Check both the date and payment method before buying a day ticket. Supported adult bank-card taps have a daily cap, but child fares do not apply to that payment method. Airport JR, buses and trams need separate budgeting.
Photo: ノボホショコロトソ / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · Commons 1280px derivative; no local edit; display may crop.
Who this guide is for: Visitors choosing paper tickets, transport IC or bank-card taps for several subway journeys
Compare your subway fares with JPY 520 on eligible weekend/holiday dates or JPY 830 on weekdays. Keep using the same physical card or device for an adult contactless cap.
Compare at a glance
| Option | Best fit | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Subway paper day ticket | Adult JPY 830; child JPY 420 | Cash purchase |
| Donichika | Adult JPY 520; child JPY 260 | Weekends, public holidays, 29 Dec–3 Jan |
| Bank-card taps | Adult cap JPY 830/520 | Same medium; no child fare |
Choose the correct paper ticket
Donichika covers one Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or date from 29 December to 3 January. The ordinary subway day ticket is JPY 830 adult or JPY 420 child. Paper-ticket purchases are cash only; transport-IC balances, points and credit cards cannot buy them.
Adult bank-card taps have a cap
Since 26 March 2026, supported bank-card subway taps stop adding fares after JPY 830 on weekdays or JPY 520 on Donichika dates. No advance application is required. This is direct travel with a bank card, not buying a paper pass by card.
Keep the same card or device
A physical card and a phone or watch do not combine toward the cap even with the same card number. Use the same medium at entry and exit; one card cannot carry several people. Check the dedicated reader and issuer compatibility.
Plan child fares separately
Bank-card taps apply adult ordinary fares, without child, welfare or transfer discounts. Consider a paper ticket or suitable transport IC for children. Ordinary Suica-style IC travel should not be confused with the bank-card cap.
Check the network and day boundary
The cap covers the municipal subway; airport JR, buses and trams are separate. Its day runs from 03:00 to 02:59 the following day, not a rolling 24-hour period. Donichika refunds are for unused tickets only, and exchange for another ticket is not allowed.
Add journeys rather than counting blindly
The official example of three JPY 210 journeys totals JPY 630, JPY 110 above Donichika. Weekday prices and different fare zones change the result. Exclude trips you will walk. The 2022 Clock Tower photograph provides city context; it does not show subway stations, readers or current operations.
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Before you book
- Eligible date
- Actual subway-fare total
- Child or concession needs
- Same physical card or device
- Separate airport/train/bus/tram costs
Common questions
Does Donichika cover New Chitose Airport?
No. Budget separately for airport JR or bus travel.
Can I switch from card to phone and combine the cap?
No. The operator says different media do not combine even with the same card number.
Sources and booking conditions
- www.city.sapporo.jp — operator, destination or property information
- www.city.sapporo.jp — operator, destination or property information
- www.city.sapporo.jp — operator, destination or property information
English edition published 2026-10-17. Source review date inherited from the original guide: 2026-10-17. Editorial recommendations are not firsthand reviews or live quotes. Check current prices, availability and conditions before purchase.