How to Get and Use a Suica Card in Tokyo (2026)

What You’ll Learn

✅ How to get Suica — Mobile setup (2 minutes) or Welcome Suica at airport counters
⏱️ Where it works — All Tokyo transport, 99% of convenience stores, vending machines, taxis
💰 Charging methods — Ticket machines, credit card in app, auto-charge for residents
⚠️ Gate errors — What each beep means and how to fix it without asking station staff

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What Is Suica?

Suica (スイカ) is a rechargeable IC card issued by JR East that uses FeliCa contactless technology. Over 9 million people use Suica daily in the Tokyo area. It works on trains, buses, and as electronic money at stores.

Suica vs PASMO: Stop worrying about which one to get. They are functionally identical. Both work on all trains, all buses, all stores. PASMO is issued by Tokyo Metro and private railways; Suica is issued by JR East. That’s the only difference. If someone tells you “PASMO is better for Metro” or “Suica is better for JR,” they’re wrong. Pick whichever is easier to obtain.

FeliCa card readers at station gates — hold your card or phone over the blue panel until you hear the beep

Acceptance rate: Suica is accepted at over 1.3 million locations nationwide, including:

• 100% of JR East stations
• 100% of Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway stations
• 99% of convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop, NewDays)
• Most vending machines, coin lockers, taxis with IC readers
• Many restaurants, drugstores, supermarkets

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The 2023 Physical Card Shortage — And What It Means Now

TRAP: Many guides still say “buy a Suica card at the ticket machine.” This hasn’t worked since June 2023.

In 2023, JR East stopped selling physical Suica cards at ticket machines due to a global semiconductor chip shortage. The suspension affected:

• ❌ Named Suica cards (My Suica)
• ❌ Blank Suica cards at ticket machines
• ❌ Commemorative Suica designs

What still works in 2026:

• ✅ Welcome Suica (tourists only, at specific counters)
• ✅ Mobile Suica (iPhone and Android)
• ✅ PASMO Passport (tourists only, similar to Welcome Suica)
• ✅ Existing physical cards can still be recharged

If you arrive at Narita or Haneda and walk up to a ticket machine expecting to buy a Suica card, you’ll find the option grayed out or missing entirely. The machine will only let you buy single-journey tickets or charge existing cards.

The solution: Get Mobile Suica (recommended) or buy Welcome Suica at the JR EAST Travel Service Center, not the ticket machine.

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How to Get a Suica: 4 Options

Decision Framework

Your Situation	Best Option	Why
Tourist, have iPhone XS or newer	Mobile Suica	Free, instant, charge with any credit card
Tourist, have Android with FeliCa	Mobile Suica	Free, instant, works same as iPhone
Tourist, no compatible phone	Welcome Suica at airport	Physical card, ¥1,000 minimum, 28-day validity
Resident with Japanese credit card	Mobile Suica + auto-charge	Never think about balance again
Resident, no Japanese credit card	Mobile Suica	Charge manually with foreign card or at machines

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Option A: Mobile Suica on iPhone (RECOMMENDED)

Requirements:

• iPhone XS, XR, or newer (iPhone 8/X work only if purchased in Japan)
• Apple Wallet app
• Any Visa, Mastercard, or Amex credit/debit card

Setup (2 minutes):

1. Open Wallet app
2. Tap + (top right)
3. Select Transit Card
4. Choose Suica
5. Select Purchase Amount (¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000, or ¥10,000)
6. Tap Add and authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID
7. Done — your Suica is ready to use immediately

What the screen says:

• “Add Transit Card” → Tap this
• “Suica” → Select this (not PASMO, unless you prefer PASMO — they’re identical)
• “Purchase Suica ¥1,000” → This creates a new card with ¥1,000 balance

Charging your Mobile Suica:

• Open Wallet app → Tap your Suica card → Tap “Add Money”
• Enter amount (¥1,000–¥20,000 in ¥1,000 increments)
• Authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID
• Balance updates instantly

Express Transit mode: Your iPhone will automatically use Suica at gates and readers even when locked or dead (up to 5 hours after battery dies). You don’t need to unlock your phone or open an app.

Mobile Suica in Apple Wallet — tap the card to see balance and recent transactions

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Option B: Mobile Suica on Android

Requirements:

• Android phone with FeliCa chip (most Japanese models: Sony Xperia, Sharp AQUOS, Samsung Galaxy sold in Japan)
• Google Wallet app (formerly Google Pay)
• Region set to Japan in Google account

TRAP: Not all Android phones work. International models (even flagship Samsung/Google Pixel) usually lack the FeliCa chip required for Suica. Check your phone specs before assuming it will work.

Setup:

1. Install Google Wallet from Play Store
2. Open Google Wallet
3. Tap Add to Wallet → Transit card
4. Select Suica
5. Choose purchase amount (¥1,000–¥10,000)
6. Add payment method (credit/debit card)
7. Complete purchase

Alternative: Download the dedicated Mobile Suica app (モバイルSuica) for more features like Shinkansen ticket integration and detailed transaction history.

Charging: Open Google Wallet → Tap Suica → Add money, or use the Mobile Suica app.

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Option C: Welcome Suica at Airport (Tourists)

Welcome Suica is a physical IC card designed for tourists. It has no deposit fee but expires after 28 days.

Where to buy (exact locations):

Narita Airport:

• Terminal 1: JR EAST Travel Service Center (B1F, near JR ticket gates), Welcome Suica vending machines (same floor)
• Terminal 2: JR EAST Travel Service Center (B1F, near JR ticket gates), Welcome Suica vending machines (same floor)
• Terminal 3: JR EAST Travel Service Center (2F, near JR ticket gates), Welcome Suica vending machines (same floor)

Haneda Airport:

• Terminal 3 (International): JR EAST Travel Service Center (2F, Tokyo Monorail station), Welcome Suica vending machines (same floor)

Other locations:

• Tokyo Station (JR EAST Travel Service Center, Marunouchi North Exit)
• Shinjuku Station (JR EAST Travel Service Center, East Exit)
• Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yokohama stations (JR EAST Travel Service Centers)

Price: ¥1,000 minimum (includes ¥500 usable balance + ¥500 card fee, non-refundable)
Validity: 28 days from purchase date
Limit: One card per person (passport required)

What to say at the counter:

• “Welcome Suica, please.” (English is fine at airport counters)
• Or: 「ウェルカムスイカをください」(Werukamu Suika wo kudasai)

TRAP: Welcome Suica cannot be refunded. When it expires after 28 days, the card becomes unusable and any remaining balance is lost. If you’re staying longer than 28 days, get Mobile Suica instead.

Welcome Suica features seasonal designs and is sold exclusively to tourists

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Option D: Physical Suica Card (Limited Availability)

As of 2026, physical Suica cards are not sold at ticket machines. The only ways to get a physical card:

1. Transfer from someone leaving Japan — If a friend or previous resident gives you their card, you can use it indefinitely
2. Buy from resellers — Some shops near tourist areas sell unused Suica cards at markup (not recommended)
3. Wait for JR East to resume sales — No timeline announced as of February 2026

If you already have a physical Suica card: It works forever. Charge it at any ticket machine or convenience store register. No expiration date.

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How to Charge (チャージ)

Method 1: Credit Card in App (Fastest)

Mobile Suica only:

1. Open Wallet app (iPhone) or Google Wallet (Android)
2. Tap your Suica card
3. Tap “Add Money” or “チャージ”
4. Enter amount (¥1,000–¥20,000)
5. Authenticate with Face ID/fingerprint
6. Balance updates in 1 second

Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Diners Club (both Japanese and foreign-issued cards work)

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Method 2: Station Ticket Machine (Step-by-Step)

Works for both physical cards and Mobile Suica:

1. Find a ticket machine (券売機, kenbaiki) — they’re near every station entrance
2. Tap English button (top right corner)
3. Place your physical card on the card reader (blue panel), OR hold your phone over the reader
4. Screen shows current balance
5. Tap Charge or チャージ
6. Select amount: ¥1,000 / ¥2,000 / ¥3,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥10,000
7. Insert bills (machines accept ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥5,000, ¥10,000 notes)
8. Machine beeps, screen shows new balance
9. Take your card/remove your phone

TRAP: Ticket machines do not accept coins for charging. Bills only. If you only have coins, use a convenience store register instead.

Max balance: ¥20,000. If your current balance is ¥15,000, you can only add ¥5,000.

Ticket machines have clear English menus — look for the “Charge” or “IC Card” button

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Method 3: Convenience Store Register

Works at: 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop, NewDays

How to charge:

1. Go to the register
2. Say: 「Suicaチャージお願いします」(Suica chāji onegaishimasu) or just “Suica charge, please”
3. Hand your card to the cashier (or hold your phone over the reader)
4. Say the amount: “Sen-en” (¥1,000), “Ni-sen-en” (¥2,000), etc.
5. Pay with cash
6. Cashier hands back your card (or you remove your phone)

Accepted amounts: ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000, ¥10,000 (varies by store)

TRAP: Not all convenience store staff know how to charge Suica. If they look confused, point to the card reader and say “チャージ” (chāji). If they still don’t understand, try a different store or use a ticket machine.

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Auto-Charge Setup (Residents)

Auto-charge (オートチャージ) automatically adds money to your Suica when balance drops below a threshold.

Requirements:

• Mobile Suica
• Japanese credit card from JR-affiliated issuers: View Card, JAL Card, ANA Card, Bic Camera Suica Card, or other JR East partner cards

TRAP: Foreign credit cards and most Japanese credit cards (Rakuten Card, MUFG Card, etc.) do not support auto-charge. You can still charge manually with these cards, but auto-charge won’t work.

Setup:

1. Open Mobile Suica app (download from App Store/Play Store if you don’t have it)
2. Tap オートチャージ設定 (Auto-charge settings)
3. Register your View Card or compatible credit card
4. Set trigger amount (default: ¥1,000 remaining)
5. Set charge amount (default: ¥3,000)
6. Save settings

How it works: When you pass through a JR East ticket gate and your balance is below ¥1,000, the system automatically charges ¥3,000 to your card. You’ll hear a different beep tone (ピピッ instead of ピッ) confirming the auto-charge.

Where it works: JR East stations only (not Tokyo Metro, not private railways). If you enter a Metro station with ¥800 balance, auto-charge will not trigger.

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Where You Can Use It

Transport (100% Coverage in Tokyo)

Trains:

• JR East lines: Yamanote, Chuo, Sobu, Keihin-Tohoku, Shonan-Shinjuku, Narita Express, etc.
• Tokyo Metro: All 9 lines (Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, Fukutoshin)
• Toei Subway: All 4 lines (Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo)
• Private railways: Keio, Odakyu, Tokyu, Seibu, Tobu, Keisei, Yurikamome, Tokyo Monorail, Rinkai Line

Buses:

• Toei buses (都営バス)
• Private bus companies (京王バス, 小田急バス, etc.)
• Airport limousine buses (some routes)

TRAP: Suica does not work for Shinkansen tickets. You need to buy a separate ticket at the ticket office or online. Some Shinkansen stations have IC card gates for local trains, but these won’t let you board the Shinkansen.

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Stores (Specific Brands)

Convenience stores (コンビニ):

• 7-Eleven (セブンイレブン) — 100% acceptance
• Lawson (ローソン) — 100% acceptance
• FamilyMart (ファミリーマート) — 100% acceptance
• Ministop (ミニストップ) — 100% acceptance
• NewDays (ニューデイズ) — 100% acceptance, found inside JR stations

Supermarkets:

• AEON (イオン)
• Ito-Yokado (イトーヨーカドー)
• Summit (サミット)
• Some locations only — check for IC card symbol at register

Drugstores:

• Matsumoto Kiyoshi (マツモトキヨシ)
• Welcia (ウエルシア)
• Sundrug (サンドラッグ)

Restaurants:

• McDonald’s (マクドナルド)
• Starbucks (スターバックス)
• Yoshinoya (吉野家)
• Sukiya (すき家)
• Many izakayas and chain restaurants

Vending machines: 90% of vending machines in Tokyo accept Suica. Look for the IC card symbol (blue wave icon).

Coin lockers: Most coin lockers at stations accept Suica. Tap to lock, tap to unlock and pay.

Taxis: Some taxis have IC card readers. Look for the IC card sticker on the window. Not all drivers know how to use it — if the reader doesn’t work, pay cash.

IC card readers at convenience stores — look for the blue FeliCa symbol

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Nationwide Coverage

Suica works in other major cities using the nationwide IC card network:

• Osaka/Kyoto: ICOCA network (JR West, Osaka Metro, Kyoto buses)
• Fukuoka: SUGOCA, Hayakaken (JR Kyushu, Fukuoka subway)
• Sapporo: Kitaca (JR Hokkaido, Sapporo subway)
• Nagoya: TOICA, manaca (JR Central, Nagoya subway)
• Hiroshima: PASPY (Hiroshima Electric Railway)

How it works: Tap your Tokyo Suica on an Osaka Metro gate — it just works. No need to buy a local card.

TRAP: You cannot charge a Suica card at non-JR East stations outside Tokyo. If you’re in Osaka and your Suica balance is low, you must:

1. Find a JR West station and charge at their ticket machine (they accept Suica)
2. Use a convenience store register
3. Charge via Mobile Suica app with credit card

Osaka Metro ticket machines will not let you charge a Suica card. They only charge ICOCA cards.

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What It Does NOT Work For

• ❌ Shinkansen tickets (need separate ticket or reservation)
• ❌ Some rural buses (cash only)
• ❌ Highway buses (most require advance tickets)
• ❌ Some small independent shops
• ❌ Parking meters (most are cash only)
• ❌ Gasoline stations (credit card or cash)

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How to Pay with Suica

At the Register

What to say:

• 「Suicaで」(Suica de) — “With Suica”
• Or just hold your card/phone over the reader without saying anything (this is common)

What the reader looks like:

• Small black or white panel with blue wave symbol (FeliCa logo)
• Usually on the counter near the cash register
• Sometimes built into the register screen

How to tap:

1. Wait for the cashier to finish scanning items
2. Cashier says the total: “○○円です” (XX-en desu)
3. Hold your card or phone flat over the reader
4. Keep it there for 1 full second (don’t just tap and remove immediately)
5. Wait for the beep: ピッ (successful payment)
6. Screen shows remaining balance
7. Done — no receipt needed unless you ask

TRAP: Don’t double-tap. If you tap your phone twice quickly, it might register as two separate payments. Hold steady until you hear the beep, then remove.

TRAP: Wrong card. If you have multiple IC cards in your wallet (Suica + credit card with contactless), the reader might pick up the wrong card. Remove your Suica from your wallet before tapping, or use Mobile Suica on your phone to avoid this.

Hold your phone or card flat over the reader for 1 second — don’t just tap and remove

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At Station Gates

Entering:

1. Approach the ticket gate (改札, kaisatsu)
2. Hold your card/phone over the blue reader panel (right side of the gate)
3. Wait for the beep: ピッ
4. Screen shows your remaining balance
5. Gates open — walk through

Exiting:

1. Hold your card/phone over the reader at the exit gate
2. Wait for the beep: ピッ
3. Screen shows fare deducted and remaining balance
4. Gates open — walk through

TRAP: Gate won’t open. If the gate doesn’t open and you hear ピーッ (long beep) or ピピピピ (error beep), see the troubleshooting section below.

TRAP: Transferring between lines. When transferring from JR to Metro (or vice versa), you must pass through a transfer gate. If you skip the transfer gate and try to exit at your destination, the system won’t know you transferred and will charge you for two separate trips (or refuse to let you exit).

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The Gate Won’t Open: Every Error and How to Fix It

Error Sound	Screen Message	Cause	Solution
ピーッ (long beep)	残高不足 (Insufficient balance)	Your balance is less than the minimum fare (¥180) or less than the fare from your entry station	Go to fare adjustment machine (精算機, seisanki) near the gates. Insert your card, machine calculates shortage, pay the difference, then exit
ピピピピ (rapid beeps)	カードエラー (Card error)	Card not detected, or you tapped too quickly	Hold your card/phone flat over the reader for 1 full second. Don’t move it around.
ピーッ	入場記録なし (No entry record)	You didn’t tap when entering, or you entered with a different card	Go to station office (改札窓口, kaisatsu madoguchi). Staff will check your card and manually adjust.
ピーッ	処理エラー (Processing error)	You entered with one card (e.g., Suica) and tried to exit with another (e.g., credit card)	Go to station office. They’ll cancel the entry record on the first card.
ピピッ (double beep)	オートチャージ (Auto-charge)	Your balance was low, auto-charge triggered	This is normal. Gates open. Check your balance — it should show the charged amount.
No sound, gates don’t open	—	Phone battery dead, or card demagnetized	Go to station office. If phone is dead, they can check your entry record and let you pay cash. If card is demagnetized, they’ll issue a new card and transfer balance.

Fare adjustment machine (精算機) step-by-step:

1. Find the machine near the exit gates (usually 2-3 machines in a row)
2. Insert your Suica card or hold your phone over the reader
3. Screen shows: “不足額: ¥XX” (Shortage: ¥XX)
4. Insert bills or coins to cover the shortage
5. Machine beeps, screen shows “精算完了” (Adjustment complete)
6. Remove your card/phone
7. Go back to the exit gate and tap again — gates will open

TRAP: Entered JR, exiting Metro (or vice versa). If you entered a JR station and are trying to exit at a Metro station without passing through a transfer gate, the system sees this as two separate trips. The exit gate will refuse to open. Solution: Go to the station office, explain you transferred (say “乗り換えました”, norikae mashita), and they’ll manually adjust your card.

Fare adjustment machines (精算機) are near exit gates — use these when your balance is too low

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Getting Your Money Back

Tourists (Welcome Suica)

TRAP: Welcome Suica cannot be refunded. When the 28-day validity expires, the card stops working and any remaining balance is lost.

Workaround: Spend down your balance before the expiration date. Use it for convenience store purchases, vending machines, or train rides until the balance is near zero.

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Tourists (Mobile Suica)

Refund process:

1. Open Wallet app (iPhone) or Google Wallet (Android)
2. Tap your Suica card
3. Tap the ⋯ (more options) button
4. Select Remove Card
5. Confirm removal
6. Remaining balance is refunded to your linked credit card within 7-10 business days

Fee: No fee for Mobile Suica refunds.

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Residents (Physical Suica)

Refund at JR East ticket counter:

1. Go to a JR East ticket office (みどりの窓口, Midori no Madoguchi)
2. Say: 「Suicaの払い戻しをお願いします」(Suica no haraimodoshi wo onegaishimasu) — “Suica refund, please”
3. Hand over your card
4. Staff calculates: Remaining balance - ¥220 handling fee + ¥500 deposit
5. You receive cash

Example: If your balance is ¥1,500:

• Remaining balance: ¥1,500
• Handling fee: -¥220
• Deposit returned: +¥500
• You receive: ¥1,780

TRAP: If your balance is less than ¥220, you’ll only get the ¥500 deposit back. The remaining balance is forfeited to cover the handling fee.

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Residents (Mobile Suica)

Refund process:

1. Open Mobile Suica app
2. Tap 会員メニュー (Member menu)
3. Tap 退会 (Withdraw membership)
4. Confirm withdrawal
5. Remaining balance is refunded to your registered bank account or credit card within 7-10 business days

Fee: ¥220 handling fee (same as physical card).

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Troubleshooting Table

Problem	Cause	Solution
Gate beeps and won’t open	Balance too low	Use fare adjustment machine (精算機) to add money
”No entry record” error	Didn’t tap when entering, or entered with different card	Go to station office, they’ll manually adjust
Tapped phone, nothing happens	Phone not in Express Transit mode, or battery dead	Unlock phone and open Wallet app, or charge phone and go to station office
Can’t charge Suica at Osaka Metro machine	Osaka Metro machines only charge ICOCA cards	Find a JR West station, use their ticket machine, or charge at convenience store
Auto-charge not working	Using non-JR East station, or credit card not compatible	Charge manually at ticket machine or in app
Welcome Suica expired, balance remaining	28-day validity ended	Balance is lost. No refund available.
Charged ¥10,000 but balance shows ¥20,000 max	Max balance is ¥20,000	Spend down balance before charging more
Card reader picks up credit card instead of Suica	Multiple contactless cards in wallet	Remove Suica from wallet before tapping, or use Mobile Suica
Mobile Suica won’t add to Apple Wallet	iPhone model too old, or purchased outside Japan	Use iPhone XS/XR or newer. iPhone 8/X only work if purchased in Japan.
Foreign credit card rejected in Mobile Suica app	Some foreign cards don’t work	Try a different card (Visa/Mastercard usually work better than Amex)

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FAQ

Can I use Suica in Osaka/Kyoto?

Yes. Suica works on all trains, subways, and buses in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara through the nationwide IC card network. You can also use it at convenience stores and shops that accept IC cards.

TRAP: You cannot charge a Suica card at Osaka Metro or Kyoto City Bus ticket machines. They only charge local cards (ICOCA, PiTaPa). To charge your Suica in Osaka:

• Use a JR West station ticket machine
• Charge at a convenience store register
• Charge via Mobile Suica app with credit card

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Can I use a foreign credit card to charge Mobile Suica?

Yes, most foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work in the Mobile Suica app for manual charging. Amex and Discover have lower success rates.

TRAP: Foreign credit cards do not support auto-charge. Auto-charge requires a Japanese credit card from JR-affiliated issuers (View Card, JAL Card, etc.).

If your foreign card is rejected, try:

• A different card (Visa/Mastercard instead of Amex)
• Charging at a ticket machine with cash
• Charging at a convenience store register

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What happens if my phone dies while I’m on the train?

iPhone: Express Transit mode keeps your Suica working for up to 5 hours after the battery dies. You can still tap out at your destination station.

Android: Depends on the phone model. Most Japanese Android phones with FeliCa keep the IC card active for a short time after battery dies, but this is not guaranteed.

If your phone is completely dead and won’t tap:

1. Go to the station office (改札窓口)
2. Explain: “Phone battery dead” (English is fine at major stations)
3. Staff will look up your entry record using your phone number or card ID
4. Pay the fare in cash
5. They’ll issue a receipt and let you exit

TRAP: If you can’t prove your entry station, staff may charge you the maximum fare from the farthest station on the line. Keep a screenshot of your entry station or remember where you got on.

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Is Suica or PASMO better?

They are identical. Both work on all trains, all buses, all stores. The only differences:

• Issuer: Suica is issued by JR East, PASMO by Tokyo Metro and private railways
• Auto-charge: Suica auto-charge works at JR East gates, PASMO auto-charge works at Metro/private railway gates
• Card design: Different mascots (Suica has a penguin, PASMO has a robot)

Recommendation: If you use JR trains more often, get Suica. If you use Metro more often, get PASMO. If you use both equally, it doesn’t matter. If you’re a tourist, get whichever is easier to obtain (usually Welcome Suica at the airport).

Counter-intuitive advice: Stop overthinking this. Pick one and move on. You’ll save more time by not researching the difference than you’ll ever save by choosing the “optimal” card.

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Can two people use one Suica card?

No. Each person needs their own card.

Why: When you tap in at a station gate, the system records your entry. When you tap out, it calculates the fare based on your entry station. If two people try to use the same card:

• First person taps in → Entry recorded
• Second person taps in with same card → Error (card already has an entry record)
• Or: Both people tap in at different gates → Only one entry recorded, second person’s gate won’t open

Solution: Each person gets their own Suica or PASMO card. Mobile Suica makes this easy — everyone can have a card on their phone.

Exception: Children under 6 ride free and don’t need a card. Children 6-11 can use a child Suica (こども用Suica) with 50% discount, but this requires registration at a JR East ticket office with proof of age.

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Related Articles

• Suica vs PASMO 2026: Complete Comparison
• Payment Methods in Tokyo: Cash, Cards, and IC Cards
• How to Use Convenience Store ATMs
• Tokyo Metro Transfers: How to Avoid Double Fares

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Last verified: February 2026