Suica and IC Cards in Japan: How to Get and Use Them

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If there is one thing that makes travelling in Japan easy, it is the IC card. With a Suica or PASMO card you just tap and go on trains, subways and buses, and you can pay at convenience stores, vending machines and coin lockers. I used my Suica every single day during my three years in Tokyo. This guide explains which card to get, how much it costs, how to use Suica on your phone and what changed for tourists in recent years.

What Is Suica?

Suica is the rechargeable IC card of JR East, and PASMO is the version from Tokyo’s private railways and subways. For you as a traveller they are basically the same: both work on all trains, subways and buses in Tokyo and in other big cities. Japan’s regional IC cards, such as ICOCA (Kansai), Kitaca (Hokkaido), TOICA and manaca (Nagoya) and SUGOCA, nimoca and Hayakaken (Kyushu), are all interoperable, so one card works almost everywhere.

Which IC Card Should You Get?

Card	Deposit	Refund	Validity	Best for
Regular Suica or PASMO	¥500, included in the price	balance (minus a small fee) plus deposit	10 years without use	long stays, repeat visitors
Welcome Suica (physical)	none	balance not refundable	28 days	short trips, souvenir design
Welcome Suica Mobile (iPhone app)	none	balance not refundable	180 days	iPhone users who want no card
TOURIST PASMO	none	balance not refundable	28 days	short trips, available near the airports
Suica or PASMO in Apple Wallet	none	refund via the app	no limit	iPhone users staying longer

For a regular Suica, you pay a ¥500 deposit, which you get back when you return the card at a JR East station. The remaining balance is refunded minus a small fee (¥220). Tourist cards have no deposit, but you cannot get the remaining money back, so do not top up too much at the end of your trip.

Suica on Your Phone

• iPhone: Suica, PASMO and ICOCA work in Apple Wallet on iPhone 8 or newer and on Apple Watch. Add the card in Wallet and top it up with a card saved in Wallet. Some travellers report that foreign Visa cards fail for top-ups while Mastercard and Amex usually work; if it does not work, top up with cash at a station machine or convenience store.
• Welcome Suica Mobile: a JR East app for visitors on iPhone with no deposit, valid for 180 days. It also supports Touch de Go, so you can ride JR East Shinkansen in non-reserved seats by just tapping.
• Android: mobile Suica generally only works on phones sold in Japan with FeliCa. Most Android phones bought abroad cannot use it, so buy a physical card.

Your phone needs mobile data for top-ups and maps; see my comparison of eSIM vs pocket WiFi in Japan.

How to Buy and Top Up a Physical Suica or PASMO

• Buy at ticket machines in JR stations (Suica) or private railway and subway stations (PASMO). Look for the machines with an IC card symbol and English menu.
• Welcome Suica is sold at special machines and JR East Travel Service Centers, for example at Narita and Haneda airports and big stations. From there, my guide from Narita and Haneda to Tokyo shows the best way into the city.
• Top up at any station ticket machine, charging machine or convenience store till. Physical cards are topped up with cash only.
• The maximum balance is ¥20,000.

Where You Can Use an IC Card

Use	Works?
Trains and subways in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka and more	yes
City buses	mostly yes
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson)	yes
Vending machines and coin lockers	many
Shinkansen	JR East with Touch de Go; Tokaido and Sanyo via smartEX linking
Taxis	many in big cities
Trips crossing from one IC region into another	no, buy a paper ticket

If your trip takes you from one region to another, for example from Tokyo to Kyoto, you need a separate ticket for that journey. Buying Shinkansen tickets is explained in my guide on how to book Shinkansen tickets.

Tap to Ride With a Credit Card

More and more railways now accept contactless credit cards and Apple Pay or Google Pay directly at the gate. In Tokyo this includes Tokyo Metro, Toei and several private railways like Odakyu, Keio, Tokyu and Keikyu, and in other cities lines like Osaka Metro, Nankai and the Fukuoka and Sapporo subways. JR lines generally do not accept it yet, and only adult fares are charged. It is a handy backup, but an IC card is still the easiest way to ride everything.

IC Card or Transit Pass?

For most travellers, an IC card plus individual fares is the simplest option. If you ride the subway a lot in Tokyo, a Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48 or 72 hours) can be cheaper, but it does not cover JR lines. For long-distance trips, compare the JR Pass with single tickets in my guide is the JR Pass worth it?.

Tokyo transport passes and tickets:

Tips for Using IC Cards

• Tap in and tap out; the fare is calculated automatically.
• If the gate closes, your balance is probably too low. Use the fare adjustment machine before the exit gate.
• Keep your card away from other IC cards in your wallet to avoid reading errors.
• Children aged 6 to 11 pay half fare, but they need a special child IC card (with ID) for discounted fares; tourist cards for children exist too.
• Check your balance at any ticket machine or on your phone.

More planning help: where to stay in Tokyo, how much a trip to Japan costs and my Japan itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Suica and IC Cards

Can tourists still buy a Suica card?

Yes. Regular Suica and PASMO cards are on sale again at station machines, and tourists can also buy Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO, or add Suica to Apple Wallet.

What is the difference between Suica and PASMO?

Suica is issued by JR East and PASMO by private railways and subways in Tokyo. For travellers they work the same way and are accepted almost everywhere.

Can I use Suica outside Tokyo?

Yes. Suica works in most big cities, including Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Hiroshima, because the regional IC cards are interoperable.

Can I get my money back from Suica?

With a regular Suica, yes: return it at a JR East station to get the ¥500 deposit and the remaining balance minus a small fee. Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO balances are not refundable.

Can I use Suica on Android?

Usually only on Android phones sold in Japan. With a phone bought abroad, buy a physical card instead.

Can I top up Suica with a credit card?

Mobile Suica in Apple Wallet can be topped up with a card in Wallet, although some foreign Visa cards fail. Physical cards are topped up with cash at machines or convenience stores.

Can I use Suica on the Shinkansen?

On JR East Shinkansen you can use Touch de Go for non-reserved seats. On the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen you link your IC card to a smartEX booking. Otherwise buy a normal Shinkansen ticket.

What is the maximum balance on a Suica?

¥20,000.

Do I need a Suica if I have a JR Pass?

The JR Pass covers JR lines, but not subways, private railways or buses. An IC card is still very useful for those and for shopping.

Final Thoughts

Get an IC card on your first day, and Japan’s transport becomes simple: tap, ride, tap out. iPhone users can do everything on the phone; everyone else should grab a physical Suica, PASMO or tourist card at the airport or the first station.