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Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

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Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#191

Post by disposedtrolley »

flaunf221 wrote: post #126
pknomad wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not only magically fast, but it's super useful. You can use it at vending machines + convenience stores anywhere (unless it's one of those old ones that only take cash/coins and print paper tickets) and at the shops as well. People not in Japan/Singapore/Korea/China should experience what a proper transit card done looks like.

> People not in Japan/Singapore/Korea/China should experience what a proper transit card done looks like. In Prague city transit does not have limiting gates. If you bought unlimited ticket, you just walk in bus/tram/metro and that is it. No touching, scanning, showing, nothing. Maybe once a month (or even rarer) you might encounter a patrolling controller who would ask you to show your ticket, but that's it.

Same in Berlin. I think the reasoning is that it'd cost more money to fit ticket gates compared to loss of revenue from fare evaders.

Makes for such a smooth journey as most people are doing the right thing.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#192

Post by disposedtrolley »

mikestew wrote: post #118
numpad0 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

JRE required Suica to be instantly accessible so there's a setting in Apple Wallet to set a card to a default quick transit use card(forgot the exact name). If configured as such, just poking the gate antenna with earpiece end of an iPhone instantly completes the transaction just as fast as a real card does. (yes, the antenna is in the top FaceID/Dynamic Island area, Osaifu Keitai spec requires a □つ icon wherever ant…

a setting in Apple Wallet to set a card to a default quick transit use card Because it's not the easiest setting to find: Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay/Express Transit Card

The Wallet app prompts you to set this up when you initially add the transit card too, IIRC.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#193

Post by disposedtrolley »

dyllon wrote: post #190
hbarka wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alipay in China for transit and pay is also easy. No card, just a QR on your phone. It can even be a screenshot of the QR code.

QRs will always be so much more cumbersome than blindly tapping a card or your phone.

Agreed. It also requires that you unlock your phone.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#194

Post by JSR_FDED »

left-struck wrote: post #153
rozenmd wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same deal with Opal in Sydney - the old school opal card processes a second or so faster than a card/apple pay/google pay that you can just keep walking. Smashed into the barrier the one time I forgot my card.

Something that is amazing about Sydney’s system though is that as a visitor to Sydney you can likely use the train system without needing an app or any sign up. Just use your credit or debit card via nfc on your phone (or the physical one) I was honestly so impressed by that, you mean I can just tap on? Don’t need to stand here outside the gates for 10 minutes entering my info into a frustrating app? Don’t need to bu…

Singapore too

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#195

Post by wolrah »

left-struck wrote: post #153
rozenmd wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same deal with Opal in Sydney - the old school opal card processes a second or so faster than a card/apple pay/google pay that you can just keep walking. Smashed into the barrier the one time I forgot my card.

Something that is amazing about Sydney’s system though is that as a visitor to Sydney you can likely use the train system without needing an app or any sign up. Just use your credit or debit card via nfc on your phone (or the physical one) I was honestly so impressed by that, you mean I can just tap on? Don’t need to stand here outside the gates for 10 minutes entering my info into a frustrating app? Don’t need to bu…

New York and Seattle both have the same thing and it's wonderful. Google Wallet even allows the user to set it to not require an unlock for transit transactions.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#197

Post by wst_ »

ks1723 wrote: post #108
Tor3 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've used a Suica card for many years now. I agree it's both fast and reliable. One summer I was crisscrossing Tokyo by train over several days, using the Suica card, so I got to see a LOT of commuters. Lots of people were in a hurry and would run through the gates (the default state is open, it closes quickly if your card is out of funds or some other problem). Running through the gates while quickly touching the ca…

I also did prefer my plastic Pasmo (essentially the same as suica) card until I learned during my last trip, that it can only be recharged with cash :-/

You can create digital Pasmo and charge it through mobile wallet.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#198

Post by Dedime »

rtpg wrote: post #128
numpad0 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's completely anonymous and available on many ticket machines. There are some half-wrong info that you have to fill in a form, but that's only for commuter passes and registered cards. You just tap Buy Suica and insert two 1000 yen bills. The system keeps 500 yen as a deposit, which is refunded when you return the card, but it's also $3.50 for a little memorabilia. If you absolutely don't want the keepsake, you can…

I think the reason some people are complaining about the Suica stuff nowadays is that since... I think 2021 there's been stock shortages so getting a physical Suica involves going to specific places (I think at airports for example?) to get one. There's also now this "Welcome Suica" that you can get but it only works in certain areas of the country (so much for the IC standard...) I believe you can't get a physical o…

Yeah, at airports (where most travellers arrive). I recently arrived at Narita airport, you go down to the trains and there's an office you go to where a human being spends a couple minutes helping you get a Suica. It's great because you can also ask any questions you have about usage at the same time.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#199

Post by imp0cat »

flaunf221 wrote: post #126
pknomad wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not only magically fast, but it's super useful. You can use it at vending machines + convenience stores anywhere (unless it's one of those old ones that only take cash/coins and print paper tickets) and at the shops as well. People not in Japan/Singapore/Korea/China should experience what a proper transit card done looks like.

> People not in Japan/Singapore/Korea/China should experience what a proper transit card done looks like. In Prague city transit does not have limiting gates. If you bought unlimited ticket, you just walk in bus/tram/metro and that is it. No touching, scanning, showing, nothing. Maybe once a month (or even rarer) you might encounter a patrolling controller who would ask you to show your ticket, but that's it.

> If you bought unlimited ticket

And that's the difference. IIRC, you have to periodically top up your Suica card with money which then gets deducted from the balance each time you use it.

In Europe, there is no such thing - sure, you can buy a lot of single ride tickets and then use them when you need to, but you have to stamp the ticket when you start each ride, which does seem a little more inconvenient.

Re: Suica, Japan's First IC Transit Card

#200

Post by riffraff »

polishdude20 wrote: post #39
cptcobalt wrote: post #20

If you haven’t experienced suica, it’s like magically fast. Faster than NFC, faster than Apple Pay, faster than tap to pay, faster than Disney magic bands, faster than your work badge. It absolutely floored me every time I used it in Japan and it’s a full payment transaction.

The card might be fast but getting one as a tourist is kind of a hassle

nah, you walk to a machine at the airport and get the tourist one.

I had to get 4 as I was traveling with kids who don't own phones and could get cheaper rates, took a few minutes, you waste a few yen but get to keep the souvenir.

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