Japan bullet train to allow quick boarding with smartphones

Change on JR Tokai's Tokyo-Osaka line targets foreign tourists without smart cards

20190315N JR Tokai bullet train

Passengers will be able to board trains on Central Japan Railway's Tokaido Shinkansen line by just scanning their smartphones.

YUSUKE YOKOTA, Nikkei staff writer

NAGOYA -- Travelers will soon be able to ride shinkansen bullet trains linking Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with just their smartphones instead of going through the hassle of getting a paper ticket or a reloadable card.

For ticketless boarding on shinkansen trains run by Central Japan Railway, passengers are currently expected to use prepaid smart cards, which are essential everyday items for locals but not for many international tourists.

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