The same in Japan, the Tokyo subway is actually run by several network operators, so sometimes when you change trains you have to exit one operator's station ar

The same in Japan, the Tokyo subway is actually run by several network operators, so sometimes when you change trains you have to exit one operator's station area and enter another one, and buying a different ticket in between. So the NFC cards (and here they have several providers as well) are very convenient, since all the network operators support all the cards. Also nicely, all the drinks machines I've encountered in Japan also support these cards. As well as all the arcade venues with their claw machines.