Suica, transit IC cards and
going cashless in Japan
Key points
- One IC card covers most of Japan: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and friends are interoperable — trains, buses and convenience stores alike.
- iPhone users have it easy: Mobile Suica works on iPhones bought anywhere via Wallet. Most Android phones sold outside Japan cannot use it.
- Physical card sales have fluctuated: including Welcome Suica for visitors — check the current sales status right before you fly.
- Cashless is real, but cash isn't dead: contactless card payments are everywhere in cities, yet rural Japan and small shops still run on cash.
Transit IC basics — Suica vs. PASMO vs. ICOCA
The single most useful thing in your pocket in Japan is a transit IC card. They come under different names — Suica from JR East, PASMO from Tokyo's private railways and subways, ICOCA from JR West — but thanks to a nationwide interoperability scheme, any one of them works on most trains and buses in major cities from Sapporo down to Fukuoka.
Using one couldn't be simpler: tap it on the gate reader and walk through. No tickets to buy, no fare tables to decode. The same card also works as small-change money at convenience stores, vending machines, station shops and coin lockers. Rather than a "train card," think of it as Japan's universal pocket change.
Buying a new physical card requires a refundable 500 yen deposit on top of whatever balance you load (you get the deposit back when you return the card). You can top up with cash at station machines and convenience stores.
Mobile Suica — iPhone and Android are very different stories
You can skip the plastic entirely and turn your phone into a transit card with Mobile Suica. But the rules differ dramatically between iPhone and Android, so check your own device before you travel.
iPhone / Apple Watch Works
It works no matter where your iPhone was sold. Recent iPhones and Apple Watches ship with the FeliCa chip (the tap-to-pay technology Japan uses) globally, so you can add a Suica directly in the Wallet app — even before you land.
Top-ups come from a credit card registered to Apple Pay. Be aware that some foreign-issued cards can't be used for top-ups, so test with a small amount before your trip. If your card fails, you can still top up with cash at convenience store registers.
Android Caution
The Mobile Suica app requires Osaifu-Keitai (FeliCa) support, a feature generally built into Japanese-market models only. As a result, most Android phones sold outside Japan cannot use Mobile Suica.
If you're on an overseas Android model, a physical card such as Welcome Suica is the practical choice. If you have a Japanese-market Android with Osaifu-Keitai (common for residents and returnees), the app works — but always confirm your exact model against the official supported-device list.
Welcome Suica and the physical card situation
For short-term visitors there's Welcome Suica: no 500 yen deposit, valid for 28 days. It's sold mainly at airport stations such as Narita and Haneda, and it's the easy pick for a typical trip. There's also a Welcome Suica Mobile app for iPhone that lets you issue a card entirely on your phone — check the official site for current availability and supported devices.
One caveat: physical card sales have fluctuated. Sales of unregistered Suica and PASMO cards were suspended during the global chip shortage and have been resumed in stages, so what you can buy varies by time and station. Don't assume you can simply pick up any card on arrival — check the current sales status on the JR East official site shortly before you fly.
Set up Mobile Suica on iPhone in 4 steps
- Open the Wallet appTap "+", choose "Transit Card," then select Suica. You can do this before you even arrive in Japan.
- Choose an amount and add the cardYour first top-up is charged to a card registered in Apple Pay. If a foreign-issued card fails, start with a small amount or top up with cash later.
- Check Express ModeWith Express Mode on, you can tap through gates without Face ID or Touch ID.
- Tap at the gateHold the top of your iPhone over the reader — or just use your Apple Watch from your wrist.
Japan's cashless landscape — cards, QR apps and cash
Cities have gone impressively cashless in the last few years. Convenience stores, chain restaurants, stations, electronics stores and taxis widely accept contactless credit card payments (tap to pay). With a contactless Visa or Mastercard, you can cover most city spending with your card alone.
The QR code apps you'll see everywhere, like PayPay, are a different story. They're accepted at a huge number of shops, but signing up and verifying an account typically requires a Japanese phone number — a real hurdle for visitors and for Japanese living abroad on a temporary return. An eSIM that comes with a Japanese number opens up these apps along with plenty of other number-gated services.
And don't write off cash. Family-run restaurants, rural shops, shrine offerings and charms, and local buses still often take cash only. The realistic formula for Japan today: contactless card + transit IC as your defaults, with some cash as insurance.
Does an IC card need a data connection?
Short answer: no — the tap itself works offline. The transaction happens between the card (or your phone's FeliCa chip) and the reader, so you can pass through gates with no signal or in airplane mode.
Everything around it, though, needs data: topping up Mobile Suica, route-finding apps, maps and QR payments all require a connection. To avoid landing at the airport unable to top up or find your train, set up an eSIM that works the moment you arrive in Japan before you leave home.
Is your eSIM ready before you fly?
See the eSIM price comparison →Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Suica or PASMO — which should I buy?
They're interoperable, so in practice there's almost no difference. Buy whichever is sold where you are: Suica at JR East stations, PASMO at private railway and subway stations.
Q. Does Mobile Suica work on an iPhone bought outside Japan?
Yes — recent iPhones include FeliCa regardless of where they were sold. Check the official site for the latest information on your specific model.
Q. What happens to leftover balance?
Regular Suica and PASMO cards can be refunded at the issuer's station counters (check each operator's official site for conditions and fees). Welcome Suica can't be refunded, so plan to spend the balance within its validity period.
Q. How much cash should I carry?
For city sightseeing, contactless cards plus an IC card cover most spending, but rural areas, family-run shops and street stalls may be cash only. The right amount depends on your itinerary — just keep some yen on you at all times.