Suica Card Guide 2026: How to Get and Use It
Introduction
The Suica card is a rechargeable IC card you tap to ride trains, buses, the metro, and to pay at konbini and vending machines across Japan. If you take more than 2 trains, you need one — buying paper tickets every time is slow and expensive.
This guide covers everything: how to get one, how to top up, how to use it anywhere in the country, and how to get your money back.
What is Suica?
Suica was introduced in 2001 by JR East. The name combines “Super Urban Intelligent CArd” with the Japanese word suica (watermelon — a play on the green colour). It’s a contactless smart card containing a balance of yen, used by simply touching it to a gate or terminal.
Today, Suica works on virtually every train and bus in Japan, plus most konbini, vending machines and many shops.
Three ways to get Suica
Option 1: Mobile Suica (recommended)
Add Suica directly to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
iPhone (XS or newer, sold anywhere in the world):
- Open Wallet app → tap + in top right
- Tap Transit Card → Japan → Suica
- Choose an initial top-up amount (¥1,000 minimum)
- Pay with Apple Pay
- Done — touch your phone to any gate
Android (most modern phones):
- Open Google Wallet → Add to Wallet → Transit pass
- Search Suica
- Top up using a registered credit card
Why mobile Suica is best: No deposit, instant top-up by phone, never lose it.
Option 2: Welcome Suica (tourist physical card)
A green-and-white version specifically for tourists.
- Where: JR ticket offices at Narita, Haneda, Tokyo Station and other major hubs
- Cost: Pay only the load (¥1,000+) — no ¥500 deposit
- Duration: Valid 28 days from purchase
- Refund: No refund on remaining balance — use it up before leaving
Option 3: Regular physical Suica
The classic green card. Requires a ¥500 deposit, refundable when you return the card.
- Where: JR ticket offices and ticket vending machines (look for English mode)
- Note: As of 2024-2025, personalised Suica cards are temporarily restricted due to chip shortages — non-personalised “unnamed” cards may also be limited at some stations. Mobile Suica works without restrictions.
How to use Suica
On trains and metro
- Tap your card or phone on the blue panel at the gate to enter
- Tap again on the way out
- The fare is automatically calculated and deducted
If your balance is too low, the gate won’t open — top up at any fare adjustment machine before exiting.
On buses
- Boarding: tap on the reader near the door (most lines: pay on board)
- Disembarking: tap again if the line uses distance-based fares
- For flat-fare buses (Tokyo): tap once on entry
At konbini and shops
Hand the cashier your card or phone, they’ll scan it. Accepted at:
- 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson, Ministop (all konbini)
- Most chain restaurants (McDonald’s, Doutor, Starbucks)
- Vending machines with the IC logo
- Some taxis
How to top up
| Method | Where |
|---|---|
| Cash | Yellow ticket machines at any train station |
| Apple Pay | Tap the Suica in Wallet, hit “Add Money” |
| Google Wallet | Tap card, “Add money” |
| Konbini ATM | 7-Eleven, FamilyMart machines |
Top up in increments of ¥1,000.
Suica vs PASMO vs ICOCA
All three are interchangeable across Japan. Differences:
| Card | Issued by | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Suica | JR East | Tokyo |
| PASMO | Tokyo Metro | Tokyo |
| ICOCA | JR West | Osaka, Kyoto |
| SUGOCA | JR Kyushu | Fukuoka |
| Kitaca | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo |
| manaca | Nagoya consortium | Nagoya |
Use one card for all of Japan — no need to swap when travelling between cities.
Troubleshooting
Gate won’t open
Insufficient balance. Use a fare adjustment machine (next to the gates) to add credit.
Card not detected
Take it out of your wallet — some wallets with multiple IC cards confuse the reader. Mobile Suica: ensure NFC is on.
Lost physical card
Personal Suica (with name): report at a JR office, balance can be transferred to a new card. Anonymous Suica: balance is gone — buy a new card.
Balance left when leaving Japan
- Physical Suica: Return at JR East office for refund (balance − ¥220 fee + ¥500 deposit back)
- Welcome Suica: No refund, use it up
- Mobile Suica: Keep it — works again on your next visit
Tips
- Add Suica to Apple/Google Wallet before you travel — saves time at the airport
- Top up ¥3,000-¥5,000 at a time — refilling at every station is slow
- You don’t need a JR Pass plus Suica for short Tokyo stays — Suica is cheaper for in-city use; the JR Pass is for long-distance travel
- Children get half-fare with a children’s Suica (visible in the issuer’s documentation)
Summary
For most visitors to Japan in 2026:
- iPhone users: add mobile Suica via Apple Wallet before you fly
- Android users: add Suica to Google Wallet the day you arrive
- Phone doesn’t support it: get Welcome Suica at the airport JR office
That’s it. Suica makes Japanese trains, metros, buses and konbini frictionless.
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