{
  "id": 6404452,
  "title": "Osaka Metro to Abolish Magnetic Tickets and Shift to QR Code Tickets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/osaka-metro-to-abolish-magnetic-tickets-and-shift-to-qr-code-tickets",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T10:01:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "News On Japan",
    "slug": "news-on-japan",
    "url": "https://newsonjapan.com/article/150692.php"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Osaka Metro intends to discontinue magnetic tickets by around fiscal 2031, transitioning to QR code-based tickets due to a decrease in usage and growing maintenance costs. The shift towards digital fare systems is being driven by the widespread adoption of transportation IC cards. Magnetic tickets can become stuck in ticket gates, and the equipment required to process them necessitates substantial maintenance work and expenses. Osaka Metro has decided to phase out magnetic tickets around fiscal 2031 and introduce paper tickets featuring QR codes that can be scanned at QR-compatible ticket gates already installed at all stations within the Osaka Metro network. Other railway operators in the Kansai region, such as JR West and Keihan Electric Railway, are also contemplating the cessation of magnetic tickets as the industry aims to diminish its dependence on traditional magnetic fare technology.",
  "summary": "Osaka Metro plans to abolish magnetic tickets and replace them with QR code-based tickets around fiscal 2031, as declining use and the cost of maintaining conventional ticket gates accelerate the shift toward digital fare systems. (News On Japan)",
  "key_points": [
    "Osaka Metro plans to discontinue magnetic tickets by fiscal 2031.",
    "Transition to QR code-based tickets due to usage decline and maintenance costs.",
    "QR codes will be scanned at existing QR-compatible ticket gates."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Osaka Metro's plan to abolish magnetic tickets by fiscal 2031 marks a shift towards digital fare systems, driven by declining usage, rising maintenance costs, and industry-wide efforts to reduce reliance on traditional magnetic fare technology.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}