In central Tokyo, hailing taxis is indeed easy, but out in the burbs it's a different story. The only way to get a cab at a relative's place -- and this is 15 min on foot from a major train station in Chiba, not bumfuck inaka -- is to call the local taxi company, preferably a day in advance. This being Japan, said company is super dependable, but they also only have like 3 cabs so if they can't come you're stuck.