Written by Patrick Balfe
Paper tickets are becoming a thing of the past as more companies offer touch-to-ride credit-card payments on public transport in Japan. This is a new alternative to IC cards like Suica and Pasmo.
Japan has generally been slow on the uptake with touch-to-pay systems. Retail and hospitality outlets have only widely adopted the option in recent years. But while you may be able to use your credit card to tap into many trains and buses in Japan currently, the system is not yet ubiquitous. Some specific information is difficult to come by — but we can help you out with that.
Where can you use touch-to-ride credit-card payment in Japan?
Currently, 124 public-transport companies in 32 of the 47 prefectures offer touch-to-ride payment with credit cards.
Background
Adoption started in 2020 with Ibaraki Kotsu bus service connecting Tokyo Station and Ibaraki Prefecture. The first major railway was Nankai Electric Railway, which started running trials in 2021 from Kansai airport. Post-covid international tourism has been a big motivating factor for the early adopters. The 2023 World Aquatic Championships in Kyūshū and Expo 2025 Osaka have been particularly influential.
Tap-to-ride using credit cards in Tokyo
Tokyo and the rest of the Kantō region are comparatively dragging their feet. One big reason is the labyrinthian interconnectedness of Tokyo’s rail system, and the local popularity of IC cards like Pasmo or Suica. It seems like it will take a lot of concerted decision-making, from a lot of very big companies, for touch-to-go credit-card systems to become more common here.
Currently there are seven major companies in and around Tokyo experimenting with touch-to-pay using credit cards. Toei Subway, Keikyu Railway, and Seibu Railway are conducting tests at some stations. Yokohama Minatomirai Railway has touch-to-go along the whole line. And Keio Electric Railway and Tokyu Rail have credit-card gates at all stations.
Tap-to-ride using credit cards in Osaka
In the Kansai region, all lines serving Osaka Metro, Kintetsu, Hankyu, and Hanshin trains allow touch-to-ride credit-card payments.
Touch-to-go credit-card payment buses are much more ubiquitous, with a large percentage of national rural and metropolitan bus services participating. JR Kyushu also allows credit cards on some lines.
How do credit-card touch payments work on Japanese public transport?
Touch-to-ride works on a post-payment system. As you travel from station A to station B, the card undergoes a list of security checks, and your fare for that trip is stored in the cloud after you touch off. Your card’s travel history for the whole day is then calculated at midnight, and sent to your card company the following day.
The post-payment system lets you take advantage of the discounts that many operators offer. For instance, Fukuoka City Subway recently offered a daily fare cap of ¥640 for touch-to-ride payments — no matter how much you travelled. Some operators also offer special discounts or cash-back deals for shopping at associated department stores. You can also earn credit-card points for travel, and companies like Sumitomo Mitsui and Visa have been promoting points campaigns fairly heavily.
Can you use international credit cards on public transport in Japan?
Yes, you can use international credit cards, and currently, VISA, JCB, and AMEX are the most widely supported. The cards that are supported differ according to each operator, though, and there’s a large handful of operators that don’t support Mastercard. This includes Tokyu Railway, Toei Subway, Seibu Railway, and Keio Electric Railway, some of Tokyo’s major operators.
If you want to be 100% sure which cards you can use, find out which company operates your particular train or bus service and head to the QUADRAC website to see which cards they support.
Tips for using touch-to-go credit-card payment (based on our experience)
The first thing to note is that, especially in Tokyo, not all ticket gates at participating stations have credit-card systems. We tapped in on the Tōkyū Meguro Line at Meguro Station, and we only saw one ticket gate that supported credit cards.
The next thing to know is that it takes slightly longer to read than usual IC transport cards, so wait until you hear the little jingle before proceeding through the gate. We saw a little message saying “Thank you” and a cute image of the Tokyu mascot Rororun, but what we didn’t see on the way out was the cost of the fare.
FAQs
Can you use credit-card payments on buses in Japan?
Yes. Rural buses were among the early adopters of touch-to-ride credit-card payments. Currently, many local transit, sightseeing, and airport buses nationwide take credit-card payments, as do the Hakone Pirate Ship and ropeway. Head to this website for the complete list of companies.
Does the Shinkansen take touch-to-ride credit-card payments?
Currently no. The Shinkansen trains are operated by Japan Rail, and so far, Japan Rail (except for JR Kyushu) has not yet adopted touch-to-ride credit-card payments. However, you can use your credit card to purchase tickets at the station, before embarking.
What happens if your credit card gets blocked?
If your credit card gets blocked at the touch-to-ride ticket gate, head to the station attendant at the ticket window. If they’re not available, or are unable to help, you will need to resort to a typical IC transport card or paper ticket for that trip.
What happens if you want to cancel your trip halfway through?
This is similar to what would happen if you entered the ticket gate with a regular IC card. Basically, you’ll need to see the staff at the ticket window and ask them to cancel your trip. On some lines, you may be charged a nominal fee for entering and exiting the station. This will be added to your travel history for the day, calculated overnight, and settled later.
Sources
Here’s where we got our info:
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
