This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
Fukuoka City Subway lets one passenger tap a compatible contactless credit, debit or prepaid card—or a phone or wearable—at the ticket gate. There is no pass to buy first. Adult subway fares are capped at ¥640 per day and ¥12,570 per calendar month, but only when every entry and exit uses exactly the same payment device.
- All 36 stations on the Airport, Hakozaki and Nanakuma lines
- Adult cap: ¥640 per day and ¥12,570 per calendar month
- Use the same physical card, phone or watch at entry and exit
- Contactless payment cannot be used through to JR Chikuhi Line stations
Fukuoka City Subway’s official contactless-payment information and the Japanese source were checked on August 3, 2026. Card acceptance and fare rules can change.
What works and where
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Stations | Airport, Hakozaki and Nanakuma lines: all 36 |
| Brands | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, UnionPay |
| Adult daily cap | ¥640 |
| Adult monthly cap | ¥12,570 |
| One card | One passenger only |
How to pass the gate
Use the separate contactless reader bearing international card-brand symbols, not the usual IC-card pad. Hold the card or device until the green LED confirms the tap. Use the same item again when leaving the system.
A card displaying the contactless symbol can still be declined because of its issuer or product settings. A debit or prepaid card may require sufficient balance and may show a temporary authorization. Each traveler needs a separate payment method.
How the daily and monthly caps work
The daily calculation runs from 03:00 to 03:00 the next morning. If adult subway fares on the same device exceed ¥640, the final charge for that period is limited to ¥640. The monthly cap totals trips from the first through the last day of the calendar month and stops at ¥12,570.
The monthly cap is not a flat pass fee: if the month’s rides total ¥8,000, the charge remains ¥8,000. A credit-card statement may use a different billing cycle, so its displayed total does not always match the calendar-month cap. Q-move shows ride history and cap application after registration.
Same card number does not always mean the same device
A physical card and the same card loaded in a phone are treated as different media. A smartwatch is another medium, and re-registering a card on a phone can also create a new device identity. Switching halfway through a day or month splits the calculation.
Choose one medium before entering and keep using it. If a gate will not open, first check whether you entered with the physical card but are trying to leave with the phone, or vice versa.
JR, Nishitetsu and group-travel limits
The service applies only within Fukuoka City Subway. Even when an Airport Line train continues beyond Meinohama onto the JR Chikuhi Line, contactless bank-card travel cannot continue to a JR station. Use a nationwide transit IC card such as Hayakaken, or a ticket covering the full route, when JR is part of the trip.
At Kaizuka, contactless payment can cover the subway portion, but the Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line transfer discount does not apply. A single bank card also cannot pay for two people by tapping twice; families and groups need one medium per person.
When another ticket is better
Contactless payment is convenient for visitors making flexible subway trips and avoids buying a day pass in advance. A transit IC card is usually easier when the same day includes JR or Nishitetsu. A subway day pass can be useful when its separate visitor benefits matter, while commuters may prefer a regular or student pass.
Children and eligible disabled riders need station-staff handling before travel for the reduced daily cap. Ask before touching the gate; do not assume an adult card will automatically recognize a child fare.
