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Taking the Train in Japan: Tickets and IC Cards

One IC card lets you ride trains and buses without working out the fare every time.

Taking the Train in Japan: Tickets and IC Cards
  • There are two ways: buy a paper ticket at a machine, or use an IC card.
  • An IC card is topped up in advance, then you touch it at the gate.
  • On the train, speak quietly and keep your phone on silent.

Buying a paper ticket

When you arrive at the station, first look at the ticket machine.

There is a big map above the machine.

The map shows the station names and the fare in yen.

Find the station you want to go to and look at the fare.

Put in the money and press the button for that fare.

When the ticket comes out, take it.

Stations in Japan are big, so there are many exits. Please look at the exit number.

IC cards are handy

If you have an IC card, you don't need to buy a ticket.

Putting money on the card is called 「チャージ」.

You top up about a thousand yen at a machine in the station.

At the entrance, you touch the card to the machine.

You touch it at the exit too.

The destination of each train is written on the platform.

When you touch at the exit, the money on the card goes down by the fare.

On the train

On the train, people talk quietly.

Please put your phone on silent mode.

Around eight in the morning, there are many people.

Get on after the people have gotten off the train.

Words in this article

電車でんしゃ
train
切符きっぷ
ticket
駅えき
station
地図ちず
map
入り口いりぐち
entrance
出口でぐち
exit

When waiting for a train, everyone lines up. You stand and wait behind the yellow line on the platform.

Trains in Japan are rarely late. Let's check the time and go.