Suica Card: Japan’s Iconic IC Travel Card And Everything You Should Know About It (2025)

6 May 2025

If there’s one card that truly represents transportation in Japan, it’s the Suica card. But Suica isn’t just for trains and buses—it works for shopping, dining, and more, all across Japan. It’s become so ingrained in everyday life that for locals, it’s almost a necessity. And for travelers? It’s pure convenience, packed into a single card.

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Suica card—what it is, the different types, how to get one, how to top it up, and how to use it smartly while you’re in Japan. If you want to make the most of your trip with Suica, definitely stick around till the end.

10 Major Transportation IC Cards in Japan

Before diving into Suica specifically, let’s take a quick look at the major IC cards used across Japan and the areas they cover. These cards let you ride trains and buses without buying tickets each time, and they double as e-money for shops and vending machines.

Here are the 10 most commonly used IC cards in Japan:

Card	Main Usage Area
Suica	JR East, Sapporo Transportation Bureau
PASMO	Tokyo Metro, Keikyu Railway
Kitaca	JR Hokkaido
TOICA	JR Central
ICOCA	JR West
PiTaPa	Hankyu, Hanshin, Osaka Metro, etc.
manaca	Nagoya area trains/subways
SUGOCA	JR Kyushu
Hayakaken	Fukuoka Subway
nimoca	Nishi-Nippon Railroad

While each card is issued by different railway companies and covers a specific area, most of them are now interoperable. So, in most parts of Japan—from Hokkaido to Okinawa—you can use just one card for all your travel needs.

Now let’s zoom in on the most popular one of them all: Suica.

Suica Card: The Card That Makes Travel Smoother

Issued by JR East, Suica is by far the most widely used IC card in Japan. With a quick tap on the card reader, you can hop on trains or buses, without ever needing to buy a paper ticket. If you go past your destination by accident, it’ll automatically calculate the fare for you when you exit.

Suica is also accepted at convenience stores, shops, restaurants, and vending machines—even if you’re short on cash. Whether you’re living in Japan or just visiting, it’s incredibly useful.

There are three types of Suica:

My Suica (Registered)
Suica (Unregistered)
Mobile Suica (via phone or smart device)

What’s the Difference Between “My Suica” and Regular Suica?

They look almost the same, but the big difference is whether or not your name is printed on the card.

Feature	My Suica (Registered)	Suica (Unregistered)
Personal Info	Required	Not required
Reissue	Possible (with fee, balance can be transferred)	Not possible if lost
Who Can Use It	Cardholder only	Shareable with friends/family
For Kids	Yes	No

Are Physical Suica Cards Still Being Sold?

Due to the global semiconductor shortage and a spike in inbound tourism, Suica cards became hard to manufacture. As a result, sales were temporarily suspended:

Suica (Unregistered) stopped on June 8, 2023
My Suica (Registered) followed on August 2, 2023

After some adjustments, My Suica resumed on September 1, 2024, and Unregistered Suica became available again on March 1, 2025.

What’s Mobile Suica Card?

Even when physical cards were off the shelves, you could still use Mobile Suica. It’s a service that lets you use Suica on smartphones or smartwatches. No physical card, no lines, no deposit. You just install the app, charge it up, and go.

But keep in mind:

Only one device can hold Mobile Suica at a time
If your device dies, you can’t use it
It requires FeliCa technology, which isn’t in all phones sold outside Japan

Compatible devices:

iPhone 8 or newer
Apple Watch Series 3 or newer

Android phones bought outside Japan usually won’t work with Mobile Suica.

Where Can You Use Suica Card?

You can use Suica throughout Japan—Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Kansai, Kyushu, and even parts of Okinawa. But remember: the system works within regional IC zones. You can’t use Suica across different zones for one trip. If you do, go to a ticket gate attendant instead of using the automatic gate.

All the Situations Where Suica Card Comes in Handy

Beyond trains and buses, Suica works almost everywhere:

Convenience Stores
7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, Daily Yamazaki, NewDays, KIOSK

Supermarkets & Shopping Malls
AEON, Ito-Yokado, LaLaport (some stores), LUMINE, NEWoMan

Restaurants & Cafés
Sukiya, Matsuya, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Gusto, Kappa Sushi

Drugstores
Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug, Sugi Pharmacy, Tsuruha

Electronics Stores
Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera

Taxis & Car Rentals
Nihon Kotsu, ORIX, Toyota Rent-a-Car

Just look for Suica or general IC card symbols at checkout.

“Welcome Suica” and “Welcome Suica Mobile” for Travelers

Welcome Suica Card is perfect for short-term visitors. It works just like a regular Suica but:

No deposit required
Valid for 28 days (then automatically deactivates)
No refund process needed
Has a cute red-and-white sakura design—great as a souvenir!

You can buy it at Narita, Haneda, Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station, and similar spots.

Welcome Suica Mobile works like Mobile Suica but is designed for iPhone and Apple Watch users. If you install it before you arrive in Japan, you can:

Add money via credit card
Book JR East Shinkansen unreserved seats
Avoid queues at vending machines

How to Apply for and Buy Suica

There are different ways to get Suica depending on the type:

Buying a Physical Suica Card (My Suica or Regular)

Use a JR East ticket machine or go to a Midori no Madoguchi counter
Choose your amount (¥1,000–¥10,000; includes a ¥500 deposit)
Cards are re-loadable and refundable

Getting Mobile Suica on iPhone

Open Apple Wallet
Tap the “+” in the top right
Select “Transit IC Card” → choose Suica → tap Continue
Add funds and tap “Add” to finish setup

How to Top Up Your Suica Card

1. At Ticket Machines or Recharge Machines

Insert your card
Choose from preset amounts (¥500 to ¥10,000)
Pay with cash (only cash accepted)
Max balance: ¥20,000

2. On Mobile Suica

Open the Suica app or Apple Wallet
Tap “Add Money”
Select an amount and your registered credit card
Funds are added instantly

3. At Stores That Accept Suica

Ask the cashier for a top-up
Pay cash
Tap your Suica on the reader when prompted
Usually starts from ¥1,000

How to Get a Refund

For Physical Cards:

Visit a JR East Midori no Madoguchi counter (not available in western Japan)
Get your deposit back plus your balance, minus a ¥220 fee
If balance < ¥220, you get just the deposit

For Mobile Suica: