Buying a physical card today
Yes. Non-personalized Suica and PASMO went back on sale on March 1, 2025; check the relevant operator for current sales locations.
PASMO PASSPORT is no longer sold. Welcome Suica is a different product and remains a short-stay option. Old airport sellout stories should not determine today's card choice.
Welcome Suica
Welcome Suica has no deposit, is valid for 28 days from purchase, and its unused balance is not refundable. Buy it only if these terms suit your trip; load smaller amounts as needed.
Standard Suica
A standard Suica has a 500-yen deposit. At an eligible JR East counter, a refund returns the deposit plus the remaining balance after a fee of up to 220 yen is deducted from that balance. A zero balance does not incur that fee. Confirm the card issuer and refund location; do not apply these rules to Welcome Suica.
If You're an iPhone User, You're Already a Winner
Issuing a Suica card instantly from your iPhone's Wallet app is surprisingly simple. Tap the '+' button in the top right corner of the Wallet app, select 'Transit Card,' and choose your preferred option from the Japan list: Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA. All three are almost identically usable across Japan, so feel free to choose based on design. I strongly recommend doing all of this in Korea beforehand. If you create it the night before your departure in a stable Wi-Fi environment, you can use it immediately upon arrival in Japan. It would be truly frustrating if a card registration error occurred in the unstable data environment of a local airport.
Mobile Suica Top-Up: What to Check!
- Required Card: You'll need a credit or debit card that supports international payments, such as Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX.
- Payment Error Troubleshooting: Occasionally, Korean card companies may decline approval, mistaking it for fraudulent overseas use. In such cases, don't panic; try another card or check your overseas payment settings in your card company's app. It's also a good idea to test the first top-up with a small amount like 1,000 yen.
- Minimum Top-Up Amount: The minimum top-up amount for initial issuance is 1,000 yen.
The true power of Mobile Suica comes from setting it as an 'Express Card.' With this enabled, you don't even need to turn on your screen, authenticate with Face ID, or open the app. Just 'tap' the top of your phone to the ticket gate, and with a 'beep,' the gate opens instantly. Even if your battery dies and your phone powers off, the latest iPhones can still use the transit card function for several hours with reserve power, so you can worry less about battery life. This convenience isn't limited to subways. You can pay with just your phone at convenience stores, vending machines, coin lockers, and even some restaurants and shops, without needing cash or coins.
My Mobile Suica balance, which started at 1,000 yen, easily exceeded 10,000 yen by the end of my trip. I saved time buying tickets at crowded stations to catch the next train immediately, bought drinks from vending machines without coins when thirsty, and purchased simple breakfast items at convenience stores – all handled with just my phone. The fact that there's no 500 yen deposit, unlike physical cards, and any remaining balance can be cleanly spent down to the last yen on snacks at an airport convenience store on the last day, is also a significant advantage. This experience of rarely needing to take out cash was nothing short of 'a new world.'
A Guide for Android Users and Cash Enthusiasts
Choose between a regular physical card, Welcome Suica and a compatible mobile card. Mobile use depends on the device, operating system and payment card; not every Android phone supports Japanese transit cards. If your phone is unsupported, physical cards and paper tickets remain options. Keep a backup payment method.