FAQ

What is the “Fulcul” taxi app?

It is an app that lets you call a km Taxi simply by shaking your smartphone. You can hail km Taxis that are within a 500‑meter radius around you. When you shake your smartphone at your boarding location, your intention to take a taxi is transmitted to nearby km Taxis; once a match is made, a taxi will come to pick you up as a dispatched car. No pickup fee is charged.

When I use the “Fulcul” taxi app to call a taxi, is there a pickup fee in addition to the regular taxi fare?

When you use Fulcul, there are no extra charges other than the taxi fare. Unlike typical taxi-dispatch apps, there is no pickup fee. You can call a km Taxi just like you would hail one on the street.

Are there any usage fees (such as in-app charges) for the “Fulcul” taxi app?

There are no app usage fees (including in-app charges) for Fulcul.

After I shake my smartphone with the “Fulcul” taxi app and several taxis come near me, how can I confirm which one is the matched taxi?

To ensure you board the correct taxi, please check the vehicle number upon its arrival and show the screen on your smartphone to the driver before getting in.

What is the service area of the “Fulcul” taxi app? Where can I use it?

Fulcul can be used in the same service areas as km Taxis, mainly in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas listed below:
Tokyo area: The 23 wards of Tokyo, Musashino City, Mitaka City
Yokohama area: Naka Ward, Nishi Ward, Minami Ward, Hodogaya Ward, Totsuka Ward, Konan Ward, Isogo Ward
Depending on road conditions, there may be times or areas where Fulcul cannot be used. Thank you for your understanding.

When I shake my smartphone with the “Fulcul” taxi app, will a taxi always come? Also, what should I do if no match is made?

No, a taxi is not guaranteed to come every time. Fulcul is an app that communicates your intention to ride to vacant km Taxis within a 500‑meter radius around you and tries to match you with one. If no km Taxi can be matched, we recommend using the “km Taxi App.”
The km Taxi App is a service that dispatches km Taxis, but it requires membership registration and a pickup fee is charged. For details, please check the following link:
km Taxi App: https://www.km-taxi.tokyo/service/app.php

If I can’t wait for the taxi that is on its way, is it okay to take another taxi instead?

The taxi matched via Fulcul is dispatched specifically for you and cannot pick up other passengers. Please wait where you are until the taxi arrives. Once you are matched with a taxi, the estimated arrival time and the vehicle number are shown on your screen, so please use that as a reference. If you are not at the pickup point when the taxi arrives, the match will be cancelled.
If cancellations occur repeatedly, you may be unable to use the service due to system restrictions.

When I shake my smartphone with Fulcul to indicate that I want to ride, how long does that effect last?

After you shake your smartphone with Fulcul to show your intention to ride, that status remains valid for 120 seconds. On the map screen in the app, a 120‑second time bar is displayed to visually indicate the remaining time. If no taxi comes within 120 seconds, please shake your smartphone again to send your latest intention to ride. Please do not move while shaking your phone.

After I shake my smartphone, will my current location be updated to the taxi if I move?

No. The taxi only receives the location shown in the app at the moment you shake your smartphone (the red pin location). The taxi will head to the red pin, so please wait there without moving.

If I shake my smartphone indoors or inside a building, will a taxi still come?

We are sorry, but if you use Fulcul indoors or inside a building, a taxi will not come. Fulcul is designed to be used as if you were hailing a taxi on the street. Please shake your smartphone at the actual location where you will board. Use it along a roadway or in a place where the driver can stop safely and can easily find you when coming to pick you up. You can also set your boarding point within a 50‑meter radius around you.

After I shake my smartphone, can I check in real time whether the taxi is approaching?

On Fulcul’s map screen, you can check the current location of the matched taxi in real time. When the taxi comes to within about 150 meters of your current location, a proximity alert function will notify you via your phone’s vibration.

What are the main differences between Fulcul and typical taxi-dispatch apps?

There are clear differences between Fulcul and typical taxi-dispatch apps.
■Typical taxi-dispatch apps:
You specify your pickup location, and a taxi is guaranteed to be dispatched when you pay a pickup fee.
They are suitable when you want a guaranteed ride.
■Fulcul (this app):
It matches your intention to “take a taxi” with km Taxis that are vacant within a 500‑meter radius around you.
When a match is made through this app, no pickup fee is charged. It is recommended for people who want to find a vacant taxi more efficiently, in a way similar to hailing one on the street.

If my current location appears inaccurate in Fulcul, how can I correct it?

If you feel that your current location is inaccurate due to GPS error, Fulcul allows you to easily correct it. Simply drag the red pin shown on the map with your finger to the exact spot where you are. This lets you send more accurate location information to the taxi and helps ensure smoother matching.
Be sure to adjust the red pin before you shake your phone with Fulcul. You cannot change the pin’s position after shaking or after a match has been confirmed.