Suica Card in Japan: The Complete Guide for Tourists (2026)

Short answer: Suica is JR East's rechargeable IC card for trains, buses, taxis and shops across Japan. Tourists have three options: Welcome Suica Mobile (iPhone and Apple Watch only, valid 180 days, top up with Apple Pay), the physical Welcome Suica card (no deposit, valid 28 days, balance not refundable), or a regular Suica card (with a deposit, refundable balance). The maximum balance is ¥20,000, and it works in Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and most other regions.

Why a Suica card is the first thing to sort out in Japan

If there's one thing that makes a trip to Japan genuinely easy, it's a Suica card. Instead of standing at a ticket machine, deciphering a route map in Japanese and working out the fare, you simply tap the card at the gate and walk through.

But Suica is much more than a train card. You can pay with it in convenience stores, at drink machines, at lockers and even in taxis. In this guide we explain what Suica is, how to get one as a tourist in 2026, and where else you can use it.

What is Suica and how does it work?

Suica is a rechargeable smart card from the railway company JR East, which also works as an electronic payment method. You load money onto it in advance, and each ride or purchase is deducted from the balance. The card launched in November 2001.

On trains it works like this: tap the card at the gate as you enter the station and again as you exit, and the system calculates the fare automatically. On buses, tap the reader when you get on and off.

How to get a Suica: three options for tourists

Tourists now have three ways to get a Suica. After a chip shortage halted card sales in 2023, sales of regular unregistered Suica cards resumed on March 1, 2025.

Welcome Suica Mobile: the recommended choice for iPhone users

JR East's app for tourists launched in March 2025. Download it, issue a Suica directly in the app and add it to Apple Wallet, with no queue at the airport. You can set everything up before your flight.

Since spring 2026 you can also use the app to book reserved Shinkansen seats and Green Car tickets on JR East local trains. The downside: there's no Android version.

Welcome Suica: a physical card with no deposit

The red tourist card is sold at JR East service centers at Narita and Haneda airports and at major stations such as Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Ueno, as well as at dedicated machines in the airport stations. As a rule, one card is sold per person. It suits Android users and anyone who prefers a card in hand.

Regular Suica

The regular green card is on sale again at station machines. It comes with a deposit, but the balance is refundable and the card doesn't expire after 28 days. It suits travelers who plan to come back to Japan.

Topping up and balance

The maximum balance on a Suica is ¥20,000. With Welcome Suica Mobile you top up in the app using a credit card registered in Apple Pay.

Physical cards are topped up with cash at ticket machines in stations. Remember: with Welcome Suica, both the card and the app, the balance isn't refunded and expires with the card. Top up in small amounts and use up what's left before your flight home.

Where else can you use Suica?

Suica works almost everywhere in Japan, not just in Tokyo and not just on trains. It's used for trains, buses and taxis, and for payment in shops with the IC logo.

Across Japan, not just Tokyo

Thanks to the nationwide interoperability service, Suica is also accepted in areas served by other local cards:

In other words, the same Suica you bought in Tokyo works on the Osaka metro, on trains in Kyoto and on buses in Fukuoka. Heading to Kansai? See our one-day Osaka itinerary and one day in Kyoto.

Beyond transport

• Convenience stores: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson and other chains with the IC logo.
• Drink machines: most machines in stations, and many on the street.
• Lockers: at station lockers the card is used both to pay and as the key. Tap to lock, and tap again to open.
• Taxis: in taxis with the IC logo.
• Kiosks, restaurants and shops in stations and airports.

The simple rule: if you see the Suica logo or the logo of one of the cards in the table, you can pay with it.

Tips and common mistakes

• Don't cross regions in one ride. You can't use Suica for a continuous journey between two different IC areas. For a trip like that, buy a regular ticket.
• The Shinkansen is a different story. Tapping a Suica on its own doesn't cover a bullet train ride. You need to book a ticket, usually through the rail companies' booking services.
• Keep enough balance to exit. If your balance is too low, the gate won't open and you'll need to top up at a fare adjustment machine near the exit.
• Check the app before your flight. JR East notes that in some countries downloading or topping up is restricted by law, and that the app requires location services. Install it and make sure everything works before you leave home.

Don't forget internet

Welcome Suica Mobile needs an internet connection to issue a Suica and top it up. Navigating between lines, translating signs and booking the Shinkansen also only work with data. With an eSIM for Japan you're connected from the moment the plane lands, can top up your Suica at the airport and head straight off. Note that travel eSIMs in Japan are data-only: here's why tourists can't get a Japanese phone number.

Frequently asked questions

Does Suica work in Osaka and Kyoto?

Yes. Suica is accepted in the ICOCA and PiTaPa areas, which include Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

Can I use Welcome Suica Mobile on Android?

No. The app is available for iPhone and Apple Watch only. Android users can buy a physical Welcome Suica or a regular Suica.

What's the difference between Suica and PASMO?

For a tourist there's no practical difference. Both work on trains, buses and in shops in all interoperable areas.

Can I get my balance refunded at the end of the trip?

With Welcome Suica, card or app, no. With a regular Suica card you can get a refund.

How much money should I load?

It depends on your route. For city travel in Tokyo, load a small amount and top up as needed, since the Welcome Suica balance isn't refunded.

Shopping in Japan too? Read about the new tax-free refund system from November 2026.