There is a convenient card for taking a train in Japan. It is called a transportation system IC card, and in Tokyo it is called Suica or Pasmo. If you are going to stay in a big city like Tokyo or Osaka for more than 3 days, I recommend you to get one.
But they are hard to find, aren’t they? It is true. Due to the shortage of semiconductors, the material used to make the cards, most ticket offices have stopped selling them.
In this article, I will introduce how to get a Suica or PASMO and what you can use as an alternative.
Locations where you can buy Suica card as of May 2024
Suica cards (with penguin illustrations) can be purchased at JR EAST Travel Service Centers located in major stations in Tokyo (Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Ikebukuro). This is also the Japan Rail Pass exchange office, so ask while you exchange. It is not necessary to show your passport at the time of purchase, but you may need to be there in person since only one Suica card can be purchased per person.
This Suica card can only be purchased with cash. Additions can only be made with cash.
Suica cards can be used in major city areas throughout Japan, but refunds can only be made at stations in Tokyo and other eastern Japan cities. A 500 yen deposit is required, but will be refunded when you return the card. If you plan to come back to Japan within 10 years, it is recommended that you keep the card.
Welcome Suica
As for the Welcome Suica, as of May 2024, it is available only at Haneda Airport. If you wish to obtain a Welcome Suica, buy it from a ticket vending machine dedicated to Welcome Suica at Haneda Airport.
As of 1 April 2024, Welcome Suica at Haneda Airport are sometimes sold out. You should consider yourself lucky if you can buy one. Probably sold out while supplies last.
PASMO Passport
If your passport has a temporary visa, you can purchase a PASMO Passport. It is available at Haneda and Narita airports. It also has a cute appearance with Sanrio characters on it.
Pasmo Passport sold out in June 2024.
App for Mobile
You can put Suica functionality into your smart phone. If you are an iPhone user, you can try the app. You will need to register your credit card, but some cards issued overseas cannot be used, so you will have to give it a try.
However, if you can have a Suica or Passmo in your iPhone, you can top-up with cash. It can be recharged at some ticket vending machines at stations and at convenience stores.
Recommended is the PASMO card with Apple Pay
So far we have written only about Suica, but there are dozens of different types of transportation IC cards in Japan. All of them have the same functionality, just from different issuers. The procedure for issuing a new Apple Pay PASMO card is summarized here, so you can follow this procedure.
Welcome Suica mobile is scheduled for release in 2025. Until then, it looks like we will have to use alternative methods.
Other Alternatives
Although it does not have all the features of the Suica card, there are several free passes available for sightseeing by train in the city of Tokyo. If you have one of these, at least you will not have to check the fare each time and buy a ticket in cash from a ticket machine. Besides, the more often you take the train, the more you get out of it.
JR Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass
This ticket allows unlimited rides on JR lines in the central area of Tokyo. The ticket is only for JR lines and can be purchased on a daily basis from the first train of the day to the last train of the day.
Tokyo Subway Ticket
Unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro lines. It can be used only on the Metro lines. The ticket can be used for 24 hours from the start of use.
In addition to 24-hour tickets, 48-hour and 72-hour tickets are also available.
Japan Rail Pass
Unlimited travel on all JR lines throughout Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days. The pass allows unlimited rides on Shinkansen bullet trains (some are not covered by the pass) and limited express trains. Of course, unlimited travel on JR lines in Tokyo is also available.
