Suica Card Guide: How to Buy and Use for Travel and Shopping in Japan

Suica: An IC Card for Smooth Transportation in Japan

Suica is an IC card with electronic money functionality issued by JR East. If you charge money in advance, you no longer need to purchase tickets each time, allowing you to use trains and subways smoothly.

The Suica card can be used not only in Tokyo but also in major cities such as Osaka and Kyoto. If you will be using trains and subways frequently during your stay in Japan, be sure to purchase a Suica.

In this article, we explain how to buy a Suica, how to recharge it, and how to use it to pay for transportation and shopping in Japan.

Suica Card Guide 2024

1. How to Buy a Suica Card
2. Why Is the Suica so Convenient?
3. Suica Card Types
- My Suica
- Welcome Suica
- Mobile Suica
- Welcome Suica Mobile
4. Other IC Cards: Pasmo, ICOCA (Osaka), and Regional IC Cards
5. Suica vs. Japan Rail Pass: The Difference Between Them
6. How to Buy a Suica at JR Ticket Vending Machines
7. How to Charge the Suica Card
8. How to Use Suica and IC Cards at Ticket Gates and for Shopping
9. Suica Card Information Summary

How to Buy a Suica Card

As of October 2024, there are two types of Suica available for purchase:

1. Welcome Suica: an IC card available exclusively for visitors to Japan

2. My Suica: an IC card inscribed with the owner's name, which can be used by both Japan residents and visitors.

As of October 2024, Suica cards cannot be purchased online.

You can buy a Suica card once you've arrived in Japan at the JR-EAST Travel Service Center within Narita Airport or Haneda Airport, or at the JR ticket offices at major JR stations in the Tokyo area.

For official information on Suica cards, please refer to the JR-EAST official website.

Why Is the Suica so Convenient?

Suica is a prepaid IC card issued by JR East Railways (JR-EAST). This IC card allows you to travel all across Japan with just a tap, eliminating the need to buy paper tickets each time you take the train.

The Suica can be used on any train line in Japan, including JR and non-JR lines like Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, Tobu, Seibu, Keisei, Odakyu, Hankyu, etc. (*Please note that some rural railways don't have IC card readers at the ticket gates, so they require paper tickets.)

As the Japan Rail Pass only works on JR lines, having a Suica is highly recommended when using other railways than the JR. The Suica can also be used to make purchases at station kiosks, convenience stores, and vending machines.

The Suica card can be charged at any train station and even at convenience stores. With a Suica card, there is no need to buy tickets for each ride on subways and trains. You can enter and exit the train stations by merely touching the card reader at the ticket gates with your Suica card.

You can also use your IC card to pay at convenience stores, at most vending machines and shops inside train stations, and even some restaurants.

Suica cards are only sold in the eastern Japan area (wherever East Japan Rail operates). This includes the greater Tokyo area and Tohoku (northern Japan).

Suica Card Types

The Suica is available as a physical card or as a mobile app, both of which can be used to pay for rides on any train line that accepts IC card payments in Japan.

Moreover, there is a type of Suica card available exclusively for visitors to Japan called "Welcome Suica." This card has a beautiful Japanese design and can be kept as a souvenir from your trip.

Below we introduce the features of each type of Suica and how to buy them.

1. My Suica

My Suica is a regular Suica IC card available for both residents of Japan and visitors. The owner's name is inscribed on the card, making it a personalized item.

Due to a chip shortage, only Suica cards inscribed with the owner's name are currently on sale, making My Suica the only regular type of Suica available.

You can buy a My Suica at any JR ticket office in the Tokyo area or JR-EAST Travel Centers. My Suica requires a 500 deposit, which will be returned to you if you return the card to a JR-EAST ticket office if you don't need it anymore.

You can charge the My Suica with any sum and use it as electronic money to pay for train rides on any line, for city bus rides, and for shopping at convenience stores, vending machines, and shops that accept IC card payments.

2. Welcome Suica

Image courtesy of JR EAST

Welcome Suica is a physical IC card issued by JR-EAST exclusively for foreign visitors to Japan. If you arrive at Tokyo's Narita Airport or Haneda Airport, you can buy the Welcome Suica at the JR-EAST Travel Service Center within the airport.

The Welcome Suica does not require a deposit. The basic fee is 1,000 yen for both adults and children, and you can charge it with the sum of your choice.

The only limitation is that the Welcome Suica is only valid for 28 days. To find out more visit the official JR-EAST page.

3. Mobile Suica

In order to use the mobile versions of IC cards such as Suica or Pasmo, your phone's region needs to be set to Japan.

With Mobile Suica, just download the app and connect it to your credit card. You can recharge it wherever and whenever you want.

You can either purchase a new Suica card via this app or transfer your old one by scanning it with your mobile camera. Once you have created your Mobile Suica, touch your phone on the card reader whenever you enter or exit the gates at the train stations. Your phone needs to be on but it doesn't need to be unlocked, and you don't need to be connected to WiFi.

Using Google Pay or the iPhone Wallet

We recommend this option especially to foreign residents in Japan due to requirements regarding regional settings.

iPhone users need to activate the Transit Card function of their iPhone Wallet app. You can choose the type of digital IC card you want to use and activate it.

Android users need to open their Google Wallet app and select the E-Money function. You can choose the type of digital IC card you want to use and activate it.

To charge the Mobile Suica, you'll simply have to select Add Money and choose the way you want the transaction to be performed.

4. Welcome Suica Mobile

Picture courtesy of JR EAST

A Welcome Suica Mobile app exclusively for foreign visitors is scheduled to be released in spring 2025.

According to the official press release, the service will initially be available only on iPhone and Apple Watch, and it will be offered in English only. While the physical card has a usage period of 28 days, the Welcome Suica Mobile will be usable for 180 days.

The app also provides tourist information and train operation updates. It allows access to unreserved seating on the Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines (for a fee), making it very convenient.

Other IC Cards: Pasmo, ICOCA (Osaka), and Regional IC Cards

The Suica card is a product sold by JR-EAST. It can be purchased only in Tokyo and eastern Japan, but can be used for payments all around Japan.

But there are many other IC cards with exactly the same functions issued by other vendors. For example, Suica's greatest rival in eastern Japan is the Pasmo card issued by Tokyo Metro.

In the Kyoto-Osaka area, JR-WEST offers the ICOCA card, which can also be used for transportation and payments all around Japan.

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 (shown above) 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.

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

The PASMO PASSPORT is an IC card usable for 28 days. You can purchase it at Narita and Haneda airports, as well as at Tokyo Metro stations like Ueno, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro.

2. ICOCA: Sold 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 mainly planning to travel around Japan by subways, trains, or buses, IC cards are the easiest way to go.

Suica and Japan Rail Pass: The Difference Between Them

If you come to Japan on a tourist visa, you may consider buying a Japan Rail Pass for 7, 14, or 21 days. The Japan Rail Pass allows unlimited travel on JR lines, including bullet train lines, throughout the country at a reasonable price.

Please be aware, however, that the JR Pass is only valid on JR lines! You won't be able to use the services of other railways than JR - this includes the subway networks in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, which are operated by private companies.

A prepaid IC card like Suica/PASMO/ICOCA can be used on almost any train, subway, or bus line in Japan (*except for rural operators that only support paper tickets.)

If your IC card is charged, you don't need to worry about switching to another line than JR. The only disadvantage is that IC cards don't come with the discount that the JR Pass brings.

Our suggestion is to use both! Use the JR Pass for travel around Japan and between cities, and an IC card like Suica in great cities where it's hard to notice when you're switching to another railway.

If you attempt to access a different railway than JR using a JR Pass, you'll be stopped at the ticket gates. Having an IC card like Suica at hand is convenient in such a situation because you can tap it over the scanner at the ticket gate and go your way.

How to Buy a Suica at JR Ticket Vending Machines

Suica and other IC cards can be bought at ticket counters or ticket vending machines.

To buy a Suica, go to to station operated by JR-EAST (any JR station in eastern Japan).

To buy a PASMO, go to a Tokyo Metro station or any other station that is not operated by JR in the Tokyo area.

To buy an ICOCA, go to any station in western Japan that is operated by JR-WEST (any JR station in the Kyoto - Osaka - Hiroshima area).

Follow the directions below to buy a card.

1. Find a Ticket Machine

Ticket vending machines are located near the ticket gates at train stations.

First, we recommend changing the language to English to make the following steps easier.

2. Purchase a New IC Card (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.)

After you change the language setting, you need to press the "Purchase a New IC card" button.

3. Select the Type of Card

You can choose the amount of yen to put on your IC card initially. Anything from 1,000 yen to 10,000 yen is possible. Select the button of the IC card you wish to purchase. In this case, we chose an IC card worth 2,000 yen.

4. Insert Your Payment

If you choose a card worth 2,000 yen, the card itself will have a 1,500 yen charge. The cost of the card itself is 500 yen, which is a refundable deposit.

5. Use Your IC Card

The IC card is ready to use right away. Now you do not have to worry about buying tickets each time you ride on trains, subways, or buses. If the IC card is empty, charge it at one of the ticket machines.

How to Charge the Suica Card

At Convenience Stores

Most of the ticket vending machines of railway companies that accept transportation IC cards have a function for charging the IC cards.

However, the most convenient and easily accessible machine for charging IC cards is the ATM at Japan's 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Picture courtesy of JR-EAST
The first step is to press '電子マネーチャージ' (Electronic Money Charge) at the top of the screen, then place your card in the reading area on the right side.

Next, you will see options for selecting an amount. After choosing the amount, the cover at the bottom will open, and you can insert bills. Wait for a moment, and the charge will be completed, and there are no handling fees, which is very convenient.

You can also ask the store staff for assistance in charging at convenience stores in Japan. When charging, simply say 'Charge' in English, and then state the amount and make the payment in cash.

Convenience stores where you can charge: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, ポプラ (Popura), MINI STOP, and Daily Yamazaki.

Top-up at Major Train Stations

In the initial screen, click on the right side where it says 'チャージ（入金）する' (Charge/Deposit).

After that, the screen will show you several amount options. Press the button showing the amount you want to charge your IC card with, then proceed to insert bills or coins in the same manner as the purchasing steps. (The specific steps may vary depending on the railway company's machine).

How to Use Suica and IC Cards at Ticket Gates and for Shopping

At Ticket Gates within Train Station

Photo by Pixta
The machines of various railway companies may vary slightly, but most of them work as shown in the picture above.

You simply need to lightly touch the card to the blue area, and it will automatically allow passage through the ticket gate. The same procedure applies when exiting the station.

As Electronic Payment Method

IC cards can be used as electronic payment methods (E-Money) for accepting vendors.

In addition to using it for transportation and convenience stores, it can also be used at a wide variety of other stores. For example, well-known drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Daikoku, and Tsuruha, fast-food chains like McDonald's, Matsuya, Coco Ichibanya, Mos Burger, and many more.

Suica Card Information Summary

Get Around with Ease with an IC Card

Whether it's a physical card or a digital version, an IC card is the easiest way to get around and make casual purchases in nearly every area of Japan.