Japan Suica Card Guide: IC Transit Card for Trains, Buses & Convenience Stores

Suica (スイカ) is a rechargeable IC (integrated circuit) transit card issued by JR East, usable on trains, buses, and for payments at convenience stores, vending machines, and many retail shops across Japan. The name comes from "Super Urban Intelligent CArd" and the Japanese word suika (watermelon) — reflected in the card's green watermelon stripe design.

For travelers, Suica is the single most convenient payment tool in Japan. One card handles: - JR trains across most of Japan (including Tokyo's complex Yamanote Line, Chuo Line, and intercity services) - Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and most private rail lines - Buses in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and most major cities - Monorails, trams, and ferries in select areas - Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) - Vending machines throughout the country - Lockers, kiosks, and select retail at stations - IC card-compatible parking, taxis, and bicycle sharing in some cities

Without an IC card, you must calculate fares and buy paper tickets for every journey — a time-consuming process in a transit network as complex as Tokyo's. With Suica, you tap in and tap out automatically; the correct fare is deducted without any calculation required.

Other IC cards — Pasmo (Tokyo/Kanto private rail), Icoca (Osaka/West Japan), Toica (Nagoya), Kitaca (Hokkaido), Nimoca (Fukuoka) — are interoperable with Suica and with each other. If you already have any IC card, you can use it nationally. There is no practical reason to hold multiple cards.

Physical Suica card at JR East stations: The most straightforward method. Go to any JR East ticket machine (green machines, labeled in English) at stations including Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Narita Airport, or Haneda Airport. Select "Suica" or "IC card" and choose the initial load amount (minimum ¥1,000; the machine issues the card with that balance loaded). A ¥500 deposit is collected and returned when you return the card.

Welcome Suica (tourist version): A limited-edition Suica card without the ¥500 deposit, valid for 28 days from first use, then non-refundable. Available at airport JR ticket offices (Narita and Haneda). Convenient because there's no deposit to reclaim, but the expiry means it's less suitable for longer trips or return visits.

Suica on iPhone or Apple Watch: Apple Pay's Suica integration allows you to add Suica digitally to an iPhone (iPhone 8 or later) or Apple Watch (Series 3 or later). You can load yen directly using a credit or debit card. Setup requires the Wallet app and is done before or during your trip. Mobile Suica works identically to physical Suica at transit readers and payment terminals — tap your phone or watch. The Apple Pay Suica also allows top-up from anywhere in the world, making it more flexible than a physical card.

Android Suica: Android phones supporting Osaifu-Keitai (FeliCa/NFC) can use Mobile Suica via the Suica app. This feature requires a FeliCa chip, which is standard in Japanese Android phones but not all international models. Check your phone's specifications.

Pasmo and other IC cards: Pasmo (issued by private Tokyo rail operators) is fully interoperable with Suica and available at the same kinds of ticket machines. For travelers arriving at Kansai airports, Icoca is available from JR West machines at the airport and works identically to Suica nationally. Any IC card will serve the same function.

Suica can be charged (recharged, "topped up," or in Japanese, "charge suru") at multiple locations:

JR ticket machines: The most reliable method. Insert your card and select "Charge" (チャージ). Available amounts are typically ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000. Most machines accept both cash and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; Amex at select machines). The maximum Suica balance is ¥20,000.

Convenience store registers: At 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, and most other major chains, you can charge Suica at the register. Hand the cashier your card, indicate the amount, and pay cash. Note: IC card charges at registers are cash-only at most konbini (not credit/debit).

Suica app (mobile only): The Suica app allows credit card top-up for mobile Suica. Some credit cards issued outside Japan may not work; Visa and Mastercard generally do, but 3D Secure authentication may be required. Apple Pay Suica can be topped up from any Apple Pay-compatible card.

Vending machines: Many station vending machines accept Suica for payment and also have a charge function. Less common outside major stations.

Recommended approach: Load ¥3,000–¥5,000 at the start of your trip and top up at konbini when your balance drops below ¥500. The machines at konbini are seamless and fast. Keep at least ¥200 on the card at all times — gates will not open if your balance is insufficient for the next journey.

Low balance gates: If you tap out and have insufficient balance, the gate will beep and not open. Go to a fare adjustment machine (精算機) near the gate to pay the balance owed; these machines accept cash and sometimes cards.

On trains: Suica works at all JR and most private rail gates with an IC card reader — identifiable by the yellow and orange card-reader panel with a round or rectangular touch area. Tap once when entering (tap the reader as you pass through) and once when exiting. The fare is calculated automatically based on the distance traveled and deducted from your balance. You do not need to know the fare in advance.

Changing lines mid-journey: When transferring between rail lines within the same fare zone (e.g., from JR to Tokyo Metro at a connected station), you may not need to exit the fare gates — follow the transfer signs. When exiting one system and entering another with a separate gate, tap out and in at each gate.

On buses: Most city buses in Tokyo and other major cities have an IC card reader near the driver or at the front/rear door. Tap once when boarding (on buses with flat fares) or twice — once when boarding and once when alighting (on distance-fare buses). The driver or a sign on the bus indicates the method.

Shinkansen and limited express trains: Suica can be used for local fares on the Shinkansen platform if you have a separate shinkansen ticket or IC card reservation. Standard JR rails where Suica covers the fare do not require separate shinkansen tickets. For reserved shinkansen seats, purchase the shinkansen ticket separately (at a JR ticket window or via the Shinkansen IC reservation system).

What Suica does NOT cover: Suica covers IC card-compatible transit but not shinkansen or limited express surcharges. If your journey requires a tokkyu (express) surcharge, you'll pay that separately. The machine or app will prompt you if a non-IC segment is included.

IC card exemptions: Some rural lines, heritage railways, and tourist railways do not accept IC cards — they operate paper-ticket systems only. Check before boarding if you're exploring areas outside major cities.

Beyond transit, Suica functions as a contactless payment method at any establishment displaying the IC card or "交通系IC" logo:

Convenience stores: Suica is accepted at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, and most other konbini chains. Tap the reader at checkout — payment is instant and no PIN is required for amounts under ¥10,000–¥20,000 (limits vary by establishment).

Vending machines: The majority of train station vending machines and many street-side machines accept IC card payment. Look for the IC card logo on the machine. Tap the card area after selecting your item.

Station shops and restaurants: Shops within JR and major private rail station buildings (ecute, GranSta, Lumine, etc.) predominantly accept IC cards. Many restaurants adjacent to stations also accept them.

Retail expansion: Major chains including McDonald's, Starbucks, and many department stores now accept IC card payment. The penetration is highest in Tokyo and Osaka; rural areas may have more limited IC card acceptance at retail.

Suica balance for purchases: The same ¥20,000 maximum balance applies to payment uses. Loading more frequently is necessary if you use Suica extensively for both transit and purchases. Some travelers keep a higher balance specifically for convenience store shopping.

Receipt: IC card transactions at retail generate a receipt just like card payments. You can request one at the register — otherwise, the transaction is recorded in the Suica app or on the card's chip history.

Physical Suica card: When leaving Japan, you can return your physical Suica at any JR East station with a ticket window (midori no madoguchi). The ¥500 deposit is refunded along with your remaining balance, minus a ¥220 handling fee if balance remains. Net refund = balance + ¥500 deposit - ¥220 (if balance > 0); or ¥500 deposit - ¥220 = ¥280 if balance is zero.

Welcome Suica: No deposit was collected, and remaining balance after 28 days is not refundable. No return process needed.

Mobile Suica: Balance remains accessible indefinitely. If you want to withdraw the balance, the Suica app supports balance transfer to a bank account (Japanese bank only) or cash-out at some JR East windows.

Keeping Suica for return visits: Many regular Japan visitors simply keep their Suica card and bring it back on future trips. The card does not expire (balance is held for 10 years without use). This is often more practical than returning and getting a new card on each visit.

Balance transfer between cards: You cannot transfer balance between two physical Suica cards. Mobile Suica allows balance to be moved between devices. If you have multiple IC cards and want to consolidate, do this at a JR ticket window before departure.

If you lose your Suica: Physical Suica cards are not linked to identity and cannot be cancelled or replaced if lost. Mobile Suica (on iPhone or Android) is tied to the device and can be recovered if the device is replaced through the Suica app and Apple/Google account process.