The passenger railway service providers in the Tokyo and surrounding areas of Japan have announced plans to transition from traditional paper tickets to using QR codes. It is expected that this transition to the QR code ticketing system will begin in the fiscal year 2026.
The companies operating passenger railways in Tokyo, including the prominent East Japan Railway (JR East), have cited a significant decrease in the usage of paper tickets. From constituting 35% of all journeys in 2007, the current usage stands at approximately 5-10% due to the increasing popularity of IC rechargeable cards.
The QR code usage can involve printing on paper or generating on smartphones, followed by scanning at the station gates for entry and exit.
The railway companies also emphasize environmental concerns as a reason for the switch from paper tickets, citing the challenges associated with recycling.
Source: NHK World. Image courtesy of JR East.
TLDR: Tokyo railway service providers in Japan are planning to replace paper tickets with QR codes starting in 2026, citing decreased paper ticket usage and environmental considerations.
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