How do I use an unmanned station without ticket gates?

Train stations in the mountainous areas of Tokyo are small and usually unmanned. When entering or leaving an unmanned station without ticket gates, remember to tap your prepaid IC card on the machines.

Tokyo has train stations with no ticket gates.

Tokyo has several unmanned train stations called Mujin-eki in Japanese. These stations do not have any staff members, but it's not much of a problem as we can use a prepaid IC card, such as Suica and PASMO, to enter or exit the station through an automatic ticket gate. However, if you plan to use an unmanned station on a local train line outside central Tokyo, particularly in mountainous areas that are known for hiking spots, you need to be extra careful. The smaller unmanned stations in these regions do not have automatic ticket gates, which can be confusing when it comes to paying the fare.

Tap your IC card on two different machines when arriving and leaving the station

Unlike larger stations, small unmanned stations do not have ticket gates. Instead, they have two different types of ticket machines that you need to use to pay your fare. To exit the station or board a train, simply tap your IC card on the machines provided.

Ticket gate machines at Shiromaru Station on the JR Ome Line

Two different machines are provided for "Entry" and "Exit." Make sure to check the indication on the machines when tapping your card.

Tap your card to exit (Shutsujo)

Tap your card to entry (Nyujo)

What happens if you forget to tap your IC card when entering or leaving the station?

It may cross your mind that you can get away without paying, but that's not the case. In reality, forgetting to tap your card can lead to serious consequences, such as your IC card becoming unusable. So, always remember to tap in and out to avoid any trouble.