East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will gradually launch its new code payment service, “teppay,” from 11 a.m. on October 20.
teppay allows purchases exceeding Suica’s 20,000-yen balance limit. After completing identity verification using a My Number Card, users can make payments of up to 300,000 yen using their teppay balance. By linking a View Card, users can spend up to their credit card limit without the need to top up in advance. Users can also transfer value (balance) to and from family members and friends, use their teppay balance to top up Mobile Suica, and purchase commuter passes, Green Car tickets, and discounted tickets. The service can also be used to purchase tickets through Ekinet.
In spring 2027, JR East plans to partner with PASMO and begin offering the service through Mobile PASMO. Users will also be able to transfer balances between Mobile Suica and Mobile PASMO.
The code payment service can be used at JR East Group commercial facilities, stores displaying the “teppay” mark, and more than 1.7 million locations nationwide displaying the “Smart Code” mark. It will enable purchases exceeding 20,000 yen at hotels, department stores, consumer electronics retailers, and other locations. By issuing a “teppay JCB Prepaid Card” in the app, users can also make online payments at JCB-affiliated merchants in Japan.
Users will earn teppay points worth 0.5% when paying with their teppay balance, or JRE POINT worth 1% when paying through a linked View Card. teppay points can be exchanged for JRE POINT.
To commemorate the service launch, a campaign will be held from November 4 through December 25. Users who register and make a code payment of 500 yen or more with teppay will receive teppay points worth 20% of their purchase amount, up to 5,000 points. In addition, from November 4 through January 29, 2027, users who purchase or renew a Mobile Suica student commuter pass with their teppay balance, or transfer a student commuter pass from a Suica card to Mobile Suica, will receive 2,000 teppay points. All points offered are valid for a limited time.
For merchants, a campaign is underway for the user-scan (MPM) payment method, which can be introduced simply by displaying a QR code. Merchants that apply by March 31, 2027, will have their payment processing fees waived until the end of the month up to 12 months after the date of their merchant agreement.
The JR East Group is promoting “Suica Renaissance” and plans to introduce the “Suica App” (tentative name) in fiscal 2028. It aims to reach 70 million Mobile Suica app users by fiscal 2031.
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This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
