How to Top-up Your IC Card
IC cards can be topped up at the ticket machines and fare adjustment machines in each station. Cash only—credit cards and e-money are not accepted.¬
To change the machine’s touch screen display to English, press the “English” button at the top right of the screen.
Buying a Regular Train Ticket
Regular train tickets can be bought at the ticket machines in each station.
Cash only—credit cards, e-money, and IC cards are not accepted.¬
To change the machine’s touch screen display to English, press the “English” button at the top right of the screen.
How to Use Scan-and-ride Credit Card Fare Payment
Scan your contactless credit card, debit card or prepaid card, or smartphone with that card installed, using the card-reader of an appropriately equipped ticket gate when entering the station to board your train, and again when exiting the station after alighting the train. Your fare will be calculated based on the distance traveled.
- Card readers are installed at station ticket windows.
- This service is only available for standard adult fares.
Stations Equipped for Scan-and-ride Fare Payment
Kobe Electric Rail stations: Minatogawa, Suzurandai, Kita-Suzurandai, Tanigami, Arimaguchi, Arima-Onsen, Okaba, Yokoyama, Sanda, and Shijimi only
Scan-and-ride fare payment can also be used when transferring to other railways’ trains, as long as they are equipped to handle scan-and-ride fare payments. (Contact each railway for details about availability.)
- If you enter a station using scan-and-ride but exit from a Kobe Electric Railway station other than those listed above, your fare must be paid by another method (e.g., cash), and you will need to notify staff at the station where you boarded to cancel your station entry record from your credit card.
- Scan-and-ride fare payment is not available at some stations during unstaffed hours.
Cards Accepted for Scan-and-ride Fare Payment
- Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and UnionPay (credit, debit, prepaid) cards with the “ripple” contactless payment mark can be used for scan-and-ride fare payment.
- No prior registration needed—simply scan your card at an appropriate ticket gate.
- Scan-and-ride fare payment is only available for standard adult fares—not for children’s fares. Children who pay fares using scan-and-ride will be charged the adult fare.
- Scan-and-ride fare payment is available on a one-card-one-fare basis. Multiple people’s fares cannot be charged to a single card.
- Smartphones with credit cards installed can be used for scan-and-ride fare payment. Contact your card issuer to find out if your card can be installed on your phone.
- Scan-and-ride fare payment cannot be used in combination with other tickets (e.g., transit cards, paper tickets, prepaid cards).
Credit Card Records
Scan-and-ride fare payment records can be viewed on the Q-move website operated by QUADRAC Co., Ltd.
https://www.q-move.info/
- Q-move allows you to check your boarding and alighting records.
- Q-move is a membership-based service. Membership registration is free.
- Q-move requires no annual membership subscription, but you are liable for all telecommunication costs needed to access and use the service.
- Billing dates differ depending on the card. Contact your card issuer for details.
- Contact your card issuer for inquiries relating to your card.
How to Pay Fares Using QR Codes
QR tickets valid for use on the Kobe Electric Railway can be used by scanning your ticket’s QR code using the special QR-equipped ticket gates at Tanigami and Arima-Onsen stations, and by telling the staff at other stations (either at the ticket window or via intercom) that you have a QR ticket.
If your QR ticket is not valid for use on the Kobe Electric Railway, consult the station staff
(either at the ticket window or via intercom) and adjust your fare accordingly when exiting the station.
