Sumitomo Mitsui Card to launch credit card transit discounts in Japan

Sumitomo Mitsui Card has announced new services starting in September to address regional transportation challenges through its ‘stera transit’ solution. The initiative includes ‘event discounts’ and a pre-registration service called ‘Pass Case Entry’ to mitigate congestion at stations and reduce ticket machine queues during major events.

As a first implementation, a campaign will run from September 12 to 18 during the Housen-e festival at Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka. Passengers using credit cards to enter or exit JR Kyushu’s Hakozaki or Yoshizuka stations on the Kagoshima Main Line will receive up to a 20% discount on standard fares. This measure aims to manage the significant increase in passenger volume typically seen during the festival.

Additionally, a demonstration experiment involving the shared mobility service LUUP is scheduled to begin in Fukuoka on October 1. This pilot will test the integration of public transit and micro-mobility by providing LUUP coupons to users who utilize credit card payments on the Fukuoka City Subway.