How to Sign Up for Uber Taxi - Complete Setup Guide in 5 Minutes

Signing up for Uber Taxi (the taxi-hailing side of Uber in Japan) requires just three things: a smartphone, an email address or phone number, and a payment method. Credit cards, debit cards, and various cashless options are supported, so you can pick whatever suits you.

If you already have an Uber Eats account, you can use it as is. No new registration is needed; open the Uber app and switch to the taxi tab, and you are done. Payment methods and promotional credits are shared between the two, so for Uber Eats users the barrier to entry is remarkably low.

• Step 1: Download the Uber app from the App Store or Google Play
• Step 2: Launch the app and create an account with your email address or phone number
• Step 3: Enter your name and phone number, then complete SMS verification
• Step 4: Register a payment method such as a credit card
• Step 5: If you have a promo code, enter it on the Promotions screen

Once these steps are done, you can request a ride immediately. The whole process takes around 5 minutes. After registering, select the taxi option from the app's home screen, enter your pickup point and destination, and the dispatch begins.

Uber Taxi lets you register multiple payment methods. Alongside credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express), debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are supported. Card registration happens on the Wallet screen; enter the card number, expiration date, and security code and you are done.

Registering more than one card gives you a backup if your primary card ever fails. If you want to separate business and personal travel, you can also switch the payment method for each individual ride. The default payment method can be changed on the Wallet screen; set a high-cashback card as your default and points accumulate automatically every time you ride.

Phone verification happens over SMS, so you need a number that can receive text messages. Some budget MVNO SIM plans in Japan do not include SMS, so double-check yours beforehand.

Promo codes must also be entered before your first ride; they cannot be applied afterward. The classic mistake is creating an account, forgetting the code, and requesting a ride anyway. Build the habit of checking the Promotions screen as part of your sign-up flow and you will not get caught out.

With your account created, a few initial settings will make everyday use smoother. First, save your home and work addresses as favorites. That lets you set your destination with a single tap when requesting a ride.

Next, register more than one payment method so you have a fallback if your main card cannot be charged. Finally, turn on the app's notifications so you catch campaign and coupon news as it happens. These settings take only 2 to 3 minutes but make a real difference to convenience later.

If you already use Uber Eats, getting started with Uber Taxi could hardly be easier. The two services share a single account, so no new registration is required at all. Open the Uber app, switch the tab at the top of the screen to the taxi view, and you can request a ride right away.

Payment methods and promotional credits carry over too, so the credit card you registered for Uber Eats works as is. One caveat: whether promotional credits earned on Uber Eats can be spent on taxi rides depends on the type of credit, so check the scope of each credit on the Wallet screen. For heavy Uber Eats users, having a ride-hailing service available with zero extra setup is a major perk.