Travel

Tokyo Metro Begins Touchless Ticket Gate Trial

TOKYO, Mar 03 (News On Japan) - Tokyo Metro and Toshiba have launched Japan’s first demonstration test allowing passengers to pass through ticket gates without touching them by using their smartphones’ Bluetooth function.

The system works by attaching an antenna to existing ticket gates, enabling Bluetooth communication with smartphones to authenticate passengers as they pass through. The trial involves 60 Tokyo Metro employees, who will evaluate factors such as the range within which authentication is possible and overall user experience.

While biometric authentication systems such as facial recognition have already been put into practical use for touchless ticket gates, this marks the first demonstration test in Japan using Bluetooth technology.

Shoko Nishikawa, chief of the Transport Systems Section at Tokyo Metro’s Railway Headquarters, said, "Facial information, once leaked, is difficult to recover. With Bluetooth communication, the system can be used with only general information registration. We believe people will be able to use it without psychological resistance."

Source: テレ東BIZ

Renters Move Down The Line to Save Money

Rising land prices are making it increasingly difficult for people to live in their preferred locations, prompting a growing trend of choosing homes a few stations away from major hubs as a way to reduce rent.

Farewell Ceremony Held for Golf Legend Masashi Ozaki

A farewell ceremony for Masashi Ozaki, a legendary figure in Japanese golf affectionately known as “Jumbo,” who died at the age of 78 last December, was held at a hotel in Tokyo on March 16th, drawing many figures from the golf world and related industries to pay their respects.

Hormuz Strait Blockade Sends Shockwaves Through Japan's Economy

Two weeks after attacks on Iran triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, turmoil has spread through the global economy, with rising gasoline prices already hitting consumers while a looming shortage of petrochemical materials threatens to drive up the cost of everyday goods.

JR East Implements Major Fare Increase

JR East raised fares across all of its service areas on March 14th, marking the first fare hike since the company’s privatization and the first major increase in about 40 years, excluding adjustments tied to consumption tax increases.

Nara Ranked 44th Nationwide for Overnight Stays

Kyoto Prefecture recorded more than 30 million overnight visitors last year, reinforcing its status as one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Cherry Blossom Recommended Viewing Times for Allergy Sufferers

Cherry blossom season has begun, with flowering officially announced in Kochi and Gifu, and past records suggest that even people with hay fever may still be able to enjoy the blossoms at their peak.

Japan Warns of Severe Moving Congestion From March 28 to April 4

As Japan enters the peak spring relocation season from March to April, the transport ministry has released this year’s moving reservation outlook, warning that many people may struggle to secure their preferred moving dates.

JR East Implements Major Fare Increase

Nara Ranked 44th Nationwide for Overnight Stays

Kyoto Prefecture recorded more than 30 million overnight visitors last year, reinforcing its status as one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations.

Monks Protest Shinkansen Route

A fierce debate has erupted in western Japan over plans to extend the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture to Shin-Osaka, as competing route proposals, political rivalries, and local opposition have thrown the decades-long project back into uncertainty.