Suica Card Guide 2024: Where to Buy & How to Use

Most everyone knows that a Suica card is a must-have item for smoother travel in Japan… don’t they?

This prepaid, rechargeable IC card issued by the East Japan Railway Company can be used on various public transport, and as e-money at stores where Suica is accepted. You could compare it to London’s Oyster card, South Korea’s T-money, or Hong Kong’s Octopus card.

But a chip shortage since 2023 has made it much harder to get one. Read this newest guide and learn where and how to buy a Suica card in 2024, and how to get the most out of it.

Just want to buy one now, while you can? Check below for more details!

If you just want unlimited travel around Tokyo or Japan, you can easily book a Tokyo Subway Ticket or Japan Rail Pass instead!

Since last summer, an international shortage of IC (integrated circuit) chips made these handy little cards notoriously hard to get. As of August 2024, regular sales have still not resumed: locals can only get one as a commuter pass, or a virtual Suica on their (Japanese) phone or Apple Watch.

The “virtual Suica” is also an option for visiting iPhone users; read on for more about that.

Tourists, however, can get the red Welcome Suica, which lasts for 28 days. Since you can order a Welcome Suica online, it’s the most reliable option for many. Pre-order pickup is only at Haneda Airport, though limited stock is available from Narita Airport since July 20.

But the hottest news — still not widely known — is that you (meaning visitors) can buy a regular Suica again! With absolutely zero fanfare, JR East quietly posted a notice on their website that pretty much flew under the radar. A warning though: they clearly state that stock is not guaranteed. We have seen people turned away at the JR East Travel Service Center, so still recommend pre-ordering.

A new Welcome Suica app is also coming in 2025. But that's a long time away, and only for iPhone, so don't hold your breath.

Suica is a prepaid transportation card, with the main function of allowing ticketless travel across Japan’s transportation network. Load it with cash, and you’re ready to ride without touching a ticket machine or figuring out fares.

There a many of these IC (integrated chip) cards in Japan. Each is issued by a different service provider, but virtually interchangeable. Suica is the IC card issued by JR East, who operate much of the rail network around Tokyo (and east Japan). As such, it’s the best-known pass among visitors.

As well as simplifying train, bus, and subway travel, you can use the credit on your Suica to pay at many convenience stores and vending machines — a great convenience in a land where cash is king and credit cards may not be accepted.

Nobody should travel Japan without one!

The Welcome Suica was specifically created with visitors in mind. There’s no deposit like the regular Suica card, so you have no need to return it. In fact, many people keep their Suica as a souvenir anyway, and the Welcome Suica bears a red sakura design to encourage this. It also expires after 28 days, so is unsuitable for a long stay.

When JR East stopped issuing regular Suica cards last year, they kept supplying Welcome Suica for travelers only, while asking locals to use digital alternatives. So, it may be your best bet! 

Supply of Welcome Suica is not 100% guaranteed either, but you can order them online, to be sure yours is ready for pickup on arrival. As of August 2024, you can pick up the pre-ordered card at Haneda Airport, or try to buy at the monorail station!

It used to be that you could buy a new Suica card at JR East ticket machines all over the place. But since the general sale of new cards stopped, things are less convenient — although a bit simpler!
Here are your options:

1) Buy a 28-day Welcome Suica (online/Haneda Airport/Narita Airport)

For those using Haneda Airport, the Welcome Suica is the most reliable choice because you can order in advance online, and collect it when you arrive. You’ll want to order 2 days in advance, and pick it up from Haneda Airport Terminal 3, on the third-floor Departures Hall. 

If you forget to pre-order you can also try to buy one onsite, if there is stock. They are sold at Narita Airport Terminals 1–3 and Haneda Airport Terminal 3, from vending machines and JR East Travel Service Center. Limited to one per person, while stocks last.

Welcome Suica requires no deposit, since it’s meant for you to keep. If you order online, be sure to charge it up before trying to use it. If you buy one onsite, you can choose one with 1,000 or 2,000 JPY credit from the start.

2) Try your luck for a standard Suica card (Narita Airport and certain stations)

Although JR East has warned they might sell out, tourists (only) can once again buy the standard green Suica at certain locations. If you’re not using an airport where Welcome Suica is sold, try your luck at Narita Airport (Terminal 1 Station or Terminal 2・3 Station), or the JR East Travel Service Center in one of these major Tokyo train stations: Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, or Ueno Station.

You can check the location and opening hours of each Service Center here.

For a standard Suica card, choose a starting charge of 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, or 10,000 JPY. 500 of that is a partially refundable 500 JPY deposit.

3) Get a Suica card on your Apple Wallet

Travelers wielding an iPhone 8 or newer, or an Apple Watch from Series 3 or later, have another option: the Apple Wallet. You’ll need to have an eligible payment card in your Wallet, since your journeys will be fueled by Apple Pay. The process is intuitive and straightforward, but you can follow the instructions from Apple if you get stuck. Not all payment cards will work, but credit card is much more likely to be accepted than debit.

You can do a bit more if you also get the official Suica iPhone app, like buying certain Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets. The app is only in Japanese though, so could be more trouble than it’s worth for most visitors.

Note: there is also the Mobile Suica app for Android. But it will only work on a phone sold in Japan, so we’ll speak no more of it here.

If your balance is running low, you can charge a Suica card at a ticket machine or at many of the stores and restaurants where you might pay with it (see the list here). If you find yourself out of credit when you try passing the gates at the end of a journey, you can usually find a fare adjustment machine nearby, inside the gates, for a quick top-up.

Be sure to have cash on hand though: you can’t top up with credit card unless you’re renewing a commuter pass, or the Suica is on your iPhone. Using the ticket machines is pretty easy. Just look for the button to change language, usually in the top-right corner, then follow the instructions on-screen.

Using a Suica card could hardly be easier — that’s the point!

To use your Suica simply tap it on the IC card reader of the ticket gate (shown above) at the start and end of your journey. It will show the total fare and remaining balance on a small screen.

If your Suica is rejected for whatever reason, just scoot over to the staffed gate and someone will get you sorted out in no time. If you’re out of credit, you can top it up there on the spot.

Riding the bus or tram is a bit more variable. On the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) you tap once after boarding, then simply get off at any stop as it’s a single flat fare. If the fare depends on the distance travelled, you tap on and off like with the train. Look for an IC reader when you board, or you could be charged the maximum fare if your boarding point can’t be verified when alighting.

Where can Suica take you?

You can use Suica to ride almost anywhere in the Greater Tokyo Area. It’s valid on most lines run by private companies, including Tokyo’s whole metro/subway network, and Tokyu, Keikyu, Seibu, Tobu, and Keio trains and buses lines. Download the Tokyo area network map here!

Naturally, it’s usable on all JR East bus and train lines in Suica zones: Tokyo metropolitan area, Niigata area, Sendai area, and more. Tokyo Monorail included.

Suica is also valid on smart card transit systems across Japan including Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka, as it’s interchangeable with each area’s card. Click here for a map of cooperating areas, including (but not limited to):

• Nagoya area: manaca and TOICA cards
• Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, etc.): PiTaPa and ICOCA cards
• Hiroshima area: ICOCA card
• Fukuoka area: SUGOCA card

Basically, most anywhere with an IC card reader at the ticket gate will accept a Suica card.

One key restriction is that you can’t use it to ride from area to area, unless you buy a Shinkansen ticket with it (easier said than done – we recommend QR Code Shinkansen tickets). If you are riding from Nagoya to Kyoto for example, you need to end your Suica ride at the edge of one area and restart at the next.

Another limit is that some special trains require an extra “limited express” fare, which is not covered by the Suica card. As well as the Shinkansen, this includes the Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport, and Haruka Express to Kansai International Airport. Buy your ticket for these kind of trains separately. Ordering online often grants a discount.

To know if Suica is usable at a store or restaurant, look for the green Suica logo or the brown and red “IC” icon to indicate it’s accepted. Or just ask. Suica is accepted all over the place. Even a lot of vending machines have a Suica reader, which is great since they probably won’t take credit card and you don’t really want to carry a fistful of coins all over Japan with you.

While a Suica card is a must-have for easy urban travel in Japan, there are a few more items the savvy wayfarer shouldn’t miss. Be sure to consider these items for an easier trip!

• A Pocket WiFi or data SIM to always stay connected
• Airport express train tickets for Narita or Kansai International Airport
• Luggage forwarding services for unburdened exploration
• For adventurers, a JR Pass for unlimited rail travel across the nation

Can I charge my Suica card with a credit card?

• Only when you purchase a commuter pass for it, or if it is on Mobile Suica/Apple Wallet. In all other cases, you much charge it with cash.

Can I charge my Suica card at a convenience store?

• Yes, just show it at the cash register and say “charge please” and the staff will guide you.

Is it worth buying a Suica Card?

• Yes, the small investment of buying a Suica will soon pay off in a lot of saved time and hassle. You won't have to handle tickets or cash for most journeys, convenience store visits, or vending machines.

How much can I save by using Suica card?

• Using a Suica is a bit cheaper than buying tickets. The savings are not huge, but you get a small discount on each ride, usually a few yen. The exact discount is variable. A Welcome Suica can also come with an “IC Special Pass” that gives unlimited travel around Tokyo for one day.

How can I buy Shinkansen tickets with a Suica card?

• Unless you’re fluent in Japanese, it is much easier to buy Shinkansen tickets separately. But, if you are confident, there are services provided by JR East in Japanese called Touch de Go! Shinkansen and Shinkansen e-ticket. Use either of these to ride without a physical ticket.

Can two people use the same Suica card?

• No, each person needs their own Suica card, to properly track entry and exit at each station.

How long does a Suica card last?

• The Welcome Suica for visitors lasts 28 days from the first use. A standard green Suica is valid up to 10 years since the last top-up.

What are the other benefits of using a Suica card?

• The main benefit using Suica is convenience: travel is so much smoother when you don’t need to calculate fares, buy tickets, or feed them through ticket gates. You avoid any trouble arising from using the wrong ticket, and you’ll carry far fewer coins on your travels!