Suica Card Guide: 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.

A chip shortage in 2023 made them unattainable for a while, but they are back with a vengeance now! So, we've updated this guide with the latest details on where and how to buy a Suica card in 2025 — and how to get the most use from it.

Just want to buy now to be ready for your trip? Click below and collect at the airport!

In summer 2023, an international shortage of IC (integrated circuit) chips made these handy little cards notoriously hard to get. Luckily, in 2025 there's a host of options to choose from, and you can collect a Suica at Narita or Haneda Airport right after landing.

The big news in 2025 though is the Welcome Suica Mobile app!

After much anticipation, JR East finally launched their Welcome Suica Mobile app on March 6 of this year, but you might prefer the other options described below. 

Adding a “virtual Suica” to your Apple Wallet is still an option for iPhone users too, and seems more reliable for now. Read on below for a comparison!

And yes, the new app is only for iPhone and Apple Watch, so Android users still need a physical card (or a Japanese phone).

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, 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 in 2023, they kept supplying Welcome Suica for travelers, while asking locals to use digital alternatives. Now there's a Welcome Suica app as well, which is more convenient but less of a sentimental keepsake.

Welcome Suica is not available everywhere, but as of March 2025, is sold at both major Tokyo airports, and 8 JR train stations. iPhone users can also use the new Welcome Suica Mobile app, which is easier to get, but less suitable as a keepsake.

The Welcome Suica Mobile app

JR East launched their Welcome Suica Mobile app on March 6, 2025, after much anticipation, but still room for improvements so you may prefer adding a Suica to your Apple wallet.

All the same, there are some pros as well as cons compared to using Apple Wallet:

Pros

• Ride the Shinkansen without buying tickets (Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku lines)
• Buy 1-day travel passes from inside the app to save money on busy travel days
• The "JR East Rewards" system grants some discounts and benefits, like 500 JPY shopping coupons

Cons

• Registration process can be frustrating
• Can only create your Welcome Suica in Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, or South Korea
• Balance expires after 180 days

JR East plans to add compatibility with Narita Express in fall 2025, and Green Car (first-class) seat reservations in 2026. So, watch this space to see if the app eventually takes off.

It used to be that you could buy a new Suica at JR East ticket machines everywhere, and the magic green cards were in every smart traveler's hands. Now in 2025, after a 3-year global semiconductor crisis, the Suica is back. But we now have several options to consider:

2) Buy a 28-day Welcome Suica (Haneda/Narita Airport and JR stations)

For those flying into Tokyo, the Welcome Suica is sold at Narita Airport Terminal 1, 2, or 3, and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (Tokyo Monorail) Station. Now the standard Suica is back, the main reason to choose a Welcome Suica is if you like the design. If that's you, visit the JR EAST Travel Service Center or a Welcome Suica Ticket Vending Machine.

After the airport, they are also sold at the JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ TOKYO, and the service centers of Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station, Ueno Station, and Takanawa Gateway Station in Tokyo. Also at Yokohama Station, and Sendai Station way up north.

Welcome Suica requires no deposit, since it’s meant for you to keep. They now come with the same choice of starting charge as a standard Suica (1,000 to 10,000 JPY). But unlike standard Suica, you can't reclaim any unused credit at the end of your trip.

3) Add a Suica card or the newest app 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.

As of March 2025, there's also the Welcome Suica Mobile App for iPhone and Apple Watch. You may want to do some quick research to see which option is better for you.

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. 

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 getting QR Code ticket vouchers unless using the Welcome Suica app). 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. The Welcome Suica Mobile app expires after 180 days (can be reissued). 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!