A visual guide for station confidence

How to Ride Trains in Japan with Suica, Cards, and Shinkansen Tickets

For local and conventional trains, the basic rule is tap in and tap out. Shinkansen trips use base fare plus limited express rights, or a QR/registered IC reservation, so the gate logic is slightly different.

Local trains Contactless cards Shinkansen Troubleshooting
Local lines Shinkansen Suica Tap card Ticket/QR

Local and conventional trains

With Suica, the gates calculate the fare automatically

1

Tap at the gate

Touch your card or phone firmly on the reader. You may be blocked if the balance is too low.

2

Ride normally

Ordinary and rapid trains usually need no extra ticket. Limited express or Green Car services may need an additional ticket.

3

Tap out

The fare is deducted when you exit. Many transfers between operators are handled by the same IC card.

4

Top up if needed

If the balance is short, use a fare adjustment or top-up machine. Some machines still accept cash only.

Where credit cards fit

Japan has both tap-to-ride credit card gates and IC-card-only gates

Most reliable

Load Suica/ICOCA/PASMO and ride

  • Top up at station ticket or recharge machines.
  • Mobile Suica can be charged by credit card when your device and card issuer support it.
  • Transit IC cards are widely accepted wherever the nationwide mutual-use logo appears.
Check the gate

Tap a contactless credit/debit card directly

  • Use it only where the gate shows contactless payment logos such as Visa, Mastercard, or JCB.
  • Tap in and tap out with the exact same card or phone wallet.
  • It is not available at every JR, subway, or private railway station. When unsure, use a transit IC card.
Note: Being able to pay at shops by card is different from being able to ride through a ticket gate. Look for the contactless logos on the gate itself.

Shinkansen reservation and boarding

At a ticket machine, choose route, date/time, train, and seat

1. English / Japanese
2. Shinkansen tickets
3. Reserved / non-reserved
4. Pay and print
Machine

Typical machine flow

  1. Choose language. Many stations have English menus.
  2. Select departure, arrival, date, and time.
  3. Choose train type, reserved/non-reserved, and ordinary/Green Car.
  4. Confirm and pay by cash or supported credit card.
  5. Take every ticket printed. Base fare and limited express tickets may be separate.
Local gate
Suica or paper ticket
→
Shinkansen transfer gate
Ticket / QR / registered IC
→
Platform and seat
For reserved seats, check car and seat number

Paper tickets, QR, and IC

At Shinkansen gates, the action depends on what you hold

Paper tickets

If printed at a machine or counter, insert the required tickets together and take them back from the gate.

QR ticket

Hold the QR from Smart EX etc. over a QR-compatible Shinkansen gate. Keep the seat information slip issued at entry.

Registered IC card

Tap the IC card linked to the reservation. The Shinkansen fare is charged to the registered credit card, not deducted from IC balance.

Common friction points

If the gate errors, ask station staff instead of forcing it

Open trip remains

If you did not tap out previously, the card may be blocked at the next entry. Ask staff at a manned gate.

Crossed IC areas

IC cards may not support continuous travel across certain IC areas. Exit and re-enter, or use paper tickets for safety.

Different tap-out medium

If you enter with a phone and exit with a physical card, the gate may reject it. Use the exact same medium.

Official source links

Rules and supported stations change, so check operators before travel.

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