East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will abolish magnetic train tickets and replace them with QR code tickets on its conventional lines starting in spring 2027 [1, 2]. The change will not apply to limited express and Shinkansen bullet trains [1].
The QR code tickets will cover short-distance trips of up to 100 kilometers and will be sold at all stations on JR East conventional lines [2]. Unlike current magnetic tickets, which are inserted into fare gates, passengers will present QR codes at readers installed at ticket gates [2].
The physical size of the tickets will increase from 30 mm by 57.5 mm to 57.5 mm by 85 mm to accommodate the QR code format [2]. JR East expects the new tickets to reduce ticket jams inside automated gates, improving passenger flow [2].
Removing the magnetic layer from tickets will also lower recycling costs and lessen environmental impact [1, 2]. JR East is coordinating with eight other rail operators in the Tokyo metropolitan area that run direct train services on its network to ensure a smooth transition to the new ticketing system [2].
By the end of this fiscal year in 2026, these eight rail operators plan to phase out magnetic tickets and adopt QR code-based tickets [2]. The full replacement by JR East is scheduled for March 31, 2027 [1, 2].
