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Ever held up a line in front of the ticket gate, looking for that Suica card? Taking out your card or phone when having your hands full with a suitcase or stroller is a big pain. Rail operator JR East is looking to solve these issues by upping their tech game as part of their long-term ‘Suica Renaissance’ project (which also includes saying goodbye to a certain penguin).
Announced as part of the plan on November 10 were touchless walk-through ticket gates, to be installed in the spring of 2028 at 40 stations, including all Yamanote line stations, select stops on the Tokyo Monorail and at airport stations. This is the first step in JR’s ultimate goal of implementing touchless gates at all stations currently equipped with regular ticket gates by fiscal year 2031.
So how do these walk-through gates work? Developed in collaboration with Sony, the technology uses Ultra Wide Band (UWB) antennas installed in existing ticket gates to pinpoint the location and distance of your smartphone with an accuracy of just a few centimetres.
Most modern iPhones and select Android devices already support this wireless technology, so compatibility shouldn't be a major concern. Once the gate detects your phone, a display will indicate that you're clear to pass through without stopping.
And don't worry: traditional Suica cards and Mobile Suica payments aren't going anywhere just yet. In the meantime, keep that card handy!
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