A Japanese transport IC card is a prepaid card for trains, subways, buses and small purchases. Tap it at a ticket gate and the fare is deducted automatically; the same balance can often be used at convenience stores, vending machines and IC-operated lockers.
This guide explains the choices available to international visitors in 2026, including Welcome Suica, TOURIST PASMO, regular regional cards and mobile cards. It also covers the situations where an IC card is not enough.
What can a transport IC card do?
- Pay fares on participating trains, subways and buses by tapping.
- Pay at many convenience stores, vending machines, restaurants and other shops displaying an IC logo.
- Operate some coin lockers, where the card also acts as the key.
- Store prepaid value that can be topped up at compatible machines and counters.
Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, TOICA, manaca, Kitaca, SUGOCA, nimoca and Hayakaken participate in nationwide interoperability. This makes them usable across many regions, but not on every railway, bus or store.
Quick choice for visitors
| Option | Best for | Main caution |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Suica | Short-term visitors who want a physical card without a deposit | Valid for 28 days from first use; remaining value is not refunded |
| Welcome Suica Mobile | Eligible iPhone users who want to issue and top up by phone | Device, region, location-service and payment-card conditions apply |
| TOURIST PASMO | International visitors who can buy it at a participating sales point | Limited sales locations; 28-day validity and no refund of remaining value |
| Regular Suica, PASMO or ICOCA | Longer stays or travelers who want a standard reusable card | Availability, deposit and refund procedures depend on the issuer |
| Apple Wallet card | Compatible iPhone or Apple Watch users | Some foreign payment cards may not work for top-ups |
Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO
JR East describes Welcome Suica as a short-term visitor card for transport and shopping. It is valid for 28 days beginning on the purchase date, requires no deposit and does not allow refunds of unused value. It can be used nationwide where the compatible IC mark is displayed, although some services and PiTaPa-area shops are excluded.
PASMO announced TOURIST PASMO for international visitors in April 2026. Its official rules describe a visitor card with a limited validity period and no refund of remaining stored value. Sales locations and availability should be checked directly on PASMO’s visitor site before you plan around it.
These cards are convenient when you do not want to recover a deposit, but their no-refund rule means you should avoid adding a large amount near the end of your trip.
Buying and topping up a physical card
- Use a compatible ticket machine or staffed counter.
- Select the card or top-up option and follow the language prompts.
- Choose an amount and pay using a method accepted by that machine.
- At a gate, touch the card firmly to the reader until the gate confirms the transaction.
Some machines accept only cash for physical-card purchases or top-ups, and a foreign bank card may be declined even when card payment appears possible. Keep small yen notes available.
How to use an IC card on trains and buses
Trains
Tap in and tap out with the same card or the same phone. Do not enter with a plastic card and try to exit using its mobile replacement; the entry record will not match.
Buses
Boarding rules differ by city and operator. Some buses charge when you board; others require a tap both when boarding and leaving. Follow the display and local passengers rather than assuming the Tokyo pattern applies everywhere.
Where the IC balance is not enough
- Shinkansen: stored IC value alone is generally not the ticket. Services such as Shinkansen e-ticket or Smart EX require a reservation and, in some cases, card registration.
- Limited express and Green Car: you may need a separate limited-express, reserved-seat or Green ticket in addition to the base fare.
- Crossing IC service areas: one continuous trip cannot always be processed when it crosses separate regional IC areas. Ask staff or buy a paper ticket for long journeys.
- Rural lines: some stations and buses do not accept nationwide IC cards, or accept only a local system.
Mobile cards on iPhone and Apple Watch
Apple states that compatible iPhone and Apple Watch models can add Suica, PASMO and ICOCA to Wallet. Express Mode normally allows a tap without unlocking the device or using Face ID. A physical card can sometimes be transferred, or a new card can be issued in Wallet.
Before relying on a mobile card, confirm your device and operating system, Apple Account settings, top-up card compatibility and access to mobile data. Foreign-issued credit cards do not always top up successfully. Apple also notes that power reserve may keep an Express card usable for a limited time after the battery is depleted, but carrying a little cash remains prudent.
JR East’s Welcome Suica Mobile currently serves eligible iPhone users. JR East has announced support for selected Samsung Galaxy devices in the first half of 2027, so Android travelers visiting before then should not assume the service is already available.
Insufficient balance and gate errors
If a gate closes, read the displayed message and move aside. For insufficient balance, use a fare-adjustment or top-up machine. If the entry record is missing, you used a different card, or the trip crossed an unsupported area, show the card and explain your route to station staff.
One card cannot be used by two travelers for the same journey. Each person needs a card or ticket. A child IC card requires an age-verification procedure at an eligible counter.
Shopping and coin lockers
Look for the transport IC logo and tell the cashier you want to pay by IC before tapping. Some stores cannot combine a remaining IC balance with cash, so you may need a separate payment method.
At an IC locker, the card or phone used for payment may become the electronic key. Remember exactly which card or device you used, and photograph or keep the receipt showing the locker location and contact details.
Refunds and using the last balance
Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO do not refund remaining stored value. Near the end of your trip, make small top-ups and use the balance at convenience stores or vending machines. Standard-card refund fees and procedures depend on the issuer, and another company’s service area may not be able to process the refund.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Suica bought in Tokyo in Kyoto or Osaka?
Yes on many trains, buses and stores displaying the nationwide interoperability mark. It may not work for a single continuous journey across separate IC service areas or on a non-participating local route.
Can one card cover my whole family?
No. Each traveler normally needs a separate card or ticket. Arrange the correct child card or child ticket when applicable.
Can I use an IC card for a Shinkansen?
Not simply by having enough stored balance. You need the appropriate Shinkansen ticket or reservation service; some services let you link an IC card for gate entry after booking.
How much should I top up?
For city travel, start modestly and add more when needed. Large final-day balances are difficult to recover on visitor cards that do not allow refunds.
Official information
- JR East: Welcome Suica
- JR East: Welcome Suica Mobile
- PASMO visitor news
- PASMO: TOURIST PASMO rules
- Apple Support: transport cards in Japan
Information checked: October 8, 2026. Purchase points, stock, supported devices, fare rules and refund conditions can change.