Suica is the single most useful thing you can set up on your first day in Japan. One card handles trains, buses, convenience stores, and vending machines across the country. Here’s how to get one, load it, and use it everywhere.
What Is an IC Card?
An IC card is a rechargeable contactless card that you tap to pay for:
- Trains and subways
- Buses
- Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart)
- Vending machines
- Some restaurants and shops
You load money onto the card, tap in when you board, tap out when you exit. The fare is deducted automatically.
Which IC Card to Get?
| Card | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Suica | Tokyo / JR East | Works nationwide at most locations |
| PASMO | Tokyo metro | Interchangeable with Suica |
| ICOCA | Osaka / West Japan | Works on JR West |
| TOICA | Nagoya | JR Central area |
| Hayakaken | Fukuoka | Fukuoka subway |
All major IC cards work interchangeably on trains and buses across Japan. If you get a Suica, you can use it in Osaka too. Just get whichever is most convenient to buy where you live.
How to Get a Suica
Option 1: Physical Card (at JR station)
- Go to any JR ticket machine (green machines)
- Select “Suica” → “New Suica”
- Pay ¥1,000 minimum (¥500 deposit + ¥500 usable balance)
- You’re done
Note: As of 2023, new physical Suica cards were temporarily limited due to chip shortages. This has eased, but check availability at your station.
Option 2: Mobile Suica (Recommended)
Add Suica to your iPhone or Android phone:
- iPhone: Apple Wallet → Add Card → Suica
- Android: Suica app (available in English)
Mobile Suica works the same as a physical card — just tap your phone. No card to lose, easy to recharge from your bank account.
Option 3: Welcome Suica (Tourists)
A special Suica for tourists — no deposit, no My Number needed. Available at airports. Valid for 28 days. Good if you’re short-term or waiting to get your proper residence card.
How to Recharge (Charge Up)
- At station machines: Insert cash into any green JR ticket machine → select “Charge”
- Mobile Suica: Link a credit card or Japanese bank account in the app
- At convenience stores: Bring your card to the register and ask to charge it (“チャージしたいです” — charge shitai desu)
The catch with Mobile Suica: foreign-issued credit cards are generally rejected when you try to register them for Suica top-up. This is the single most common complaint from new arrivals — the app installs fine, then refuses your card. You need a card issued in Japan.
Rakuten Card works with Mobile Suica and is the card most foreign residents are approved for first. Free annual fee, up to ¥5,000 in points, 1% cashback. Residence card accepted as ID.
Apply for Rakuten Card (Free) →The ¥5,000 comes in two parts: 2,000 points once you register on Rakuten e-NAVI after the card arrives, then 3,000 points after 3 purchases plus direct-debit setup. Those 3,000 are limited-time points that expire. You must be resident in Japan to apply, and the application page is Japanese-only — Chrome's auto-translate handles it fine.
If you can’t get a credit card yet, cash top-ups at station machines and convenience stores work exactly the same — you just can’t use auto-charge.
Suica vs Cash
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| IC card | Fast, no change needed, works everywhere | Need to recharge |
| Cash | Always accepted | Slow, need exact change sometimes |
| Credit card | No recharging | Not accepted at all train gates |
For trains, IC card is always faster. For convenience stores, IC card works perfectly.
What Happens to the Balance if You Leave Japan?
Return your card at any JR station. You get back:
- Your remaining balance
- The ¥500 deposit (minus a small processing fee)
Mobile Suica: cancel the card through the app and any balance is refunded to your account.
Bottom Line
Get a Suica (physical or mobile) on your first day in Japan. It’s the single most useful card to have. Load ¥3,000–¥5,000 and you’re set for a week of commuting. Top up as needed.