[lxgr]

A broadly supported tap-to-pay fare system is such an underrated accessibility win for public transit when traveling.

Many tourists already get intimidated by language barriers and inscrutable timetables and transit routes; add tariff complexity (and the chance of getting charged with fare evasion!), and many just end up taking a taxi.

With these stored-value systems, you pretty much don't have to ever worry about doing anything wrong as long as you properly tapped in (and have the necessary cash to top up the card at the exit turnstile if you ended up "overdrafting" your card).

Now the remaining complexity is learning about and getting the card in the first place, and Apple Wallet really does an amazing job there in Japan. Not even having to install an app or create any account is absolutely amazing.

[wahnfrieden]

You can now make cards and top up from inside Apple Wallet (even with a non Japanese phone or account)

[lxgr]

Yes, it's great! My point is that Apple's implementation solves all these challenges, sorry if that wasn't clear.

[dwood_dev]

Not sure if it's still the case, but last year I could only top up with my AmericanExpress in Apple Wallet. Neither Visa nor MasterCard worked. This was a widespread issue at the time.

[cosmic_cheese]

FWIW I reloaded the Suica on my iPhone a few times in the past 2-3 weeks using my Apple Card (Mastercard) as the funding source and it worked fine.

[lxgr]

I had no issues with either Visa or Mastercard last year, but I believe I went just after that issue was resolved.