IC Cards in Japan: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and Mobile Setup

An IC card is stored-value transport money. Tap in at the station gate, tap out at the destination, and the correct local fare is deducted. The same balance often works at convenience stores, vending machines and station lockers.

TL;DR: For most visitors, set up a mobile IC card before arrival if your phone and payment card support it. Otherwise buy the visitor or regular card available in your arrival region. Suica, PASMO and ICOCA are broadly interoperable, so you do not need a new card in every city.

01Which card should you choose?

The major transport IC cards share a national interoperability network across much of Japan. A Suica bought in Tokyo can usually pay for local travel in Osaka, and an ICOCA bought in Kansai can usually be used in Tokyo. Exceptions remain on some rural lines, highway buses and routes that cross incompatible IC areas.

02Physical card: how to issue one

At a participating station, use an IC-card ticket machine or visit the staffed counter. English-language instructions are normally available. Visitor cards and sales locations change, so follow the current signs at your airport or major station.

1. Select the IC-card purchase option.
2. Choose adult or child. A child card requires proof of age, normally a passport.
3. Pay the initial amount. Regular cards commonly include a refundable ¥500 deposit; visitor products may have different rules.
4. Keep the card separate from other contactless cards when tapping.
5. Add value at a ticket machine when the balance gets low.

Many station machines require cash for top-ups even when other purchases accept cards. Convenience-store cashiers can also add value: say “charge” and show the amount.

03Mobile IC: the fastest option

Welcome Suica Mobile allows eligible iPhone users to issue and top up a Suica in the app. Apple Wallet can also support transport cards, depending on device region, software and payment-card compatibility. Android support differs by model; an overseas Android phone may not include the required Japanese FeliCa hardware.

Set it up before the airport journey, add a small balance, and confirm Express Transit mode if available. Keep the phone powered: a dead battery can complicate exiting through the gate.

04How to tap correctly

Hold the card or phone flat over the blue reader for a brief moment. The gate screen shows the fare and remaining balance. If the gate closes, step aside rather than trying repeatedly; station staff can read the card and fix an incomplete journey.

Do not tap in with one card and out with another. For limited-express trains and Shinkansen, the IC balance alone may not cover the required seat or express ticket. You may need a separate ticket linked to the card.

05What IC cards cannot do

An IC card is not an unlimited travel pass and it does not automatically reserve seats. It may fail on rural lines, some highway buses, some airport services and journeys that span separate IC-card regions. Look for the national IC symbol; if it is absent, buy a paper ticket or prepare cash.

Visitor cards can expire and unused balance may be non-refundable. Do not load the whole trip budget at once. A ¥2,000–¥4,000 balance is usually enough for ordinary city travel and small purchases.

06Current visitor-card note

PASMO PASSPORT sales ended in 2024. PASMO announced a new TOURIST PASMO product for international visitors in 2026, while JR East continues Welcome Suica and Welcome Suica Mobile. Because sales points and conditions can change, verify them shortly before arrival rather than relying on an old video.

07FAQ

Next reads: Japanese yen and ATMs, JR Pass math and staying connected.