Japan Prep Guide
Suica vs PASMO in 2026: Which IC Card Should Visitors Get?
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An IC card lets you tap through ticket gates instead of working out fares at a ticket machine, and it works at convenience stores and vending machines too. In 2026 visitors have more choices than ever: a regular Suica or PASMO, the visitor-only Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO, and Suica on an iPhone. Here's which one fits your trip.
- iPhone user: add Suica in Apple Wallet, or use the Welcome Suica Mobile app (valid 180 days, no deposit). No card to buy or lose.
- Android user or no smartphone: buy a Welcome Suica (JR stations at Narita/Haneda) or a Tourist PASMO (Keisei/Keikyu counters and machines at the airports). Both: no deposit, valid 28 days, no refund of leftover balance.
- Trip longer than 28 days, or coming back soon: a regular Suica or PASMO (¥500 refundable deposit, balance can be refunded).
- Suica vs PASMO: for riding trains they work the same. Pick whichever counter or machine is closest when you land.
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Suica, PASMO and ICOCA: is there any difference?
Not for most visitors. Suica is issued by JR East, PASMO by Tokyo's private railways and subways, and ICOCA by JR West in the Kansai area. All of them belong to the nationwide mutual-use network, so a Suica bought in Tokyo also works on trains and buses in Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka and other covered areas, and at shops showing any of the partner logos.
Two rules trip people up:
- You can't ride from one IC area to another in a single trip. JR East's example: you cannot travel from the Tokyo area to the Sendai area on one tap. Leave the gates and buy a ticket for cross-area journeys, such as Tokyo to Kyoto.
- An IC card pays the base fare only. Shinkansen, limited express trains and Green Cars need a separate ticket (Welcome Suica Mobile can sell some of these in the app, see below).
The options compared
| Card | Where to get it | Deposit | Valid for | Leftover balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Suica (card) | JR East Travel Service Centers and Welcome Suica machines at Narita and Haneda, plus some central Tokyo stations | None | 28 days from purchase | Not refunded |
| Tourist PASMO (new in 2026) | Haneda T1/T2 and T3 stations, Narita T1/T2 Skyliner & Keisei Information Centers | None | 28 days from purchase | Not refunded |
| Welcome Suica Mobile (iPhone app) | App Store, set up before you fly | None | 180 days from issue | Not refunded |
| Suica in Apple Wallet | Wallet app on iPhone or Apple Watch | None | No short expiry | Stays on your phone for the next trip |
| Regular Suica / PASMO card | Ticket machines at major stations | ¥500 (refunded) | Expires after 10 years unused | Refunded minus ¥220 fee (JR East) |
Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO: the easy airport option
Both are visitor cards you buy on arrival. There's no deposit, so the amount you pay is the amount you can spend. The trade-off is that they stop working 28 days after purchase and unused value is not refunded, so don't load more than you'll use.
- Tourist PASMO launched in 2026 as the successor to PASMO PASSPORT, which ended in 2024. PASMO's official page lists prices from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000 depending on where you buy it; at Narita's Skyliner & Keisei Information Centers it's a fixed ¥2,000. The Haneda machines accept credit cards.
- Welcome Suica is sold at JR East Travel Service Centers and dedicated machines at Narita and Haneda Terminal 3. Sales were suspended for long periods during the 2023–2025 chip shortage, so if one desk is out, try the other card.
If you'd rather not line up at the airport, Klook sells a Suica card you collect at Haneda or Narita. The listing says it comes pre-loaded with about ¥1,500–2,000; check the validity and pick-up counter on the listing before you book.
Check Klook's Suica card price and pick-up points (opens in a new tab)Landing at Narita and heading into the city? Our Narita and Haneda to Tokyo guide compares the trains. Note that the Skyliner needs a reserved ticket; you can book a Skyliner ticket in advance (opens in a new tab) and pick up a Tourist PASMO at the same Keisei counter.
Suica on iPhone: Apple Wallet or Welcome Suica Mobile?
If you have an iPhone, you can skip the plastic card entirely.
Welcome Suica Mobile
JR East's English app issues a Suica for visitors. You download it before your trip, agree to the terms and set a "secret keyword" (used for inquiries); no membership sign-up is needed. The Suica is valid for 180 days and has no deposit, but leftover value is not refunded. Since the March 2026 update you can also buy Green Car tickets for local trains in the app and reserve Shinkansen and limited express seats through JR-EAST Train Reservation. JR East notes that you must be 13 or older, and that in some countries the law blocks setup and top-ups until you arrive in Japan.
Regular Suica in Apple Wallet
You can also add a standard Suica in the Wallet app (tap +, then Transit Card). It has no deposit or 28-day limit, and the balance stays on your phone for your next trip. Top-ups go through Apple Pay. Some travelers report that foreign-issued Visa cards are declined for Suica top-ups while Mastercard and American Express work; card support varies, so add a backup card or plan to top up with cash at a station machine or convenience store register.
Either way you'll need mobile data to top up and set up the app on the go. See eSIM vs pocket WiFi if you haven't sorted that yet, or compare Airalo's Japan eSIM plans (opens in a new tab) and Saily's Japan eSIM (opens in a new tab) before you fly.
What about Android?
This is the big gap. Suica in Google Wallet generally works only on Android phones sold in Japan with Japanese tap-to-pay hardware; phones bought abroad usually can't add it, and Welcome Suica Mobile is iPhone-only. If you have an Android phone from outside Japan, buy a physical Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO.
How to top up
- Station ticket machines: choose "Charge", insert your card and pay in cash. JR East allows ¥500 to ¥10,000 at a time; card top-ups at machines are cash-only.
- Convenience stores: hand your card to the cashier and say "Suica charge, please". Details in our convenience store guide.
- On a bus: ask the driver; PASMO says ¥1,000 bills only.
- iPhone: top up in Wallet or the Welcome Suica Mobile app via Apple Pay.
The maximum balance on any Suica or PASMO is ¥20,000. Because physical cards are cash-only to top up, keep some yen on you; our cash or card guide explains how much.
Do you still need an IC card in 2026?
Probably yes, but less than before. From March 25, 2026, tap-and-go credit card payment has been accepted at hundreds of stations operated by Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway and several private railways, according to reports on the rollout. JR East lines, including the Yamanote Line, are not part of it, child fares aren't supported, and your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee on every ride. An IC card still covers every train, bus and konbini in one tap.
Questions about Suica and PASMO
Can I use Suica in Osaka and Kyoto?
Yes. Suica, PASMO and Welcome Suica work on trains, subways and buses in the Kansai area thanks to mutual use with ICOCA. Just don't ride from Tokyo to Kyoto on a single tap; buy a Shinkansen ticket.
Can I use Suica on the Shinkansen?
Not by itself. You need a Shinkansen ticket. On some JR East lines you can link a ticket to your Suica, and Welcome Suica Mobile can book Shinkansen seats in the app. If you're planning several long rides, read whether the JR Pass is worth it.
Can I get my money back from a Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO?
No. Neither has a deposit, and leftover balance isn't refunded. Spend it at a konbini or vending machine on your last day.
Is Suica cheaper than paper tickets?
On JR East lines the IC fare is often a few yen cheaper than the paper ticket fare.
Can children use these cards?
Yes, but get a child card so the child fare is charged. Tourist PASMO child cards are valid until March 31 of the year the child turns 12.
Which IC card we'd get
iPhone users should set up Suica in Apple Wallet or Welcome Suica Mobile before they fly. Everyone else should grab a Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO at the airport and load only what they'll spend in 28 days. Staying longer than four weeks, or coming back to Japan? A regular Suica or PASMO with a refundable deposit is the better deal.
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