EAST JAPAN Railway passengers can now use Suica smart card tickets (RG 2.04 p103) to pay for an extensive range of services at stations in the Tokyo area.
Currently accepted at around 1000 outlets, the card payment facility is being rolled out sequentially at all 36 stations along the Yamanote line, as well as in Yokohama and Omiya. Over 12 million Suica cards have now been issued, and over half have the electronic money function which was launched on March 22 2004.
In February the Suica Station Service programme was launched at Ueno station, where Suica cards can now be used to pay for goods and services at all station shops and kiosks, ticket and food vending machines and coin-operated left luggage lockers. The cards can also be used at affiliated shops outside the station.
