Originally Posted by
5khours
Robyng,
I think if you ask anyone who has spent much time in Japan, they will tell you that this sort of discrimination is almost completely unheard of in Tokyo. Also, with regard to seats, you just need to point to where you want to sit and as long as a table is not reserved or you're not trying to occupy a table for 6 with 2 people, they will accommodate you.
Taxis are a different matter.
What's different about taxis? We have had absolutely zero problems with taxis (including hailing them in the rain at 4-5 pm). I find the cost quite reasonable too. This is the best city taxi experience I can recall in years and years.
I will note however that we are careful to take printouts (prepared by the hotel concierge) with our destinations explained on maps (in Japanese). We also carry the ubiquitous "hotel card". Trying to explain to a taxi driver where we're going in our limited Japanese would be very difficult IMO. Robyn