Transport & DrivingBy Clever Tourists · Published
Japan's rail and subway network is the most efficient transit system on earth, and having an interoperable contactless IC card (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) makes riding trains, hopping city buses, and buying vending machine snacks effortless. Here is how to set up your card before and upon arrival.
Free toolWork out the exact tip on any bill →Pick the country, enter the bill and get the tip in local currency — including the places where service is already on the bill.If you use an iPhone, you don't need to hunt down a physical plastic card. You can add a digital Suica or Pasmo card directly into Apple Wallet in under 60 seconds with no deposit fee. Our Suica on iPhone and Android guide walks through the setup, cash top-ups when a card is declined, and what Android users do instead.
Open Apple Wallet, tap the '+' button, select 'Transit Cards', choose Japan, and select Suica or Pasmo. Top up the balance instantly using a Mastercard or AMEX card linked to Apple Pay (foreign Visa cards often encounter security blocks on transit top-ups; Mastercard functions reliably).
Due to global semiconductor supply fluctuations, standard rechargeable Suica cards have limited availability. In response, JR East and Tokyo Metro issue dedicated tourist IC cards: Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport.
These physical cards require no initial 500-yen deposit, are valid for 28 days from issuance, and can be purchased at Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, and major central Tokyo JR stations. Any remaining balance at the end of your trip is non-refundable, so spend down your remaining yen at airport konbini shops before flying home.
Japan's 10 major transit IC card systems are mutually interoperable. A Suica or Pasmo card purchased in Tokyo works seamlessly on Kyoto city buses, Osaka subways, the Hankyu Railway, and Nara local lines.
Similarly, if you land in Osaka or Kansai International Airport, you can buy an ICOCA card that works just as effectively across Tokyo and Hokkaido. Simply tap the illuminated card reader at ticket gates (in and out) and board without buying individual paper tickets.
IC cards function as universal digital cash throughout urban Japan. Look for the IC card reader logo at 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart convenience stores, platform beverage vending machines, and station baggage coin lockers.
Tap your phone or physical card against the glowing reader to pay for onigiri, bottled green tea, or daily lockers in seconds, eliminating the pocketful of heavy 100-yen coins travelers traditionally accumulate. For shrine visits where coin offerings (saisen) still require cash, and what clothing to wear, consult our guide to What Is the Dress Code at Temples and Shrines in Japan and South Korea?.
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