ENTRY #053 FULL DOSSIER

Suica, PASMO, ICOCA & regional IC cards

Physical and digital cards, before-arrival setup, top-ups, acceptance, and important exceptions.

Before You Travel

Confirm current services, tickets, and payment rules with the operator.

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Choose a supported format Buy a physical card at participating station facilities, or use a supported mobile service. Check exact hardware, payment-card eligibility, and any country restrictions before relying on digital setup abroad.
Check the exact product terms Regular cards, visitor physical cards, and Welcome Suica Mobile do not share all terms. Standard physical Welcome Suica lasts 28 days including purchase day, with no deposit or balance refund. Check the displayed validity for mobile and other visitor products.
Load value, not a travel entitlement An IC card is normally a stored-value payment method. A rail pass, limited-express ticket, seat reservation, or supported linked Shinkansen booking is a separate product.
Look for accepted-card logos The major interoperable family covers many local railways, subways, buses, and participating shops. It does not cover every route or merchant. Local cards such as OKICA are not universally interchangeable with that family.
Finish the journey in a valid IC area Nationwide interoperability does not generally permit one continuous tap-in journey between separate IC areas. Confirm the ticket needed before boarding across area boundaries.
Plan top-ups and the remaining balance Major prepaid transit cards generally hold up to JPY 20,000. Physical-card cash top-ups are widely available at compatible machines and participating shops; mobile wallet top-ups need supported payment methods. Refunds and deposits are handled under the issuer's rules, not by every railway.

General information only. Confirm current routes, timetables, fares, accessibility, accepted payment methods, and card terms with the operator before traveling.