Taxi hailing app guides for travelers in South Korea and Japan

Travelers visiting South Korea and Japan in 2026 have several digital options for hailing taxis, with many platforms now supporting international credit cards and foreign phone numbers.

In South Korea, k. ride—a service by Kakao Mobility specifically designed for overseas travelers—offers support for Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, and simplified Chinese, alongside translation features for communicating with drivers. Kakao T, the country's mainstream platform, now accepts international Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express cards. Other options include Uber Taxi and TABA, a Seoul-supported app for foreign visitors.

In Japan, major ride-hailing apps include GO, Uber Taxi, DiDi, and S. RIDE. GO has expanded its service to all 47 prefectures and supports international credit cards and Apple Pay. Uber Taxi is also available nationwide and allows users to utilize existing accounts. DiDi covers 38 prefectures, while S. RIDE is primarily focused on major metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.