Press release —
Eleven Kanto Railway Operators to Launch Interoperable Post-Pay Travel Service Using Credit Cards and Other Contactless Payment Methods on March 25, 2026
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11 railway operators in the Kanto region, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Odakyu Hakone Co., Ltd., Keio Corporation, Keikyu Corporation, Sagami Railway Co., Ltd., Seibu Railway Co., Ltd., TOKYU RAILWAYS, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd., Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, Tobu Railway Co., Ltd., and Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Company, together with OMRON Social Solutions (“OSS”), Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company (“Sumitomo Mitsui Card”), Limited, JCB Co., Ltd. (“JCB”), and QUADRAC Co., Ltd. (“QUADRAC”), will launch an interoperable post-pay rail travel service (the “Post-Pay Travel Service”) using contactless credit card and other tap-to-pay payment methods.*1 The service will allow passengers to transfer seamlessly between participating railway operators.
*1 Contactless payment-enabled cards (credit, debit, or prepaid cards), as well as smartphones and other devices configured with such cards
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, five additional operators, Odakyu Electric Railway, Odakyu Hakone, Sagami Railway, Tokyo Metro, and Tobu Railway, will begin offering the Post-Pay Travel Service, joining the six operators that have already introduced it: Keio, Keikyu, Seibu Railway, TOKYU RAILWAYS, Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, and Yokohama Minatomirai Railway. This expanded interoperability will cover 54 lines and 729 stations operated by the 11 participating railway operators.*2 The system will accommodate through-train operations and other interconnected rail services between the participating operators, allowing passengers to transfer seamlessly between multiple railway lines. Going forward, the partners plan to gradually expand coverage to additional lines and stations operated by the 11 operators that were not included at launch, while continuing to expand the interoperable rail network where the Post-Pay Travel Service is available.
*2 As of March 25, 2026. Eligible lines and stations vary by operator. Please refer to the attached appendix for details.
Through this collaboration involving 11 railway operators in the Kanto region, the partners aim to create a new mobility experience in which customers can travel by rail using a single familiar credit card or other eligible payment device, providing a smooth and seamless travel experience for a wide range of passengers from both Japan and overseas. At the same time, the transportation IC cards, which are already widely used by customers, will remain the primary fare medium. The partners will continue to respond flexibly to the evolving needs of customers and society, proactively adopting innovative technologies, strengthening the cooperation between railway operators, and pursuing greater value in a safe, secure, and seamless railway network to enhance the convenience of urban transportation.
For details, please refer to the English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Thai, and Korean press releases below.
