As credit card payments become more widespread on railways and buses, they are now available through 236 operators in 46 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, excluding Shiga, with monthly usage reaching approximately 10.5 million transactions. JR East, however, has decided not to introduce the service.
The contactless credit card rail boarding service “Stella Transit,” which is widely used overseas, is expanding into Japan. Sumitomo Mitsui Card, the service operator, launched it in 2020 and has partnered with 7 brands, including Visa.
It is now available in 46 prefectures, excluding Shiga, and can be used with 236 operators, including major private railways and subways in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kansai, JR Kyushu and various bus operators.
Usage has reached approximately 10.5 million transactions per month, increasing by approximately 10 times over the past 2 years. Contactless credit card payments are spreading as a convenient way to access railways and other public transportation.