taxi company’s mobile app for on- and off-base travel.
AAFES recently promoted Yokokawa Kanko’s taxi app on social media, highlighting its convenience for riders traveling to and from the base, spokesman Travis Day said in an email Friday.
“Before the app was available, taxi service could be booked only by phone,” he said.
The app allows users to select pickup and drop-off points using map pins, improving accuracy and ease of use, Day said.
While Japanese taxis operate at other U.S. military bases, the app is designed specifically for Yokota, Day said. Ride-sharing services such as Uber are not authorized on base.
“Yokokawa Kanko is the only service that is authorized to enter the base to pick up and drop off riders,” he said.
The app is for anyone who wants to use Yokokawa Kanko’s taxis and is in Japanese, but the Yokota exchange has posted English-language instructions on its Facebook page.
The service was welcome news for Air Force Maj. Claire Sutter, a St. Louis native living in Yokota’s east side housing area. She said she would likely use the app, though she had never called for a Japanese taxi on base before because it seemed complicated.
The app is available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, Yokokawa Kanko managing director Kento Yamaguchi said by phone Monday. Users must register their name, phone number and address before selecting a location and destination on a map. For trips to or from the base, they must request a taxi authorized to enter Yokota, he said.
The app provides estimated arrival times before riders confirm their request, Yamaguchi said. About 10 drivers with base access are regularly available, though they may be busy with other customers at times.
Since its launch in May, the app has been downloaded nearly 1,000 times, though it is unclear how many users are from the base community, Yamaguchi said.
The company aimed to make the app accessible to non-Japanese speakers as well.
“We wanted to create something that overcomes language barriers and is easy to use for those from the base,” he said.
The app has improved communication between the taxi company and the base community, Yamaguchi said.
“It also helps users feel more comfortable using the service, especially if they are unfamiliar with taking taxis here,” he said.
