Suica, Welcome Suica, Icoca: Japan IC Cards Explained

IC cards like Suica, Welcome Suica and Icoca are the easiest way to pay for trains, subways, buses, convenience stores, taxis and countless small purchases in Japan.

For most travelers, the simplest option is either:

• install a digital Suica on your iPhone before arriving, or
• buy a physical card at the airport after arriving in Japan.

IC Card Quick Summary

Situation	Best Option
iPhone + Apple Wallet linked to Amex or MasterCard	Digital Suica
Arriving in Tokyo	Welcome Suica or Suica
Arriving at KIX	Icoca
Unsure	Buy any physical IC card after arrival

 

What Most Travelers Should Do

If You Have an iPhone

If your Apple Wallet is linked to a MasterCard or American Express card, install a digital Suica before arriving in Japan. It works exactly like a physical card and is by far the easiest option. (Note: Visa cards do not work for installing IC cards at the present time.)

If You Don’t Have a Compatible iPhone Setup

Buy a physical IC card after landing in Japan:

• arriving in Tokyo: buy a Welcome Suica from a machine at Haneda or Narita or buy a regular Suica at a machine in Tokyo,
• arriving at Kansai Airport (KIX): buy an Icoca card from a machine at KIX or from a machine in Kyoto, Osaka, etc.

All IC cards work throughout Japan (ie, they are not city-specific), so it doesn’t matter which card you buy or where you buy it.

Don’t Stress About This

You don’t need an IC card. Even if you don’t get an IC card right away, don’t worry. Japan is extremely easy to navigate with cash and credit cards. You can always buy tickets normally and get an IC card later. All details about IC cards are provided below.

The Details

What Is an IC Card?

An IC card is a card that allows you to make all kinds of purchases in Japan. The most common types are Suica and Pasmo, which are sold in Tokyo, and Icoca, which is sold in Kansai. Special versions of Suica and Pasmo are available to tourists and these are called Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport. Note that tourists can use either the regular or tourist versions of these cards.

Why Get an IC Card?

IC cards are incredibly convenient. They allow you to make purchases without winding up with a pocket full of loose change. They also allow you to ride local transport without ever having to calculate the fare; you just tap in and tap out (make sure you have sufficient balance on your card to cover your journey).

Where Can You Use an IC Card? Are They City-Specific?

IC cards are not city-specific – they all work everywhere in Japan. For example, if you buy an Icoca in Kansai, you can then use it in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyushu, etc. Or, you can buy a Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport in Tokyo and use it in Kyoto, Osaka and elsewhere. You can use an IC card to make almost any small purchase in Japan (as long as the place has an IC card reader). Here are some places you can use your IC card:

• local trains (both JR and private lines)
• local buses
• subways
• taxis
• convenience stores
• many restaurants
• many shops
• coin lockers
• vending machines

For more details on using an IC card (or a digital IC card, which works the same way), see Pay for Almost Anything with an IC Card on Your iPhone in Japan.

Where Can You Get an IC Card?

Regular Suica cards are available from black machines at major train stations in Tokyo. Here’s an article on where to buy a Suica at Tokyo Station. Here’s a picture of one such machine:

Welcome Suica cards are available at Haneda and Narita airports and at JR East Travel Service Centers in the following train stations: Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Ikebukuro, and Ueno. For details on buying a Welcome Suica on arrival in Tokyo, see How To Get an IC Card. If you arrive at Kansai International Airport, you can buy an ordinary Icoca card from a machine at the airport or at Kyoto Station or Osaka Station (among others). Other major Japanese cities also have their own versions of the IC card, which are also usable almost everywhere in Japan.

Where Can You Charge a Physical IC Card?

You can charge an IC card at train and subway stations that have IC card charging machines, at most convenience stores, and at 7-11 ATMs in Japan. Note that you must use cash to charge the card. For more on charging IC cards, see How to Charge a Suica, Pasmo or Icoca Card.

You May Be Able to Install a Digital IC Card Like Suica if You Have an iPhone

If you have an iPhone and your Apple Wallet is linked to an American Express or MasterCard, you can install a digital IC card on your phone. This saves you from having to carry around a physical card. If your Apple Wallet is only linked to a Visa card, this will not work (because you cannot charge an IC card with a Visa card, which is necessary to install one). To learn how to add a digital IC card to your iPhone, see iPhone: The Killer Japan Travel Hack. Finally, if your Apple Wallet is not linked to a MasterCard or Amex card, you can still import a physical Icoca card into your phone (see later in this article).

You Can Import a Physical Card Like Suica into an iPhone

If you have an iPhone but your Apple Wallet is not linked to Amex or MasterCard, you can buy a physical IC card like Suica or Icoca and “import” it into your phone. To learn how to do this, see How to Import an IC Card Into Your iPhone. You can then charge your digital Icoca card at train stations and convenience stores.

You Don’t Need an IC Card!

If all this is just too confusing, or you just like to go old school, don’t worry: You don’t need an IC card. Japan is one of the world’s most cash-friendly societies and you can use Japanese yen cash anywhere. Of course, you’ll also want to have a credit card or two for bigger purchases. For more details, see Getting Money in Japan.

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