Chubu & Hokuriku
How to ride the Toyama city tram: in through the middle, out at the front
富山地方鉄道 市内電車の乗り方
Board through the middle (or rear) door, pay a flat ¥240 as you get off at the front — Suica, ICOCA and other nationwide IC cards work.
- Board in the middle
- Exit at the front
- Pay when you get off
- IC cards OK
- Flat fare
Toyama Chiho Railway's city trams run around central Toyama and, since the former Portram line was joined to the network, north from Toyama Station to Iwasehama on the coast. The routine is summed up in the railway's own words: 中乗り・前降り・運賃後払い(均一運賃) — board in the middle, get off at the front, pay afterwards, one flat fare. Adults pay ¥240, children ¥120.
乗り方の流れ
Step by step
01Check the sign on the front
Some stops are served by trams going different ways — check the route and destination on the front of the tram.
02Board through the middle (or rear) door
Get on through the door in the middle or at the back of the car. There is no numbered ticket.
03Press the stop button
Press a stop button when your stop is announced, and stand up only once the tram has stopped. Announcements are also made in English.
04Change money while stopped
The fare box gives no change. Use the change machine at the front or rear — only while the tram is stopped. It takes ¥1,000 notes and coins, not ¥2,000, ¥5,000 or ¥10,000 notes.
05Pay and exit at the front
Pay ¥240 into the fare box as you get off, or tap your nationwide IC card (Suica, ICOCA, PASMO…) on the reader beside the door. Pass holders show the date side of the pass to the driver.
Passes and transfers
The City Tram 1-Day Free Ticket (市内電車1日フリーきっぷ), on sale all year since 1 October 2026, costs ¥650 (child ¥330) and covers every tram line plus the railway between Dentetsu-Toyama and Minami-Toyama. It's a scratch card — scratch off the date and show it to the crew. Buy it on board, at ticket centres or at Dentetsu-Toyama, Inarimachi and Minami-Toyama stations.
Changing trams at Marunouchi or Nakamachi? Tell the crew before you tap or pay and take a transfer ticket (乗継券); you won't pay again on the second tram.
Good to know
- IC cards can't be topped up on the tram or at the tram company's counters — use Ainokaze Toyama station machines or a convenience store.
- Paying a child fare with an adult IC card? Tell the crew before you tap.
- The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid on the city trams.
Sources
- Toyama Chiho Railway: How to ride the city tram (Japanese)
- Toyama Chiho Railway: City tram guide (English site) (Japanese)
- Toyama Chiho Railway: Nationwide IC cards on the city tram (Japanese)
- Toyama Chiho Railway: City Tram 1-Day Free Ticket (19 Sep 2026) (Japanese)
Rules differ between railways and change from time to time — last checked 3 Nov 2026. Follow signs and staff on the day.