IC Cards in Japan: Suica vs Pasmo vs ICOCA — Which One to Get
By Yiyan · Last reviewed: March 2026
An IC card is the single most useful thing you can set up before a Japan trip. It replaces ticket queues, works on every train and subway in the country, pays for convenience store lunches, and — if you use a Suica on iPhone — can be loaded with yen from your home country before you even board the plane.
What is an IC card?
IC stands for Integrated Circuit — a contactless stored-value card you load with cash and tap against readers. Think of it as a prepaid transit and payment card, similar to London's Oyster card or Hong Kong's Octopus. In Japan, IC cards work on:
- All major trains and subways (JR lines, Tokyo Metro, Osaka Metro, and most private railways)
- Most city buses
- Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart)
- Vending machines
- Some taxis, kiosks, and shops
There is no need to figure out fares or queue at ticket machines — you tap in, tap out, and the correct fare is deducted automatically.
Our recommendation
Just get a Suica.
Suica works everywhere in Japan, can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before you fly, and is issued at every major airport and JR station. Unless you have a specific reason to use a different card, Suica is the right choice for virtually every visitor.
Suica vs Pasmo vs ICOCA — comparison
| Card | Issued by | Home region | Works nationwide? | Mobile wallet? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suica Recommended | JR East | Tokyo & nationwide | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | First-timers, iPhone / Android users |
| Pasmo | Tokyo Metro / private railways | Tokyo & Kanto | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Tokyo subway focus |
| ICOCA | JR West | Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe / Hiroshima | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Kansai-only trips |
| Manaca | Meitetsu / Kintetsu / Nagoya City | Nagoya & Chubu | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Nagoya visitors |
Suica: The default choice. Works everywhere, loadable to Apple/Google Wallet before you land.
Pasmo: Functionally identical to Suica for tourists. Pasmo Passport is a tourist-specific version (no deposit, but slightly different top-up rules).
ICOCA: Issued at Kansai airports and JR West stations. Works nationally, but cannot be added to Apple Wallet.
Manaca: Only worth getting if you're spending significant time in Nagoya. A Suica will cover you anyway.
How to get an IC card
Airport on arrival
JR East ticket machines at Narita Airport (Terminal 1 & 2) and Haneda Airport sell Suica. Kansai International and Osaka Itami sell ICOCA. Look for green JR ticket machines in the arrivals hall. Cost: ¥500 deposit + initial charge amount.
Any JR station
Ticket machines at any JR East station sell Suica. Select "Buy new Suica" from the English menu. Machines accept ¥1,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000 notes. Minimum total: ¥1,500 (¥500 deposit + ¥1,000 charge).
Apple / Google Wallet
Add Suica to your iPhone Wallet app from anywhere in the world, before you fly. Load yen using a foreign Visa, Mastercard, or Amex. No physical card, no deposit. This is the best option for iPhone users.
How to top up
You can add money to your IC card at any of these locations. Always top up before you need to — gates will reject entry if your balance is too low for the fare.
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| Station ticket machines | Insert card → select 'Charge' → insert cash. ¥1,000 minimum. English interface available. |
| Convenience stores | Hand card to cashier and say 'Suica charge, [amount] yen please'. 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart all work. Cash only. |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay (Mobile Suica) | Open Wallet → tap your Suica card → tap 'Add Money' → enter amount → pay with your card. Works from anywhere, any currency. |
| Suica app (physical card holders) | Register your physical card in the Suica app and top up using a Japanese credit card. Foreign cards not accepted in this flow. |
Maximum balance: ¥20,000 per card. Minimum top-up: ¥1,000.
Mobile Suica on iPhone — step by step
Mobile Suica on iPhone is the smoothest way to travel in Japan. Set it up at home, arrive with yen already loaded, and never touch a ticket machine. Your iPhone works as an IC card even when the battery is low, and you don't need internet to tap through gates.
Open Wallet on iPhone
Tap the + icon → search 'Suica' → tap 'Add' to install the Suica card. Requires iOS 16+ and an iPhone XR or later (or Apple Watch Series 4+).
Choose your balance and pay
Load an initial amount (minimum ¥1,000) using any foreign Visa, Mastercard, or Amex card — from home, before you fly. You do not need a Japanese card.
Arrive and tap
Hold your iPhone or Apple Watch to any Suica reader. No data connection required — IC chip works offline. Your phone doesn't even need to be unlocked (Express Transit mode).
Top up in Japan
Add more balance via Apple Pay in the Wallet app using your foreign card, or at any station ticket machine or convenience store ATM by selecting 'Suica'.
Requirements
- • iPhone XR or later (iPhone 8/X do not support Express Transit mode)
- • iOS 16 or later (iOS 14+ works but Express Transit mode requires iOS 16+)
- • Apple Watch Series 4+ also supported
- • Any foreign Visa, Mastercard, or Amex card for loading balance
Android users: Google Wallet supports Mobile Suica on most NFC-enabled Android phones. Open Google Wallet → tap + → search "Suica".
Deposit and refund
Physical card deposit
Every physical Suica, Pasmo, and ICOCA card requires a ¥500 refundable deposit when purchased. This is not a charge — it's held until you return the card.
How to get your deposit back
Go to any JR Green Window (みどりの窓口, Midori no Madoguchi) or staffed JR ticket office before departing Japan. Hand over the card. You'll receive the ¥500 deposit minus a ¥220 handling fee, plus your remaining balance (minus the same ¥220 fee). Allow 15–20 minutes. Not available at ticket machines.
Mobile Suica
No deposit. When you're done, simply remove the Suica card from your Wallet. Any remaining balance can be transferred to a new Suica later, or cashed out via the Suica app (requires Japanese account in some flows).
Keep it for next time
Cards don't expire and can be used on the next Japan trip. If you're planning to return, keep the card — skip the refund hassle and the ¥220 fee.
Where IC cards work
| Category | Detail | Works? |
|---|---|---|
| JR trains | All JR local and rapid trains across Japan | ✅ Yes |
| Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway | All subway lines in Tokyo | ✅ Yes |
| Osaka Metro & hankyu/Kintetsu lines | All major Kansai private railways | ✅ Yes |
| City buses | Most urban bus networks across Japan | ✅ Yes |
| Airport express trains | Narita Express, Haruka (Osaka), Monorails | ✅ Yes |
| Convenience stores | 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, NewDays, KIOSK | ✅ Yes |
| Vending machines | Most machines have a Suica/IC reader | ✅ Yes |
| Select taxis | Tokyo taxis increasingly accept IC cards, but not all | ✅ Yes |
| Station kiosks & NewDays shops | All kiosk chains inside stations | ✅ Yes |
| Some department stores & restaurants | Major chains with IC payment terminals | ✅ Yes |
Where IC cards do not work
Shinkansen reserved seats
You still need a separate ticket or JR Pass — IC pays the Shinkansen base fare only on non-reserved free-seating cars on some routes, not for reserved/Green Car seats.
Non-IC rural buses
Remote town buses and many intercity highway buses use cash only. Always carry coins.
JR limited express surcharges
The IC card pays the base fare but not express surcharge fees. You'll need a separate ticket for the surcharge.
Some private ferries & cable cars
Tourist transport at scenic spots (e.g. Hakone Ropeway) typically has its own payment system.
The most important one to remember: your IC card will not pay for Shinkansen reserved seats. Always carry a separate Shinkansen ticket or JR Pass for bullet train journeys.
Frequently asked questions
Suica vs Pasmo — which is better?
For tourists, they are functionally identical. Both work on every train, subway, bus, and convenience store across Tokyo and most of Japan. The only practical difference: Suica can be added to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet; Pasmo Passport (tourist version) cannot be topped up at all ATMs. Default to Suica.
Can I use a Suica card in Osaka?
Yes. Suica works on all Osaka Metro lines, Hankyu, Kintetsu, Nankai, and JR West trains in Kansai. There is no need to get a separate ICOCA card unless you specifically want a Kansai-issued card for a reason.
How do I refund my IC card deposit?
Physical cards have a ¥500 deposit refundable at any JR Green Window (Midori no Madoguchi) or staffed JR ticket office. There is a ¥220 processing fee deducted from the remaining balance at the time of refund. Budget at least 15–20 minutes. Mobile Suica has no deposit — just delete the card when done.
Can I use my IC card on the Shinkansen?
Partially. You can use an IC card for the base fare on some unreserved Shinkansen cars (Kodama on Tokaido, for example), but you cannot use it to pay for reserved seats, Green Car, or the full Nozomi/Hikari fare between Tokyo and Osaka. You still need a separate Shinkansen ticket or JR Pass for those.
What if my IC card runs out of balance?
Gates will reject you if you have insufficient balance. You'll need to go to the 'Fare Adjustment' machine (精算機) near the exit gate and pay the shortfall in cash. To avoid this, always keep at least ¥1,000 on your card — top up at any station machine or convenience store.
Can I share an IC card between two people?
No. IC cards are single-user — they register a fare when you tap in and deduct it when you tap out. Two people cannot share one card on the same journey.
Do I get a receipt when I pay with IC?
Not typically for small purchases. For transit, your journey history is stored on the card and readable at any station history printer (履歴印字機). Convenience stores can print receipts as normal.
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