Obtaining

Start (atstationAttendant)

Use atstart oftrip

AccessingTrainsUse at endof trip

Rechargeable IC Cards
Physical Tickets
Smartphone
Japan Rail (JR) PassCan only be purchased
Bought at the train
An IC card can be added
Purchased only byat the airport (Welcome station ticket fareto a phone with anforeigners in advanceSuica, and Pasmo
machines (with Yen
appropriate chipof their trip, may bePassport), or major
cash, foreign credit(recharging with foreign
used to purchasetrain stations (Pasmocards are typicallycredit cards may belimited, express, orPassport only). Initialdenied), a train line
problematic, iPhonesbullet train tickets.
purchase typicallymap nearby should
typically work, but
Passes are 7, 14, or 21charges them with fare indicate the price of
foreign Android phones
day, unlimited useof ¥1,500, cards expire
your ticket noted on
typically don’t work).
(with restrictions).
after 28-days.
your end destination.
If you have an appointment, be sure to plan extra time to ensure you’ll be on time. Start first by finding astation attendant, usually one is located next to the turnstiles at a booth. Request a “slope” (a common
word used for the portable ramps used at stations) and inform them of your destination (tell/show thename of the end station) typically you will be asked to wait just passed the turnstiles for an attended toassist you.
Each person with their
Each person with their
Each person with their
Each person with theirown individual IC card
own individual ticket
own individual
own individual JR Pass
simply touches it to the will feed it into thesmartphone simply
will feed it into theIC card reader on thefront of the turnstile
touches it to the IC card
front of the turnstileturnstile and passes
and passes through toreader on the turnstileand passes through tothrough. For turnstiles
the end where you
and passes through. For
the end where you
gates not large enoughretrieve your ticket. For turnstiles gates not large retrieve your pass. For
for a wheelchair, there
turnstiles gates notenough for a wheelchair, turnstiles gates notshould be a bypass atlarge enough for athere should be a bypass large enough for a
the station attendant
wheelchair, thereat the station attendantwheelchair, therebooth, who will instead should be a bypass atbooth, who will insteadshould be a bypass at
scan your cards.
the station attendantscan your phones.
the station attendantbooth, who will insteadbooth, who will instead
stamp your tickets.
scan your pass, you
may be requested toprovide your passport
for verification. Afterverified, you will be letthrough.
After waiting for the attendant with the slope to arrive, you’ll be taken to your train and should be
notified of where you may have to change trains (if necessary). Once your train arrives and the initialpassengers disembark, the attendant will place the slope and will motion for you to enter the train.
There may be a space specifically designated for wheelchair users for you to use. At your end destination(and at any change of trains) another attendant and accompanying slope will be waiting for your arrival
to assist your disembarking, and to the exit.
Each person with their
If an attendant
Each person with their
Each person with theirown individual IC card
stamped your ticket atown individual
own individual JR Pass
will again simply touch
the start, then it should smartphone again simply will again feed it into
it to the IC card reader
be given to an
touches it to the IC card
the front of theon the turnstile andattendant at the end to reader on the turnstileturnstile and passes
passes through, thepass. Otherwise, eachand passes through, thethrough picking it up
fare will automaticallyperson with their own
fare will automatically be on the other side. For
be calculated andindividual ticket willcalculated and charged to turnstiles gates not
charged to its balance.
again feed it into theits balance. For turnstiles large enough for a
For turnstiles gates not front of the turnstilegates not large enoughwheelchair, therelarge enough for awheelchair, there
should be a bypass atthe station attendantbooth, who will instead
scan your cards. If you
do not have enough on
your card to pay thefare, see recharging
below.
Recharging Often you can find amachine on either sideof the turnstiles torecharge before or
during your trip. Most
ticket machines andadjacent pinkcharge/rechargemachines (look for the“IC” logo) can be used
to recharge your IC
cards with cash (Yen).
Most take only Yen billsof a minimum of ¥1000
denomination. Station
attendants can usuallycharge them with yourcash if no machine isavailable.

SpecialTickets

May be used to pay fora portion of a limited,
express, or bullet train
ticket, but usuallyspecial tickets must bepurchased from a ticket
office in advance if you
want a specific time oraccessible seat.

and passes through.
For turnstiles gates notlarge enough for awheelchair, there
should be a bypass atthe station attendantbooth, who will instead
take your tickets. In anycase, your ticket will
not be returned as you
are at your destination.
n/aAlthough notrecommended, it may
be possible to purchasea limited, express, orbullet train ticket for atrip at its starting
location for the sameday. Nevertheless,
usually special tickets
must be purchasedfrom a ticket office inadvance if you want a
specific time oraccessible seat.

for a wheelchair, there
should be a bypass at thestation attendant booth,
who will instead scan
your phones. If you do
not have enough on yourphone to pay the fare,see recharging below.

should be a bypass atthe station attendantbooth, who will instead
scan your pass, you
may be requested toprovide your passport
for verification. Afterverified, you will be letthrough to yourdestination.

You may be able torecharge with a nonJapanese Apple Pay or acredit card but beware it
could be blocked as afalse fraudulent charge.
Otherwise, only ticket
machines and adjacentpink charge/rechargemachines with touch padchargers (look for the“IC” logo on a flat pad)can be used to recharge
your phone with cash(Yen). Often you can finda machine on either sideof the turnstiles torecharge before or during
your trip. Most take only
Yen bills of a minimum of¥1000 denomination.
Station attendants canusually charge them withyour cash if no machine isavailable.
May be used to pay for aportion of a limited,
express, or bullet train
ticket, but usually special
tickets must bepurchased from a ticket
office in advance if you
want a specific time oraccessible seat.

n/a

May be used to pay fora portion (sometimesall) of a limited,
express, or bullet train
ticket, but usuallyspecial tickets must bepurchased from a ticket
office in advance if you
want a specific time oraccessible seat.