Japan Railway Journal S03E11 · Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in Japan

Overview

15 million people commute in and out of Tokyo every day, and most of them now use prepaid e-money cards. Because one card can be recognized by multiple transport companies, the system has streamlined automated fare collection. A card's IC chip has an e-wallet function, and can store information such as boarding section and expiration dates on monthly passes; all of which can be verified in just 0.2 seconds. See how these cards and the technology behind them have transformed rail travel in Japan.

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Episodes

1. 1 1. Turning Problems Into Opportunities: The Tsugaru Railway's Strategy2017-01-12 · 28mTsugaru Railway is a local private railway that runs for 20.7km in Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan. Its "Stove Train" is now a popular tourist attraction in winter, but 10 yea
2. 2 2. Japan's World-Class Rail and Wheels2017-01-19 · 28mJapanese rails and train wheels are currently gaining worldwide attention due to wear and tear resistance and reliability. The durable rails are used for North America's freight tr
3. 3 3. Keihan Electric Railway: Advanced Technology That Dominated the Railway Hub2017-02-17 · 28m3 railways have been competing for dominance of the Osaka-Kyoto region since the 1920's. The Keihan Electric Railway's many S-curves made it the underdog against Japan Railway Comp
4. 4 4. The Long Winter of Discontent: One Railway's Battle Against Snow2017-03-10 · 28mThe Iiyama Line in Nagano Prefecture operates in one of Japan's snowiest regions. 7.85m of snow has been recorded along the line, which is the record among Japanese railways. Heavy
5. 5 5. Dreams of a Texas Bullet Train: Future Plans for Japan's High-Speed Railways2017-04-07 · 28mJapan's high-speed rail system, the shinkansen, may soon be flying across the U.S., with plans to connect 2 major cities in Texas. Traveling between Dallas and Houston now takes up
6. 6 6. Using Railways to Promote Local Tourism: Kyushu Railway Company's Strategy2017-04-14 · 28mThere are currently over 100 tourist trains in service throughout Japan. Among the various companies operating tourist trains, the Kyushu Railway Company, also known as JR Kyushu,
7. 7 7. Toden Arakawa Line: A Hidden Gem for Tourists from Overseas2017-05-12 · 28mThe Toden Arakawa Line is a streetcar service in the center of Tokyo. There are over 30 stops on the 12.2km line, and transports over 16.6 million people annually. Throughout the y
8. 8 8. All the Comfort You Require: Onboard Services on Japanese Trains2017-05-19 · 28mFrom high-speed Shinkansen to tourist trains operated by local railways, onboard trolley services are available on various trains, and is a unique service in Japan. In this program
9. 9 9. The Unsung Hero of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel Trains2017-06-16 · 28mSeries Kiha 40 diesel trains were mass-produced in the late 1970's, and were highly valued on non-electrified lines. These workhorses are made from durable mild steel, and even aft
10. 10 10. Airport Express Lines: How Competition Is Improving the Ride Into the City2017-07-14 · 28mAt Narita and Kansai International Airports, railways providing access into the city must constantly offer better services at lower prices to maintain their market share. JR East's
11. 11 11. Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in Japan2017-07-21 · 28m15 million people commute in and out of Tokyo every day, and most of them now use prepaid e-money cards. Because one card can be recognized by multiple transport companies, the sys
12. 12 12. HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New Heights2017-08-11 · 28m"HIGH RAIL 1375" is JR East's newest tourist train, which started operating in July 2017. The train runs on the JR Koumi Line through the mountains of Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectu
13. 13 13. Train Suite Shiki-shima: The High-Tech Luxury Cruise Train2017-09-08 · 28mMay 2017 saw the launch of JR East's new cruise train, "Train Suite Shiki-shima". "Cruise trains" are a new type of luxury train that stop at sightseeing spots in Japan. "Train Sui
14. 14 14. A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival2017-09-15 · 28mFrom August 2017, TOBU Railway started operating "SL TAIJU"; a tourist steam train and the first steam service on the railway for 50 years. TOBU Railway discontinued steam services
15. 15 15. Rediscovering Old Horizons: Preservation and Utilization of Railway Heritage2017-10-06 · 28mPreservation activities are ongoing for old stations and trains that contributed to the modernization of Japan, as they are a vital part of history. Recent examples include an old
16. 16 16. Hankyu Corporation: A Leading Private Railway Company's Business Model2017-10-20 · 28mHankyu Corporation in Osaka, Japan's second largest metropolitan area, has successfully increased ridership by using diversified business strategies along their railway lines; from
17. 17 17. Advanced Urban Travel: Japan's Monorail Systems2017-11-17 · 28m1957 saw the opening of Japan's first monorail. 60 years on, Japan is a world leader in monorail technology with 11 lines currently in operation covering a distance of 100km. In th
18. 18 18. Safeguarding the System: Maintaining JR Central's Conventional Line2017-12-15 · 28mJR Central, which operates the Japanese high-speed "Tokaido Shinkansen", also operates 12 conventional lines totaling 1,420km. To ensure stable operation, state-of-the-art equipmen