In a nutshell
- With an IC card like the Suica Card or Pasmo, you can easily use trains, subways, and buses all across Japan. Just tap in, ride, and tap out.
- You can also use the Suica Card in Japan to pay at convenience stores, restaurants, vending machines, and lockers. Super convenient when traveling around.
- There are a few regional IC cards (like Suica in Tokyo and Icoca in Osaka), but they work almost everywhere in the country. We recommend going with the Suica Card.
- You simply add credit to your card and use it for quick, cashless payments wherever it’s accepted.
- If you have an iPhone, you can add the Suica Card to your Apple Wallet. For Android phones, it’s a bit trickier. In that case, it’s best to buy the Suica Card online in advance.
What Are IC Cards?
IC cards are contactless prepaid cards used for trains, subways, and buses all across Japan. But they’re not just for public transport. You can also use them to pay in convenience stores, restaurants, vending machines, and even lockers.
There are different IC cards depending on the region. For example, the Suica Card in Tokyo and the Icoca Card in Osaka. However, most cards work almost everywhere in Japan, so you don’t need to worry too much about which one you get.
We used the Suica Card during our trip through Japan and paid for almost everything with it. Except the Shinkansen.
Which IC cards are available?
There are about ten different IC cards, and you can use almost all of them across Japan. The most popular ones are:
- Suica Card (Tokyo)
- Pasmo Card (Tokyo)
- Icoca Card (Osaka)
If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, you’ll be perfectly fine with a Suica Card or a Pasmo Card. We used the Suica Card in Japan. It worked flawlessly, which is why we’ll focus on it throughout the rest of this guide.
Difference between Suica Card, Pasmo Card and Welcome Suica Card
If you’ve already looked into IC cards, you’ve probably come across the Welcome Suica Card.
The difference between the Suica Card, Pasmo Card, and Welcome Suica Card is pretty straightforward:
- Suica and Pasmo: almost identical, require a 500 yen deposit, valid for 10 years, and any remaining balance can be refunded when you return the card
- Welcome Suica: designed especially for tourists, no deposit needed, valid for up to 28 days, and any remaining balance expires after that
As a traveler, you can choose whichever card works best for your trip. It mainly depends on how long you’ll stay in Japan and where you buy the IC card. We explain all the details in the next section.
Where Can You Buy the Suica Card?
Our favorite option is to simply add the Suica Card digitally to your wallet and top it up with credit there. That’s exactly what we did. This way, you don’t need a physical card at all. You can buy and recharge it directly through Apple Pay or Google Pay – both are handy to set up before your trip to Japan anyway.
Keep in mind that you can only add the Suica Card (not the Welcome Suica Card) to your wallet. But since it’s digital, you also don’t pay a deposit.
If you prefer having a physical card – whether it’s the Suica Card or the Welcome Suica Card – and you stay in Tokyo first, you have different options of where to buy the Suica Card:
- At JR East stations (look for ticket machines with the IC logo or visit the service counter)
- At Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports
- Online (only available for the Welcome Suica Card). Pick up your physical card including a 1-day pass for your arrival day at Haneda Airport.
How Much Does the Suica Card Cost?
The physical Suica Card requires a 500 yen deposit, plus whatever credit you want to load onto it. The first top-up must be at least 1,000 yen.
At the end of your trip, you can return the card to get back your deposit and any remaining balance. Just note that a handling fee of 220 yen will be deducted.
We recommend simply using up your remaining credit before you leave. That way, you’ll only get your 500 yen deposit refunded and won’t lose anything to the fee.
The Welcome Suica Card and the digital Suica Card in your wallet don’t require a deposit. You only pay for the amount of credit you add.
How Do You Install the Suica Card on Your Cell Phone?
It’s super easy if you have an iPhone with NFC. All iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards have this function.
By the way, it’s really handy to have an eSIM for Japan. You can use it to get online and even set up the Suica Card while you’re there. Though it’s also possible to do it in advance.
Installing the Suica Card on your iPhone:
- Open the Wallet app and tap the plus sign in the top right corner.
- Choose Public Transport Card and search for Japan.
- Select Suica and tap Continue.
- Add the balance you want in yen. The money will be transferred from Apple Pay to the card. We loaded 5,000 yen during setup.
Unfortunately, Android phones still face some limitations with Suica Card installation. Usually, it only works on devices made for Japan (like some Sony Xperia models) or phones set to the Japan region with the Osaifu-Keitai payment system. If your phone supports it, here’s how it works:
Installing the Suica Card on your Android phone:
- Open the Google Wallet app and tap Add to Wallet at the bottom.
- Select e-money or Transit Card and choose Suica.
- Add your balance in yen. The funds are transferred to the card. We added 5,000 yen during setup.
How Do You Use the Suica Card on Public Transport?
Using the Suica Card in Japanese public transport is simple. Just tap it on the reader when entering and exiting trains. Fares are calculated and deducted automatically.
When changing operators (like JR, Metro, or private lines), the card works seamlessly.
Don’t worry, if you have insufficient credit. You can still travel. Just use a Fare Adjustment Machine at your destination, top up your card, and then exit. Digital Suica Cards can be recharged with Apple or Google Pay just like usual.
Important: the Suica Card does not work on Shinkansen. You need a separate ticket for those. We cover everything about Shinkansen and Japan Railways in this article.
How Can You Top Up the Suica Card?
If you’ve installed the Suica Card in your wallet, topping it up is easy with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Just tap the Add Credit button and choose the amount.
For physical cards, you can add credit at Suica machines in train stations or at convenience stores.
We recommend using up all your credit before your trip ends. With the Welcome Suica Card, any remaining balance will expire. With a regular Suica Card, you’ll get your leftover credit back, minus a 220 yen handling fee.
If your card has no credit left, there’s no handling fee.
How Long Is a Suica Card Valid?
The Welcome Suica Card in Japan is valid for 28 days.
Regular IC cards like Suica and Pasmo are valid for 10 years from the last use. For example, if you buy a Suica Card for your trip and return to Japan after 9 years, it will stay valid for 10 years from that point.
These were our tips for using the Suica Card in Tokyo
Have you used a Suica Card in Japan before? Share your experience or questions in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!