BERNAMA/KYODO – A major Japanese credit card company plans to introduce touch payments for public transportation across Japan as early as 2026, aiming to simplify travel for foreign tourists who often rely on cash or short-term transit cards, Kyodo news agency reported.
The initiative by Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co will not only benefit its own cardholders but also allow users of other credit cards to make payments in place of dedicated transport cards and tickets on trains and buses, a company official confirmed.
Currently, visitors must use ticket machines or purchase physical transit cards with integrated circuit chips, such as Suica or Pasmo, to access Japan’s public transport network.
Sumitomo Mitsui’s system seeks to align Japan with international standards by enabling direct touch payments via credit cards, a common practice overseas.
The company is collaborating with public transport operators to install card-reading devices at ticket gates in train stations and on buses.
The move is also expected to ease operational burdens, such as explaining fares in multiple languages and assisting bus drivers who often handle ticketing.
Sumitomo Mitsui has already introduced touch payments in select areas, with 108 operators across 31 of Japan’s 47 prefectures adopting the system.
According to global credit card brand Visa Inc, touch payment adoption in Japan has surged from one per cent in 2020 to 40 per cent in 2024, driven by increased demand at stores and eateries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The expansion is particularly notable in the Kansai region, centred on Osaka, where touch payments are rapidly growing ahead of the 2025 World Exposition, set to welcome an estimated 28 million visitors from April 13 to October 13.
