Suica, PASMO & IC Cards Explained
How Japan's rechargeable transit cards work, where to get one, and why your phone might be the only card you need.
What Is an IC Card?
An IC card is a rechargeable contactless card that you tap at station gates to pay for trains, metros, and buses across Japan. You load money onto it, tap in when you enter a station, tap out when you leave, and the correct fare is deducted automatically. No more figuring out ticket prices or fumbling with coins at machines.
IC cards also work at vending machines, konbini (convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart), coin lockers, and thousands of shops. Once you have one, you'll use it dozens of times a day without thinking about it.
Suica, PASMO, ICOCA: What's the Difference?
Almost nothing. These are all IC cards issued by different transit companies in different regions:
They're all interchangeable for local transit. A Suica bought in Tokyo works on the Osaka metro. An ICOCA from Kyoto works on Tokyo buses. Get whichever is available at your arrival station: it'll work for local travel everywhere else (except Okinawa, which uses a separate system). Most visitors end up with a Suica or PASMO since they land in the Tokyo area.
Physical Cards vs Digital (Phone) Cards
You have two options: a physical plastic card or a digital card on your phone. Here's how they compare:
| Physical card | iPhone (Apple Wallet) | |
|---|---|---|
| Get it | At station ticket machines or counters | Add via Apple Wallet or Welcome Suica Mobile app |
| Top up | Cash at station machines or konbini | Credit/debit card on your phone |
| Deposit | ¥500 refundable deposit | No deposit |
| Max balance | ¥20,000 | ¥20,000 |
| Battery dead? | Still works | iPhones with Express Transit may still work briefly on Power Reserve |
| Setup before trip | No, buy on arrival | Yes, set up from home |
Our Recommendation
iPhone users: go digital. You can set it up before you fly, top up instantly with a credit card, and you'll never accidentally leave it in a hotel room. The convenience is hard to beat.
Android users: pick up a physical card at the airport. It takes two minutes at a ticket machine and works perfectly. You can still use your phone for contactless credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard) at many shops: just not for transit gates.
How to Set Up a Digital Suica (iPhone Only)
Digital Suica is available on iPhone 8 and later (and Apple Watch Series 3+). Apple built FeliCa (the NFC technology Japan's transit system uses) into every iPhone globally since 2017, so this works regardless of which country you bought your phone in.
You have two options:
Option 1: Welcome Suica Mobile app. JR East's official app for overseas visitors, launched in March 2025. Download it from the App Store, register, and issue a Suica directly in the app. You can top up via Apple Pay using any credit card in your Wallet. The card is valid for 180 days and you can also use the app to book Shinkansen tickets.
Option 2: Add Suica directly in Apple Wallet. Open the Wallet app → tap the + button → select "Transit Card" → choose Suica → add an initial balance. This creates a standard Mobile Suica (not the tourist version) with no expiry.
Either way, you can do this from home before your trip: you'll have a working Suica the moment you land.
What About Android?
Unfortunately, digital Suica on Android requires Osaifu-Keitai: a FeliCa NFC chip found only in Android phones sold in Japan. Unlike Apple, most Android manufacturers outside Japan don't include FeliCa hardware, so the option simply won't appear in Google Wallet on a phone bought overseas.
If you're an Android user, a physical IC card is the way to go: pick one up at the airport when you arrive. It works identically for tapping through gates and paying at shops.
How to Get a Physical Card
Physical Suica and PASMO cards are widely available again after a semiconductor shortage that limited sales in 2023–2024. You can buy them at:
- Airport stations: JR ticket counters at Narita and Haneda airports. This is where most visitors pick one up.
- JR station ticket machines: Look for machines with the Suica logo. Select "Purchase new Suica", choose your initial charge amount (¥1,000–¥10,000), and insert cash. The machine dispenses your card with a ¥500 deposit included.
- Station service counters: Staffed counters at major stations can help if you need assistance.
Tourist-Specific Cards
Two special versions are designed for short-term visitors:
- Welcome Suica: Available at JR East travel service centers (Narita, Haneda, major Tokyo stations). No ¥500 deposit, but it expires after 28 days. Any remaining balance is forfeited.
- PASMO Passport: Available at airport stations and some Tokyo metro stations. Same deal: no deposit, 28-day validity, features a special tourist design.
For most visitors, a regular Suica from a ticket machine is the better choice: the ¥500 deposit is refundable, and the card doesn't expire for 10 years.
Topping Up Your Card
Running low? Top up (called "charge" in Japan) at:
- Station ticket machines: Insert your card, select "Charge", choose an amount (¥1,000 / ¥3,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥10,000), and feed in cash. Takes about 15 seconds.
- Convenience stores: Tell the cashier you'd like to charge your Suica and hand them the card. They'll ask how much. Cash only.
- Your phone: If you're using a digital card, top up anytime via Apple Pay or Google Wallet with a credit/debit card. No need to find a machine.
The maximum balance is ¥20,000. For a typical day of sightseeing with a few train rides and some konbini snacks, ¥2,000–3,000 is usually enough.
Where You Can Use an IC Card
More places than you'd expect:
- Trains and metros: All JR lines, private railways, and subway systems nationwide
- Buses: Most city and regional buses
- Convenience stores: 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, and others
- Vending machines: Drink and snack machines with the IC card symbol
- Coin lockers: At major stations, tap to lock and unlock (your card becomes the key)
- Some restaurants and shops: Look for the IC card logo at the register
The main exception is Shinkansen (bullet trains): you generally need a separate ticket for these. However, if you've linked your Suica to a SmartEX account, you can tap through Shinkansen gates on certain routes.
Travelling with Kids: Child IC Cards
Children aged 6–11 need their own child IC card, which charges roughly half the adult fare. Children under 6 ride free on most services (though some rules vary by operator, infants in strollers are always free).
Child cards can only be purchased at staffed ticket counters, not from machines. Bring the child's passport as proof of age. Only one child card per child is allowed.
The child card automatically expires on March 31 of the year the child turns 12 (aligned with the Japanese school year). After that, it converts to an adult card.
Getting Your Deposit Back
If you bought a regular (non-tourist) card with the ¥500 deposit, you can return it at any JR station service counter before you leave Japan. You'll get your deposit back plus any remaining balance, minus a ¥220 processing fee.
Alternatively, just spend down your balance at a konbini before heading to the airport: buy some snacks or drinks for the flight. If your remaining balance is under ¥220, the processing fee is waived and you get the full ¥500 deposit back.
