What is Suica?
Suica is a rechargeable IC card developed by JR East, serving as your pass for all public transit in Tokyo — metro, JR trains, buses, monorail. You can also use it to pay at convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart), Starbucks, vending machines and hundreds of other places. Pasmo is essentially the same card from a different operator — they work at all the same gates.
The card works throughout Japan, not just Tokyo. Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka — same card.
A new physical Suica costs ¥500 as a refundable deposit on top of the initial load. Return the card when you leave and you get the ¥500 back. Digital Suica (Apple/Google Wallet) has no deposit.
Three ways to get a Suica
1. Digital Suica — iPhone or Android
The best option in 2025. On iPhone, add Suica directly to Apple Wallet before leaving home. Same works with Google Wallet on Android. Top up from the app with a Mastercard or Visa card. No physical card, no queuing at machines, no ¥500 deposit.
Tapping at gates works exactly like a physical card — phone to the reader, green light, you're through.
Wallet → + → Transit Cards → Suica. You need a Japanese or international card. Your balance transfers automatically to a new phone.
2. Physical Suica — from a machine
Available at Narita or Haneda airport right in the arrivals hall. At JR stations, the red machines sell Suica for cash — select "Suica", ¥500 deposit + desired balance (recommend ¥2,000–3,000 to start). Machines have an English menu.
3. Welcome Suica — for visitors
Welcome Suica is the tourist version with no deposit, but it's only valid for 28 days and can't be refunded or reloaded after that. Available at Narita/Haneda airports and some hotels. If your trip is under 4 weeks, it works — but digital is still the most convenient.
Topping up
Physical card can be topped up at all metro and JR station green machines, in cash. Digital card loads directly from the app by card. Popular amount: ¥1,000–3,000 at a time. Remember that cash is the only option in many places in Japan — but Suica works at convenience stores, cafes and grocery stores.
Suica vs. JR Pass — which is worth it?
| Feature | Suica / IC | JR Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pay only what you use | 7 days ~¥50,000, 14 days ~¥80,000 |
| Tokyo local transit | All lines | JR lines only (no metro) |
| Shinkansen | Not included (pay separately) | All Shinkansen trains |
| Convenience store purchases | ✓ | ✗ |
| Best if... | Staying mostly in Tokyo or making 1–2 day trips | Travelling to multiple cities by train across the whole trip |
Summary: If you're only in Tokyo or making at most one day trip, Suica is all you need. JR Pass only makes financial sense if you're riding the Shinkansen frequently — think Tokyo–Osaka–Kyoto–Hiroshima style trips.
Use code 7PVH85 at checkout.
Where does Suica work?
Suica works anywhere displaying the IC mark. In practice that means:
- ✓All metro and JR lines in Tokyo
- ✓Narita Express, Limousine Bus, Tokyo Monorail
- ✓7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop
- ✓McDonald's, Starbucks, Excelsior Caffè
- ✓Almost all vending machines at stations
- ✓Some taxis (Didi, Go app taxis)
- ✗Most restaurants, smaller department store sections — cash or card needed
Returning the card
Physical Suica can be returned on departure day at JR service windows (Midori no Madoguchi). You get the ¥500 deposit back plus remaining balance, minus a ¥220 handling fee. If your balance is under ¥220, you get nothing back — worth spending it down before leaving.
Digital Suica doesn't get returned — the balance stays on the card and you can use it on your next trip or let it expire.