East Japan Railway Company
We will improve the convenience of ticketing services for foreigners visiting Japan! ~ Seamless and ticketless transportation during your stay ~
……
[Table 2: https://prtimes.jp/data/corp/17557/table/846_1_baa3ea73cee01d512d363b8dde6db5a5.jpg] 1. Image of improving services to meet the requests and concerns of foreign visitors to Japan
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-d62a97a0502d1e06aec0-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-8f7cf7b2488f6526228f8ecb97aaa9f2-2045×667.jpg] 2. About “Welcome Suica Mobile”
⑴ App content
Name: “Welcome Suica Mobile” (pronunciation: Welcome Suica Mobile) Target devices: iPhone, Apple Watch *May not be available depending on the iOS or watchOS version
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-3278a206b56ab1669717-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-9ff6ade4aa3332e9d40b37858c9bb6c4-1280×437.jpg] There is
Target language: English
Implementation date: Spring 2025
SF Validity period: 180 days from the date of issue
⑵ Card design on the app
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-9d5ffd888dcc612d9260-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-c337901e2ec60d1fc7649a64e9da7215-1123×714.jpg] Similar to the card-type Welcome Suica, the card is based on the red and white color scheme, and uses cherry blossoms to represent the map of Japan, representing a service that can be used nationwide. In addition, the background of the card depicts “Cloisonne”, which means “connection,” and multiple Japanese patterns (traditional patterns), which mean “good matchmaking” and “talisman,” are gorgeously drawn in gold, making it possible to stay in Japan. The design incorporates our wishes for “safety” and “good encounters with people and culture” inside.
⑶ App services and functions
[STEP1] Spring 2025~
1. If you download the app on your iPhone and issue a Suica in advance, your journey after entering Japan will be smoother.
[Image 4: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-d8994897c12725e27964-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-570abfeb7e90b3cb23de6ba8ea52c75d-1962×467.jpg] 2. Smartly charge anytime, anywhere with a credit card set up in Apple Pay
[Image 5: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-602d495a6a6f8755ead7-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-06e91227183d504cae357cf17ba6c992-1962×462.jpg] 3. Non-reserved seats on the Shinkansen can be used with the “Touch to Go! Shinkansen” service, where you simply touch the ticket gate with your Suica card.
[Image 6: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-81ced1f6b2f7f98e747b-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-c0316b6c94337324f644e0ca2ee45425-1962×462.jpg] *Please check the JR East website for the sections where “Touch to Go! Shinkansen” is available.
4. Conveniently obtain tourist information and train operations using the app
[Image 7: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-643d3e9bd8a4927180c2-14.png&s3=17557-846-81f233484301743526c76c2ee6b2cf3a-1280×292.png ]
[STEP2] Spring 2026~
Aiming for spring 2026, we will link “Welcome Suica Mobile” and “JR-EAST Train Reservation” to develop a system that will allow reserved seats on JR East’s Shinkansen and conventional trains to be purchased before entering Japan* and used without a ticket. We are. “JR-EAST Train Reservation” is a website operated by JR East that sells tickets and rail passes for foreign visitors to Japan. https://www.eki-net.com/en/jreast-train-reservation/Top/Index *We are currently considering the countries where the Welcome Suica Mobile app can be downloaded based on the laws and regulations of each country.
-Service improvement-
Thanks to collaboration between “Welcome Suica Mobile” and “JR-EAST Train Reservation”, there is no need to issue reserved seat express tickets.
[Image 8: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-9d537d13b2e29bbb93fc-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-3235253e5aa6de07c2091eafd8e5fda5-1985×543.jpg] -Usage image-
In addition to collaboration, we will reduce the number of input items required to register as a member of “JR-EAST Train Reservation” to make it easier to use.
[Image 9: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-2d65ca4d5503874d32ba-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-96ed6516d21aa3324343af8c8cbc7bcd-1741×610.jpg] [Reference] Difference between Welcome Suica Mobile and Welcome Suica (card type)
[Image 10: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-43569a2016d32e8a9c89-15.png&s3=17557-846-add8132bf6a0c8dd81b54b7951005a5c-1280×510.png ]
[Legend] ○・・・Available ×・・・Not available
*Refunds will not be made for the remaining charge amount.
Additionally, the remaining charge amount will expire after the validity period ends.
3. About “JR EAST Rail PASS Search”
“JR EAST Rail PASS Search” will be released in the summer of 2024 so that customers can smoothly purchase rail passes sold by JR East for foreign visitors to Japan according to their travel purpose and itinerary during their stay.
Details of the release date will be announced on JR East’s multilingual website. https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/
[Image 11: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-f3fa06328aacf4f9f3c0-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-e81721f46fafd9503b74bc939bfe305a-1839×711.jpg]
[Image 12: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-905b0ba5f810c3ecbefb-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-3e28c71cff8d65a878c765781b00510a-1786×1003.jpg] 4. Improving the convenience of receiving the Japan Rail Pass Currently, Japan Rail Passes can be received at counters such as the JR EAST Travel Service Center, where eligibility has been verified, and if the counters are crowded, waiting times can cause
inconvenience.
Going forward, we aim to introduce a system that will automatically determine eligibility for the Japan Rail Pass and issue tickets at reserved seat ticket vending machines installed at Narita, Haneda, and major stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, with the goal of spring 2026. .
[Image 13: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-13068abdc908451564c4-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-20c0f99bbfc8b814903c7511889859e0-1670×487.jpg ]
[Image 14: https://prtimes.jp/i/17557/846/resize/d17557-846-336b4ccdcd065d1e61c5-0.jpg&s3=17557-846-19faf900a64bc5c1ece21bb727171ca9-1670×557.jpg] ● The image is for illustrative purposes only. The screen may change in the future.
● Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Pay, iPhone, and Apple Watch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.
● The iPhone trademark is used under license from Aiphone Co., Ltd. More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000846.000017557.html