When seeing someone off at the Shinkansen platform, you typically buy an entrance ticket to access the platform. If you’re going to see someone off at Tokyo Station, it’s common to take the train to Tokyo Station and purchase an entrance ticket from within the gates. However, if you arrived using Suica on your Apple Watch, things get a bit tricky.
When purchasing an entrance ticket from a ticket machine inside the gates, you’ll be asked to insert the ticket or Suica card used to get there. Unfortunately, the machines are a bit outdated and only accept physical Suica cards.
After asking a JR Tokai station attendant, I was informed that if you’re using an Apple Watch or iPhone, you’ll need to go to the counter, which often has a line. During busy periods, waiting in line just for an entrance ticket can be very inconvenient.
Therefore, if you’re using Suica on Apple Watch or iPhone, it’s best to exit the ticket gates first. The ticket machines outside the gates don’t require you to insert the ticket or Suica card you used to get there.
Once you’ve purchased the entrance ticket, you can go directly to the Shinkansen gates. At Tokyo Station, exit toward Yaesu, where there’s a JR Tokai gate that leads directly to the Shinkansen platforms.
To smoothly reunite with the person you’re seeing off, ask in advance which train and car number they’ll be on.
I would request that JR Tokai make it possible to use Apple Watch and iPhone at ticket machines inside the gates for entrance tickets. Why should they even require a prior ticket for purchasing an entrance ticket?
