Sapporo Streetcar to Launch Contactless Credit Card Payment Service and Weekend Fare Capping on April 27, 2026
Sapporo City will introduce contactless payment for streetcars, enabling passengers to pay with credit cards. A 'Holiday Discount' will automatically cap daily fares at 460 yen on weekends.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (1h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 02:23 (2h 21m after Collected)
Sapporo City Transportation Business Promotion Foundation, Sapporo City Transportation Bureau, Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd., JCB Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Atlas Co., Ltd., Odawara Kiki Co., Ltd., and QUADRAC Co., Ltd. announced that they will launch a contactless 'Credit Card Riding' service on the Sapporo Streetcar starting Monday, April 27, 2026. This service utilizes 'stera transit,' a public transportation solution provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Card. Additionally, they will introduce the 'Sapporo Shiden Credit Card Holiday Discount,' a fare-capping service for weekends, holidays, and the New Year period (Dec 29 – Jan 3).
With this service, passengers can board smoothly by tapping their contactless-enabled card (Credit, Debit, or Prepaid) or smartphone on the dedicated terminals installed inside the vehicles. This eliminates the need for pre-charging transport IC cards and allows passengers who do not own such cards to pay their fares speedily without preparing cash, thereby improving convenience and ensuring punctual operations.
The 'Holiday Discount' applies to weekends, holidays, and the New Year. Once the total fare paid via the 'Credit Card Riding' service reaches 460 yen (equivalent to two rides) within the same day, no further charges will be incurred, and the passenger can enjoy unlimited rides for that day at 460 yen. Unlike traditional one-day passes, this fare-capping service requires no prior purchase at counters or via apps, a feature that has been highly praised in other transportation systems where it has already been implemented.
### 1. About the Contactless 'Credit Card Riding' Service
- **How to Ride:** Simply tap your contactless-enabled card or smartphone on the terminal when getting off. No need to take a ticket or tap when boarding.
- **Start Date:** Monday, April 27, 2026, from the first departure.
- **Target Lines:** All stops and all vehicles of the Sapporo Streetcar.
- **Supported Brands:** Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and UnionPay.
### 2. About the Fare Capping Service
- **Details:** When using the service on eligible days, the fare is capped at 460 yen once the total reaches that amount.
- **Eligible Days:** Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the New Year period (Dec 29 – Jan 3).
- **Notes:** Only valid for the Sapporo Streetcar. Aggregation is not possible across different devices (e.g., plastic card vs. smartphone) even if the card number is the same. Only adult fares are eligible for capping. For multiple passengers, only one person's fare will be capped.
### 3. Roles of Each Company
- **Sapporo City Transportation Business Promotion Foundation:** Operation of the streetcar and passenger transport via cashless payment.
- **Sapporo City Transportation Bureau:** Vehicle maintenance and implementation of terminals.
- **Sumitomo Mitsui Card:** Provision of the 'stera transit' platform and payment services.
With this service, passengers can board smoothly by tapping their contactless-enabled card (Credit, Debit, or Prepaid) or smartphone on the dedicated terminals installed inside the vehicles. This eliminates the need for pre-charging transport IC cards and allows passengers who do not own such cards to pay their fares speedily without preparing cash, thereby improving convenience and ensuring punctual operations.
The 'Holiday Discount' applies to weekends, holidays, and the New Year. Once the total fare paid via the 'Credit Card Riding' service reaches 460 yen (equivalent to two rides) within the same day, no further charges will be incurred, and the passenger can enjoy unlimited rides for that day at 460 yen. Unlike traditional one-day passes, this fare-capping service requires no prior purchase at counters or via apps, a feature that has been highly praised in other transportation systems where it has already been implemented.
### 1. About the Contactless 'Credit Card Riding' Service
- **How to Ride:** Simply tap your contactless-enabled card or smartphone on the terminal when getting off. No need to take a ticket or tap when boarding.
- **Start Date:** Monday, April 27, 2026, from the first departure.
- **Target Lines:** All stops and all vehicles of the Sapporo Streetcar.
- **Supported Brands:** Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and UnionPay.
### 2. About the Fare Capping Service
- **Details:** When using the service on eligible days, the fare is capped at 460 yen once the total reaches that amount.
- **Eligible Days:** Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the New Year period (Dec 29 – Jan 3).
- **Notes:** Only valid for the Sapporo Streetcar. Aggregation is not possible across different devices (e.g., plastic card vs. smartphone) even if the card number is the same. Only adult fares are eligible for capping. For multiple passengers, only one person's fare will be capped.
### 3. Roles of Each Company
- **Sapporo City Transportation Business Promotion Foundation:** Operation of the streetcar and passenger transport via cashless payment.
- **Sapporo City Transportation Bureau:** Vehicle maintenance and implementation of terminals.
- **Sumitomo Mitsui Card:** Provision of the 'stera transit' platform and payment services.