Suica, Pasmo and other IC Cards in Japan | Travel Tips | japan-guide.com

Learn more about IC Cards: www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_0...
In this video, we will cover everything there is to know about IC Cards, what they are, how to use them and cover some of the issues you could encounter with them.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to a shortage of IC chips, the sale of Suica and Pasmo cards is currently SUSPENDED until further notice. An exception is made at Narita Airport, Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station and Ueno Station, where Suica cards can be purchased at the "JR East Travel Service Centers".
Furthermore, "Welcome Suica" cards can be purchased at Haneda Airport. Other IC cards, such as Icoca and Toica, are on sale as usual.
- Chapters -
00:00 Introduction
00:13 What are IC Cards?
00:58 Issues
01:40 How to use IC Cards
02:57 Mobile versions
03:15 Special IC Cards
04:06 IC Card on the shinkansen
05:00 Outro
- Video Credits -
Videographer: Charles Sabas
Produced by Stefan Schauwecker
For more information about Japan:
www.japan-guide.com/
Any questions regarding your future trip to Japan? Feel free to ask a question in our question forum:
www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...

[@japanguide]

*IMPORTANT NOTICE:* Due to a shortage of IC chips, the sale of Suica and Pasmo cards is currently SUSPENDED until further notice. An exception is made at Narita Airport, Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station and Ueno Station, where Suica cards can be purchased at the "JR East Travel Service Centers". Furthermore, "Welcome Suica" cards can be purchased at Haneda Airport. Other IC cards, such as Icoca and Toica, are on sale as usual.

[@weronikaniemczyk5233]

So If I will Land at Narita Airport in June , i can’t buy welcome suica card at the Aiport ? I wanted to buy it to use for baritq express . Where Can I buy welcome suica card ? Only in Haneda ? Or also in Tokyo / for example Shinjuku Station ?

[@gumerzambrano]

Having Suica on my phone made everything super easy. Especially when topping off. I saw lines of tourists at machines and felt sorry for them

[@japanguide]

Having it on the phone definitely makes it more convenient!

[@hoomanpowered]

I was there in Japan for the past 2 weeks and I was able to get a Suica card in Shinjuku East travel center

[@Elixir9]

Ic card should be working countrywide 🤦‍♂️

[@Tamaki742]

Hard to make it countrywide when there are different line operators in different regions.

[@Ben663.]

​@Tamaki742 Hahahahaha you think this is something new. Most countries have several districts operated by different operators. The Japanese just like to complicate things 😅

[@Tioga060]

useful, thank you!

[@AP-hn8wd]

FYI: mobile IC cards (iPhones) can also be recharged with cash at a station that has recharge machines. But easiest is through Apple pay if you have it set up.

[@exit1368]

👍 Yes, Suica iPhone app worked perfectly on my Tokyo trip in April, I had it linked to my Apple card. Worked everywhere I expected it would. Super convenient - highly recommend! 😎

[@tylerlegend7205]

ACtually a good bit of info thank you

[@LizLenM8]

I have an ICOCA exactly like the one at 3:41. It is good that it does not have an expiration. Yes it has discounts at certain establishments, but you will have to proactively present it to the staff to avail of the discount, so you have to know which establishments are included . We went to nunobiki herb garden and missed to present our ICOCA, so shame we did not get discount

[@japanguide]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Kansai One Pass!

[@patrickcarafa]

nice

[@wee-senchoo7025]

Yay merci Charly

[@japanguide]

You're welcome! ☺️

[@ajtait]

I'm pretty sure you can use Smart EX to purchase reserved seats on the Tokaido Shinkansen and designate an IC card to be used at the fare gate too. This way you can avoid using a ticket machine and still have a reserved seat instead of using the touch de go for an unreserved seat.

[@japanguide]

Correct, you can use Smart EX to purchase the reserved seats and designate an IC Card to be used at the gate. We actually mention it that service in the video as the "Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service" which is the name of the website. SmartEX is the name of their smartphone app (which is only available to some countries).

[@paige9725]

@@japanguide yes I cannot currently get the app in my country (New Zealand) however once I land in Japan does that mean id be able to get it then or not? if not how else would I be able to get on the Shinkansen ? thanks for the video very helpful :)

[@SyaoranLiClow]

Dumb enough to get mine until my thitd trip back in 2017. A blessing to use less Cash and only charge the card each day to pay for everything

[@japanguide]

It is pretty convenient indeed!

[@Lokkiism]

Really silly question do I need to get the IC physical card 1st before adding it to my iPhone?

[@boxerblake1]

Wife lost her Suica & went to the JR counter in Shibuya for one of the permanent ones.

[@user-fs5dm8uh4w]

この動画は素晴らしい。Suicaがあればいちいち切符を買う必要ない。コンビニでも使えて、小銭いらず

[@japanguide]

コメントありがとうございます！

[@cskillet2003]

It seems like the Welcome IC card will most likely cost more than the regular card. The deposit is only $3. I doubt I'd be able to plan my trips well enough to keep my remaining balance below $3.

[@johnwick860]

does Suica work in Osaka & Kyoto? I plan on installing Suica on my iPhone

[@IhsanIbrahim]

No almost all around the country as long as the IC logo is available, you can use that. But, it is better to say the local name of the IC brand in those areas, such as ICOCA in Kansai, Suica in Kanto. The one mentioned in the video that you cannot use is the cross area, such as from Tokyo (Suica), you get off in Shizuoka (Toica) you must go to the station master at the gate to process the cross border data transfer (just tapping in the special machine).

[@LordMcGray]

Did you actually watch the video? That question is answered!

[@hariacc]

i have suica that i purchase around 10-12 years ago. the last time i used them are just before covid closed down in january 2020. can i still use them?

[@japanguide]

Yes, you can. IC cards become invalid if they are not used for 10 years, which is not the case for your card.

[@allenyamasaki7978]

Can use Suica card for Metro subway in Tokyo? Thanks

[@japanguide]

Yes you can!

[@suettsui3934]

What is the difference the res IC card and green IC card

[@TheOtherChef]

did you even watch the video? your question is answered... you must be a bot.

[@weronikaniemczyk5233]

Hi. Do You know if I Can pay by suica for Hiroshima shuttle to the airport ? And as well for fujisan train , shinkansen to Kyoto ? Thank You for replaying Weronika

[@japanguide]

Yes, Suica can be used on Hiroshima airport buses and the Fujikyu train. As for shinkansen, it is a little bit more complicated and explained in the video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hF6vq2tujLR7gZofeature=shared&t=241 or on the following page: www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html#ic

[@weronikaniemczyk5233]

@@japanguide so as well pasmo passport card Can be use for this same ? Thank You for Your answer 😊

[@japanguide]

Yes, Pasmo Passport can also be used. Suica, Pasmo and 8 other nationwide IC cards all have the same coverage.

[@roger6209]

PASMO PASSPORT is being discontinued as of August 2024. Note, however, that some sales locations may stop offering the pass before August. You need to update this video ASAP….especially for foreign travellers who will no longer be able to use when the Passport ends August. Phone app won’t work for foreign phones…. Pretty dumb

[@japanguide]

Thank you for your comment, but we do not mention Pasmo Passport in the video.

[@TophWelch]

Can I pay for two train fares for two people with one Welcome Suica card? Or do I have to get one for each person in my group?

[@japanguide]

Each person needs one card.

[@johnmanning5117]

@@japanguide Thanks for a fantastic video! If I reserve Shinkansen tickets for 2 adults using the SmartEX app, and also register 2 Suico cards in the app, will it allow two different people to use the Suico card registered in my app or am I safer to use physical Suico cards?

[@roger6209]

Again, this video needs updating as it contains information that is now INCORRECT as JR EAST, on their website, advised that from December 18, 2023, Welcome Suica will only be sold at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (Tokyo Monorail) station, with all other sales, temporarily suspended at other locations.

[@japanguide]

We mention this in our pinned top comment.

[@mawtravels]

Wait I used ICOCA in my 2019 trip covering Tokyo, Kansai, and Fukuoka Edit: and in my 2023 trip, in Tokyo area

[@japanguide]

Yes, like we mention in the video, the IC Cards shown on the map at 0:33 can all be used interchangeably nationwide (within the IC areas).

[@mawtravels]

​@@japanguideah! I didn't get it haha thanks for clarifying! Question though, does it mean I can't use my ICOCA if I'm gonna do Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto route?

[@japanguide]

No, transportation around Takayama and along the Alpine Route cannot be paid with IC cards. This video sequence shows a rough coverage area of IC cards: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hF6vq2tujLR7gZosi=zzfqv7m2-I4Jsw9E&t=59

[@mawtravels]

@@japanguide thanks! ❤️

[@japanguide]

You’re welcome! And have a nice trip! :)

[@russellharvey698]

Ridiculous that there isn't only ONE for national use

[@japanguide]

There are TEN cards for national use because of how the cards evolved (they weren't mutually compatible until 2013).

[@garys5540]

The tourist Pasmo or Suica cards costs 1500 yen and nonrefundable. This video omitted that for some reason. Also omitted was the fact that you must show your passport at the time of purchasing a tourist Pasmo or Suica card. Without your passport, they cannot or will not sell you one. Because of this, I strongly recommend buying the card at the airport when you arrive instead of trying to locate a station that sells the IC cards.

[@boxerblake1]

They cost 2000 yen, and only 500 is for the card. 1500 of that is preloaded on the card.

[@kevlarcardhouse252]

It doesn't omit either of those things. It mentions that they are nonrefundable and that you must be an international tourist to buy it. Also, the Suica one is either 1,000 or 2,000, not 1,500.

[@garys5540]

@@kevlarcardhouse252 Why are you being so defensive for them? Did they include the information that I mentioned? You don't think they knew? I paid 1500 yen for my Pasmo card. Just a month ago. If you are going to rebut know what you are talking about and come back with accurate info. I was only trying to provide info for new travelers to Japan. You're just being an A hole.

[@garys5540]

@@boxerblake1 For the tourist Pasmo, it's 1500 yen. Plus what ever you want to add. 500 yen is for the people living in Japan. That card is refundable but you cannot obtain one due to chip shortage.

[@japanguide]

If by tourist Pasmo card you are referring to the Pasmo Passport card, we do not mention it in the video because the card will be discontinued in a few months. The Welcome Suica does not require a purchase fee, you pay for the amount of initial balance of the card, either 1,000 or 2,000 yen.

[@SandroMathys]

Weird that the video doesn't mention even just once that IC cards can only be recharged with cash, that's kinda crucial. And not mentioning Passmo Passport alongside Welcome Suica feels like another oversight.

[@japanguide]

Good point about the cash! As for Pasmo Passport, it will be discontinued this summer, so we intentionally omitted it.

[@keikezia11]

sorry, I'm afraid i get the "recharge" meaning wrongly.. does it mean you only can top up your IC card with cash only once? if yes, then for the second until next, how do you top up the card? or do you mean refundable to cash?

[@SandroMathys]

@@keikezia11 It can be recharged as often as you like, but only with cash

[@keikezia11]

@@SandroMathys oh i see. noted! thank you for the advice!

[@scaleartsg]

obsolute tech

[@mazzdacon2134]

God the music is irritating.

[@TransConBrilliance]

This is one of those things in Japan that makes me crazy and scream why japan why. For every high tech thing japan does there is one of these that pushes them backwards. Just use credit cards like every other developed nation. Instead they created this system that is archaic and full of silly rules for use in one region but not another and only in cash in a rapidly cashless society. If japan is concern about credit card fees for merchants the merchant can just pass that to consumers like everybody else. I much rather pay higher prices than spend time with this essentially debit card but 10x worse.

[@LordMcGray]

"every other developed nation" yeah right. Come to Germany and go to different cities/regioons. Try buying poblic transport tickets in each. Find out there is no single card, that you can use in all of the regions. Try paying with your precious credit card in a bus outside of any major city (hint: wont work - either cash or mayyyybe an EC card, but 99% of the time no credit card). The whole of Germany does not have a prepaid card that you can use a) nationwide, regardless where you bought it b) use with vending machines (need to one here first) c) use in a lot of shops d) use in a lot of restaurants. Come to Berlin, where you can buy public transport tickets at vending machines or employee operated counters, which you have to stamp manually at the platform or when entering the bus. But buy your ticket directly in the bus and you don't need to stamp it, as it's stamped at printing. Find out, that Berlin has three different fare zones and you MUST know BEFORE you travel, which zones you will need. No tapping a oh-so-shitty IC card against a gate to scan in and then scan out anywhere you leave to have the exact fare deducted automatically. Yeah, totally bad system. Sheesh...

[@KenshoQuest]

I find IC cards super convenient and easy to use across Japan. And the digital IC cards can be recharged with credit card. On our recent trip to the Mt. Fuji area, many of the buses accepted credit card as a form of payment, in addition to IC card or cash. As far as "merchants" many of them do accept credit cards, paying by IC card is just another option. 🌸Heidi