Suica Card Japan 2026: Where to Buy, How to Use, Mobile Suica

• Table of Contents
• What is a Suica Card? Japan’s All-in-One Travel Card
• Where to Buy a Suica Card in Japan
• Regular Suica vs Welcome Suica
• How to Recharge the Suica
• Welcome Suica Mobile for iOS: Easy to Use for Tourists
• Mobile Suica: Great Choice for Long-Term Foreign Residents in Japan
• Suica and the Japan Rail Pass: Use Both for Seamless Travel
• Where Can You Use Suica?
• Suica vs PASMO vs ICOCA
• Suica FAQ

What is a Suica Card? Japan’s All-in-One Travel Card

The Suica is a prepaid IC card issued by JR East that serves as an essential, all-in-one tool for travel and shopping in Japan.

Simply load money onto the card to tap through ticket gates—no paper tickets required for JR lines, subways, or private railways in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Aside from some rural stations that still rely on paper tickets, Suica and similar IC cards can be used across Japan.

Visitors to Japan can choose between a standard Suica card or the tourist-only Welcome Suica. Physical cards cannot be reserved online in advance; they must be purchased at JR East stations or ticket vending machines in Japan.

Alternatively, iPhone users can purchase and set up a mobile Welcome Suica online before their trip.

Quick Overview of Suica Types and Features

Option	Best for	Physical/Mobile	Validity	Where to Get
Regular Suica	Most travelers	Physical	no limit	JR East stations
Welcome Suica	Short-term visitors	Physical	28 days	Tokyo's Airports: Narita, Haneda
Welcome Suica Mobile	iPhone tourists	Mobile	180 days	App
PASMO / ICOCA	Alternatives	Physical/mobile	varies	Tokyo Metro stations for PASMO, JR and local train stations in Osaka/Kyoto for ICOCA

Where to Buy a Suica Card in Japan

Suica cards can be bought at the JR-EAST Travel Service Centers within Narita Airport or Haneda Airport in Tokyo, or at major JR stations in the Tokyo area.

Suica Card at Narita Airport

Once you arrive at Narita Airport, head down to the train station on the basement floor. You will see service centers and ticket counters for both JR East (green) and the Keisei Line (blue).

To buy a Suica card, go to the JR East area and speak with the staff:

- Staying under 28 days? The staff will direct you to the dedicated red vending machines featuring the cherry blossom logo to purchase a Welcome Suica.

- Staying longer than 28 days? The staff will issue a regular Suica card directly to you.

Please note that the regular Suica cards require a 500 yen deposit. You can get this deposit refunded by returning the card to a JR East office before leaving Japan.

Suica Card at Haneda Airport

To buy a Suica at Haneda Airport, head to the JR EAST Travel Service Center on the 2nd floor of Terminal 3 (Arrivals), right next to the Tokyo Monorail ticket gates.

Speak with the staff for assistance based on your length of stay:

- Under 28 days: They will direct you to the dedicated vending machines to buy a Welcome Suica.

- Longer than 28 days: They will issue a regular Suica card directly to you.

Other Purchase Locations for Welcome Suica

Image courtesy of JR EAST

You can also purchase a Welcome Suica at JR EAST Travel Service Centers located inside these major stations:
- Tokyo: Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno
- Outside Central Tokyo: Yokohama, Sendai

Additional Selling Locations:
- JAPAN RAIL CAFE TOKYO (Near Tokyo Station’s Yaesu Central Gate)
- TAKANAWA GATEWAY Travel Service Center

For more information about the Welcome Suica, please check the official JR EAST website.

Now, it is also possible to book NINJA WiFi with Welcome Suica, a convenient package that secures both your internet connection and transportation in Japan.

Pick them up together at the airport, then take the train to start your journey right away. This also means that you won't need to wait in line to buy your Suica card.

Regular Suica vs Welcome Suica

The main difference between the regular Suica and the Welcome Suica comes down to eligibility, validity, and deposits.

Feature	Regular Suica (Green/Gray design)	Welcome Suica (Red/Cherry Blossom design)
Eligibility	Anyone (Residents and Tourists)	Foreign Tourists Only
Validity	No expiration date	Valid for 28 days
Deposit	500 yen (Refundable upon return)	No deposit required

Aside from these differences, both cards function identically. You can reload them with cash and use them for public transportation and shopping across Japan.

Please note that Suica cards are only sold in the eastern Japan area (wherever JR East operates). This includes the greater Tokyo area and Tohoku (northern Japan). If you travel extensively in western Japan, including Osaka and Kyoto, you can opt for ICOCA or other regional IC cards.

How to Recharge the Suica

You can recharge both the Suica and Welcome Suica at any train station in Japan, whether it is a JR station or a non-JR line.

To top up your card:
1. Locate the ticket vending machines at the station entrance.

2. Look for a machine marked "Charge" or "IC Card".
*Note: Avoid the machines dedicated to "Limited Express" or "Shinkansen" tickets, as these do not recharge IC cards.

3. Select Language: Choose your preferred language on the start screen. (If the machine is in Japanese, look for the button labeled チャージ（入金）する).

4. Select Amount: Tap the amount you wish to add to your card. This can be 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or more.

5. Insert Payment: Insert bills or coins into the designated slots to complete the transaction.

*Exact screen layouts and options may vary slightly depending on the railway operator.

Recharging the Suica at Convenience Stores

In addition to train stations, you can easily top up your IC card at major Japanese convenience stores, including 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Mini Stop, Daily Yamazaki, and Poplar.

Option 1: At a 7-Eleven ATM

Picture courtesy of JR-EAST

1. Select 電子マネーチャージ (Electronic Money Charge) at the top of the screen.

2. Place your IC card on the reader dock on the right side of the machine.

3. Choose the amount you want to add.

4. Insert your cash into the bill tray at the bottom.

5. Wait a few seconds for the confirmation—and you're done! (There are no handling fees.)

Option 2: At the Cash Register (Any Major Store)

You can also ask the store clerk to top up your card directly at the counter:

1. Tap your IC card on the card reader at the register.

2. Say "Charge, please" to the clerk.

3. Select or state the amount you wish to add, then pay with cash.

Welcome Suica Mobile for iOS: Easy to Use for Tourists

Picture courtesy of JR EAST

The Welcome Suica Mobile app is an English-only service designed specifically for foreign visitors. Unlike the physical Welcome Suica card, which expires after 28 days, the mobile version remains valid for 180 days.

The app allows you to easily issue a digital card and top up your balance directly from your iPhone. Beyond transit and payments, it provides real-time train updates and tourist information.

For an additional fee, the app also allows you to buy tickets with unreserved Shinkansen seats on bullet trains operated by JR East: the Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines.

Please note that the Welcome Suica Mobile app is currently exclusive to iPhone users and is not available on Android devices.

To start using the Welcome Suica Mobile, please refer to the official JR East website.

Mobile Suica: Great Choice for Long-Term Foreign Residents in Japan

Unlike the Welcome Suica Mobile app, the regular Mobile Suica is available on both iPhone and Android.

How to Set Up the Mobile Suica

1. Check Region Settings: Ensure your phone's region is set to Japan.

2. Download and Link: Download the Suica app and link your credit card.

3. Add a Card:
- Buy New: Issue a new digital Suica card directly inside the app.
- Transfer Physical Card: Scan your existing physical card with your phone's camera to transfer the remaining balance to your phone.

Once set up, you can top up your balance anytime, anywhere directly from your phone.

To travel, simply tap your phone on the ticket gate reader; your device must be powered on, but it does not need to be unlocked or connected to Wi-Fi to function.

Using Google Pay or Apple Wallet

For international residents, using a mobile wallet is often the most convenient option, though it typically requires your device’s regional settings to be set to Japan.

- iPhone Users: Open the Wallet app, select the option to add a Transit Card, and follow the prompts to activate your preferred digital IC card.

- Android Users: Open Google Wallet, navigate to the E-Money section, and select the digital IC card you wish to enable.

To add funds, simply select "Add Money" within the app and choose your preferred payment method. Once set up, you can recharge your balance instantly from your phone at any time.

Suica and the Japan Rail Pass: Use Both for Seamless Travel

For travelers visiting multiple cities, the most efficient strategy is to use the Japan Rail (JR) Pass in tandem with an IC card (Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA).

While the JR Pass offers unlimited travel on the Shinkansen and JR-operated lines for a fixed price, it is not accepted on private subways, buses, or non-JR railways (such as the Tokyo Metro or Osaka Metro).

To avoid being stopped at ticket gates when switching networks, keep your Suica (or another IC card) charged and handy; it covers almost all non-JR transit with a simple tap.

By using the JR Pass for long-distance travel and an IC card like Suica for city-specific subways and private lines, you can navigate Japan's complex rail system seamlessly and stress-free.

Where Can You Use Suica?

At Ticket Gates within Train Stations

Photo by Pixta

While ticket gate designs may vary slightly across different railway companies, most function the same way.

Simply tap your card lightly against the blue reader area at the gate to pass through. Follow the exact same procedure when exiting at your destination.

As Electronic Payment at Restaurants, Convenience Stores, and Drugstores

IC cards can also be used as electronic money (e-money) at participating stores across Japan.

Beyond public transport and convenience stores, you can tap to pay at many popular chains, including:

- Drugstores: Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Daikoku Drug, Tsuruha Drug

- Fast Food and Casual Dining: McDonald's, Matsuya, CoCo Ichibanya, Mos Burger, and more.

Suica vs PASMO vs ICOCA

The Suica card is issued by JR East and is primarily sold in Tokyo and eastern Japan; however, it is accepted for transit and payments nationwide.

Several other IC cards offer the exact same functionality across Japan, issued by different regional operators. Suica’s primary counterpart in the Tokyo area is the Pasmo card, issued by the Tokyo Metro and private railway companies.

Similarly, in the Kyoto and Osaka regions, JR West issues the ICOCA card. Regardless of which card you choose, any of these major IC cards can be used interchangeably for travel and shopping throughout the country.

Below, we introduce some other IC cards with the same functions as Suica.

1. PASMO

A PASMO card is nearly identical to the Suica. It allows for entrance and exit to train, subway, and metro stations with a simple tap. It can also be used on buses and to make purchases.

The only significant difference is its appearance (gray with a pink writing design) and where you can purchase it.

While Suica is only available at JR-EAST stations in Tokyo and eastern Japan, the PASMO card can be purchased at stations in eastern Japan operated by other railways, such as Tokyo Metro, Keisei Railways, Keikyu Railways, Tobu Railways, and others.

PASMO is very convenient if you are not at a JR station but want to get a prepaid card quickly. It can also be used at JR stations and across Japan as well.

The PASMO card is purchased in a similar way to the Suica. Go to a ticket machine, change the language to English, and follow the instructions.

Picture courtesy of the official PASMO website

A special PASMO for visitors to Japan, called TOURIST PASMO, is available to buy at station ticket counters (not at machines).

The TOURIST PASMO is an IC card usable for 28 days. You can purchase it at Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports. Please check the official PASMO website for details.

2. ICOCA: Available in Osaka and Kyoto

In Osaka, Kyoto, and the greater Kansai region, ICOCA (issued by JR-WEST) is more common.

You can purchase an ICOCA at ticket machines at JR train stations in western Japan.

3. Kitaca, Manaca, Sugoca, and Others

Other Japanese IC cards include Kitaca in Hokkaido, Manaca in the Nagoya area, and Sugoca in southern Japan (Kyushu). It is possible to use a Suica card in these areas as well (some exceptions apply).

Whatever their name might be, they work all the same and can be purchased the same way. If you are planning to travel in Japan by subway, train, or bus, IC cards are the easiest way to get around.

Suica FAQ

Get Around with Ease with a Suica Card

Whether physical or digital, an IC card like Suica is the most convenient way to travel and make everyday purchases throughout Japan.

Many railway lines across Japan now also support contactless credit and debit card payments directly at the ticket gates. For line-specific details and coverage, please check the official website of the railway operator you plan to use.