[DigitalToday reporter Jae-won Choi] Major Japanese railway companies will switch from existing magnetic tickets to QR code tickets starting in spring 2027. Passengers will scan QR codes instead of inserting tickets into automatic gates, and changes are expected in the rail travel environment in Japan.

ITmedia, a Japanese media outlet, reported on Oct. 13 local time that seven railway operators including JR East and Keisei Electric Railway and Tobu Railway said, "We will start QR ticket services in spring 2027." The participating companies are JR East, Keisei Electric Railway, Keihin Electric Express Railway, Sendai Airport Transit, Tokyo Monorail, Tobu Railway and Hokuso Railway.

The change applies to short-distance magnetic tickets issued by station ticket vending machines. QR tickets can be used on all lines and stations of the seven operators, and a common system will also make it possible to issue tickets connecting sections operated by different railway companies.

How to use tickets will also change. Previously passengers had to insert tickets into gates, but going forward they will hold printed QR codes up to gate readers.

On arrival at the destination, passengers must scan the QR code again and then place the ticket into a collection box installed in the gate. At stations without QR-capable ticket gates, passengers can use staffed counters.

Ticket size will also increase. Existing small tickets measured 30 by 57.5 mm, but new QR tickets will change to 57.5 by 85 mm except for some cases. The area will expand by about 2.8 times.

The switch is aimed at reducing the maintenance burden for existing magnetic ticket vending machines and ticket gates. The railway operators have been pushing to introduce QR tickets since 2024.

The group was initially set to include eight companies, but after the merger of Shin-Keisei Electric Railway and changes in participation by some operators, it was finalised at seven.

The railway operators plan to expand QR tickets while also keeping existing transit card services such as Suica and PASMO. Details on links with other rail operators and specific ways to use the service will be announced later.