Japan’s Suica Transit Card to Add Subscriptions in 2028

Would you buy a subscription to ride the train? JR East is hoping you will — and hoping the plan helps save its Suica card from extinction.

Japan Railways East is fighting to keep its Suica transportation card relevant in the modern age. In its latest gambit, it’s promising to implement a new “subscription” system by 2028, complete with store discount coupons and other benefits.

According to sources such as Nikkei, subscriptions will likely offer half-price rides from train stations near your home for around 3,000 yen (USD $19.80) a month. They could also include discounts on goods purchased within the station, as well as special anniversary discount coupons.

The plan is part of JR East’s push to make the Suica Card more relevant in the age of digital payments. Once upon a time, Suica and other IC transportation cards were the favored form of digital payment, powered by Japan’s own IC technology, FeliCa. However, in the past five years, QR code payment apps like PayPay have become the number one form of digital payment in Japan.

Additionally, the IC transit card itself is facing competitive pressure. Several train companies around Japan are experimenting with credit card touch payments as alternatives to dedicated transit cards. Some public transit companies are abandoning…