MISHIMA, Shizuoka -- Confusion is mounting as train passengers of lines operating in this central Japan city can now use contactless credit and debit cards and not common transportation IC cards on one line, but are restricted to IC cards on another.

Starting Dec. 18, riders on Izuhakone Railway Co.'s Sunzu Line can now use credit and debit cards to board trains as part of the railway operator's contactless payment system, while transportation IC cards, such as JR East's "Suica," remain unacceptable.

Meanwhile, passengers of the same rail company's Daiyuzan Line can use transportation IC cards, but not credit or debit cards. Behind this contrast lies the fact that the IC cards cannot be used across the service areas of East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) and Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) lines.

1st contactless payment system among Shizuoka Pref. railways

The new payment system for the Sunzu Line, which connects Mishima and Shuzenji stations, was introduced in response to the spread of cashless payments and to improve convenience for passengers, including rising numbers of foreign tourists. Systems provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. and other companies have been installed, allowing passengers to use both domestic and overseas credit cards compatible with contactless payment.

In Shizuoka Prefecture, some bus operators have already introduced similar payment systems, becoming part of the 108 business operators nationwide adopting such systems. Izuhakone Railway became the first railway operator to install the system in the prefecture. Enshu Railway Co. will make a similar system available for all passengers starting March 2025.

JR East's Odawara Station, JR Tokai's Mishima Station

Both Izuhakone Railway's Sunzu and Daiyuzan lines are regularly used by local residents plus tourists from the Tokyo metropolitan area. The Daiyuzan Line, which runs between Odawara and Daiyuzan stations, can be boarded by changing trains at JR East's Odawara Station, using transportation IC cards from the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Meanwhile, the Sunzu Line can be taken by transferring at JR Tokai's Mishima Station. Even if IC cards were accepted on the Sunzu Line, passengers would have to adjust fares at Mishima Station as they travel across JR East and JR Tokai service areas.

On Dec. 16, two days ahead of the introduction of the tap-and-go payment system on the Sunzu Line, Izuhakone Railway President Fumiyasu Goto handed out flyers at its Mishima Station to promote it.

"Until now, passengers paid cash to buy tickets, so their inconvenience will be somewhat resolved. The new system will also allow rising numbers of foreign passengers to use our train services seamlessly," Goto said.

Explaining why the Sunzu Line forwent the use of IC cards, Goto said, "We looked into the matter, but the situation will remain unchanged where passengers connecting from JR East service areas cannot use their IC cards as they are. We fully reviewed the functional and cost aspects. This is a result of careful consideration."

(Japanese original and video by Hiroshi Ishikawa, Numazu Local Bureau)