Tokyo Metro is running a summer cashback campaign for credit card tap-to-ride payments from July 16 to July 31, 2026. Riders who tap a contactless Visa or JCB credit card directly on the ticket gate can receive cashback or bonus points. Note that riding with a contactless card itself needs no setup, but to qualify for the Visa 30% cashback you must sign up for the Visa promotion (Visa-wari) in advance; JCB’s bonus points are credited automatically to eligible cards. Here’s a full breakdown of which cards qualify, how much you get back, and what routes are covered.
Campaign Overview
Tokyo Metro, in partnership with Visa and JCB, is rewarding passengers who pay their fare by tapping a contactless credit card directly on the ticket gate reader (rather than using a physical Suica/PASMO card or mobile wallet). The campaign runs for two weeks in the middle of summer, covering both weekday commutes and weekend outings on the Tokyo Metro network.
Riding with a contactless card itself needs no setup, but the rewards differ by network: the Visa 30% cashback requires advance registration for the Visa promotion (Visa-wari), while JCB’s 20x points are credited automatically to eligible cards. Just tap your eligible contactless card at the gate and the fare is charged to your card.
Which Cards Qualify? Visa vs. JCB
The reward differs depending on your card’s network:
Both physical contactless cards and card credentials added to a compatible smartphone wallet are eligible, as long as the tap is processed as a credit card transaction (not Suica/PASMO stored value).
Cashback Rate and Cap
The headline figures are straightforward, but keep the cap in mind:
- Visa: 30% cashback, maximum 600 yen back per card over the whole campaign
- JCB: 20x points on tap-to-ride fares, no fixed cap stated by JCB for this campaign
Since the Visa cashback is capped at 600 yen, spreading fares across many small trips will not multiply your reward beyond that ceiling — the 30% simply stops accruing once the cap is reached.
How Long Does It Last?
The campaign period is fixed: July 16 (Thu) through July 31 (Fri), 2026. Only fares paid by tapping a contactless Visa or JCB credit card within this window count toward the reward.
Which Routes Are Covered?
The campaign applies to fares paid on the Tokyo Metro network via tap-to-ride at the ticket gates. Since this is a Tokyo Metro campaign, it covers rides on Tokyo Metro lines; through-service journeys onto other operators’ lines (such as Toei Subway, JR, or private railways) may not be covered for the full fare depending on how the fare is settled at the gate, so check the official announcement for exact boundary conditions if you regularly transfer between operators.
How to Use Tap-to-Ride
- Add your Visa or JCB credit card to a compatible smartphone wallet, or simply bring the physical contactless card.
- At the ticket gate, tap the card (or phone) on the reader — look for the contactless payment mark, separate from the standard Suica/PASMO touch point.
- The system automatically calculates the fare and processes the transaction as a credit card payment.
- Cashback (Visa) or bonus points (JCB) are credited according to each card issuer’s normal statement/points schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register in advance?
For the Visa 30% cashback, yes. You must sign up for the Visa promotion (Visa-wari) in advance, or rides during the campaign will not qualify. JCB’s 20x points are credited automatically to eligible J-POINT cards with no separate sign-up, and riding with a contactless card itself needs no registration.
Does Suica or PASMO count for this campaign?
No. This campaign rewards direct credit-card tap-to-ride payments (Visa/JCB), not fares paid with Suica, PASMO, or other IC stored-value cards. You need to tap the credit card itself (or the card loaded in your phone’s wallet) at the gate’s contactless payment reader.
Is there a limit to how much cashback I can earn?
For Visa, cashback is capped at 600 yen per card for the entire campaign period (equivalent to 2,000 yen of qualifying fares at 30%). JCB’s 20x point multiplier does not have a stated cap in the official announcement, but always check the official Tokyo Metro and card issuer pages for the latest terms, as conditions can be updated.
Tokyo Metro’s summer tap-to-ride campaign (July 16–31, 2026) rewards contactless Visa payments with 30% cashback (capped at 600 yen) and contactless JCB payments with 20x points. The Visa cashback requires advance sign-up for the Visa promotion (Visa-wari); JCB’s points are automatic for eligible cards. For the latest official terms and any updates, always check Tokyo Metro’s official announcement before you ride.
Further Reading
Sources
- Tokyo Metro official announcement
- PR TIMES press release
- Tetsudo.com news coverage
- Impress Watch coverage
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