Why You Need an IC Card for Japan Travel! How to Buy & Use Suica Etc.

[@DizzTheDoc]

You guys gave me the confidence and knowledge on my first trip to Japan last year to use the rail system and I can’t thank you enough your videos are worth their weight in gold.

[@KenshoQuest]

We are so happy to hear that our videos were helpful and we hope you enjoyed your trip!

[@gudeliamato8740]

Your description of all the steps is excellent, it gives me confidence that I will be able to use them easily, as I am not very young and feel a bit apprehensive. Thank you for your shows and keep them up!!!!

[@ashcross]

This is an excellent overview, giving your viewers intending to visit Japan really good advice. Getting around Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto with a Suica card on my iPhone made travelling a breeze and couldn't be easier. It was an absolute joy to visit Japan and to travel with such ease and convenience. And there are often staff around who can help with any issues. Just remember to keep it topped up. I added my Suica and created an initial balance days before even travelling to Japan.

[@KenshoQuest]

Thanks for sharing your experience :)

[@ashcross]

@@KenshoQuest Your channel was so useful to me before I visited Japan in October. I particularly benefitted from your packing light videos, which I followed the spirit of and I spent a few weeks without carrying huge suitcases. I did, however, buy a small wheeled suitcase in the last couple days so I could take back some souvenirs, and it was handy because I could rest my backpack on top of it while travelling to and around the airport for the journey home. Great channel.

[@nateshf9303]

Another helpful and easy-to-understand video. My wife and I took advantage of the 1 USD to 160 JPY exchange rate to load up our mobile IC cards (Suica, Icoca, and Pasmo) on our iPhones. We're excited to return to Japan for our 15th+ time in 25 years this late March.

[@jurgenkneber7655]

To the point and precise as always.

[@OneOldGuy]

This by far, is the most comprehensive and informative KZbin video on this process I've yet viewed. I cannot thank you enough for the "step by step" clarity and guidance you've provided for my upcoming trip there.

[@KenshoQuest]

I am so glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your trip!

[@futurecanadian]

first, great video!! I flew into Osaka last year so i have a ICOCA IC card. Then flew to Tokyo 4 days later and I was good to go in Tokyo. Used the IC card on the monorail from Haneda, got a Coke from a vending machine and, the IC Card saved my butt in Hakone because I misplaced my ticket, the train station agent did not speak English and I had no JPY. However, I put out my ICOCA and he point to the scanner and paid to exit the station (it was only 770 JPY so, no biggie). I love the fact they are good for 10 years as I going back to Tokyo in April.

[@psjoe1688]

I'm headed to Japan tomorrow and your videos have me feeling ready. Thanks for all the great info!

[@KenshoQuest]

So happy to hear this! Have a great journey!

[@ashcross]

I'm envious! I went in October and it was an amazing experience. Can't wait to go back.

[@nateshf9303]

Hope you stay through the cherry blossom season!

[@papa7745]

Thank you for this in-depth information it will be of great assistance when we arrive in Japan

[@KenshoQuest]

You’re welcome!

[@Kushal-v8b]

Thanks for sharing 🙏🙏

[@notall7994]

So glad I came across your channel. You have given me invaluable advice. Going to Japan in May for my 2nd visit. I totally love Japan, my favourite country by far.

[@yenlinhnguyen3898]

Thanks George and Heidi for another helpful video!

[@KenshoQuest]

You're welcome!

[@gailcrockett9883]

Excellent review and Explanation!

[@nscaledelights]

Thank you for your video, i plan on landing at KIX and probably would been looking foe a Suica card lol now ill look for a IICOCA card.

[@nateshf9303]

Great choice! My kids love the design of the ICOCA card (on the iPhone), which we've used throughout Japan.

[@nateshf9303]

Personally I'd not waste time standing in line to purchase an actual physical card.

[@nscaledelights]

@ If I don't stand in line for a card how do I get one?

[@nateshf9303]

@@nscaledelights My apology if I assumed you own an iPhone which allows you to download the mobile apps.

[@席維尼-t2w]

the maximum amount for the Suica card is twenty thousand yen. I usually charge it to nearest to the full amount because I use my Suica every where to avoid getting coins. Most of the restaurants, supermarket and convenient stores accept Suica.

[@gwarlow]

Great video! I was wondering if you had planned (or already created) a video to help explain the seemingly complicated system for buying tickets to the Osaka World Fair? I have looked at their website and watched a couple of videos, but I cannot see how it will work - if the access dates and times we choose for specific pavilions are not available and by the time we find out, it could be too late to re-apply. Anyway, I really enjoy your videos and have learned a great deal about travelling efficiently in Japan. Many thanks to you both! 😊

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, we plan to make a video on this soon as we will be attending for multiple days. It is incredibly confusing and I'm sure contributing to slow ticket sales. Have you already purchased your tickets and now trying to reserve pavillions?

[@mLi75]

Hello, another great post Quick question the Welcome Suica can be used at Combini 7/11 etc just like any other Suica? Thanks

[@KenshoQuest]

Yes!

[@kahealani414]

I love your channel and all the information that you share has helped me tremendously as I plan my first visit to Japan in April. 😊Mahalo!! 🙏 (coming from Hawaii) Question 🙋🏽‍♀️ Can I buy an IC card online and then keep it as a digital version on my iPhone?

[@kahealani414]

Nvm…. After watching till the end…Im sure the answer is YES. Got it 👍🏽

[@KenshoQuest]

Aloha and mahalo 🤙🏼

[@pushslice]

Very useful content! how can you tell though if a ‘standard loaded’ IC card starts to make less sense than one of those regional pass-cards I’ve seen you do videos on too? I’m doing a 10 day trip across 4 adjacent prefectures and wondering which one to go for ..

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi. Regional passes are intended for transportation from city to city, although they may also include some local transportation within a city. The real value in a regional pass is getting unlimited rides on Limited Express Trains or Shinkansen bullet trains. Even if you use a regional pass, we still recommend getting an IC card, as you are likely to encounter local transportation that is not covered by the pass.

[@pushslice]

@ thank you that’s very useful! as I’m sure I will be requiring local trains and buses

[@jdub2343]

Firstly, thanks for all your videos! They really helped with my first trip last year. I'm just putting the final touches to the plan for my second trip and have spotted that the suica card isn't able to be used in the icsca area of Sendai, is that right, or is that you can't buy suica in that area but suica still works ok?

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, I believe you are correct. While Suica is available in Sendai, you cannot use it on ICSCA transportation and will requite an ICSCA Card. It is confusing!

[@jdub2343]

@@KenshoQuest thanks for getting back to me! I'm glad that I'm not the only one that finds it confusing. I found another travel news site that seems to say that it was all made compatible in 2016 - surely a JR EAST webpage would have been updated from then to avoid confusion... But then I've been told English versions of sites and obscure pages sometimes just get left out of maintenance. The site is found by - nomad-saving /24416/

[@jdub2343]

There is a JR EAST page in Japanese that gives a better idea of what can and can't be done with the suica in the icsca area. Happy to share what I have found if there's some way to get a link over, KZbin keeps deleting my comments with a link

[@gudeliamato8740]

I also will appreciate your advice about which of the two; team lab planet or the team borderless will be recommended to aperson like me, 66 years old ? Thank you🙂

[@chunlanjauw8427]

Thanks for your video. Can I still use my digital Suica on my iPhone if there’s no WiFi and no data available on my iPhone?

[@axios101]

Nice explanation! Just a reference: are the SUICA recharge machines different from the SUICA issuing machines, or not?

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, great question. In general, there are many many more recharging machines than issuing machines. Most recharging machines cannot issue a Suica or any other IC card.

[@adelyssaolguin]

My brother and I planned our first trip w/ the help of y'all's videos 🫶🏻 We're going back later this year and I still never miss a Kensho video 🩷

[@arneberg9261]

Great )) So, as I who will stay in Japan 3 weeks, doin tokyo Kyoto and Osaka, have only cool benefits from buying a Welcome Suica Card ??

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, yes, the Welcome Suica will be the easiest to get and can be purchased upon arrival at both NRT and HND in Tokyo.

[@arneberg9261]

@@KenshoQuest So cool. Thank ya all the best --

[@ReiwaMagi]

10? Technically 9 as the 10th one requires a Japanese bank account which only a resident of Japan can get because its a Post-Paid IC card, and not a prepaid IC Card. Theres also all the Tohoku IC Cards which can also be used in JR East and the variant cards.

[@Teresa-wt9mw]

we're in tokyo in june, can we purchase a suica card in narita airport when we arrive?

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, yes, the Welcome Suica and Registered Suica are currently available at Narita. However, do keep in mind this can change at anytime.

[@stevenho2311]

I have the Kansai One Pass from when I last visited Osaka/Kyoto in 2018. Is this card usable in the Tokyo area? Thanks

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, yes. The Kanai One Pass claims to not have an expiration date and. since it is an ICOCA card it will be usable in Tokyo area.

[@stevenho2311]

@KenshoQuest Thanks that's great to know!

[@airomz]

Is there a way to buy a Toica card at the Nagoya International Airport? All I see is the Manaca.

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, I don't think the Toica is available at Chubu ( NGO ) because JR is not available at the airport. The Manaca is run by Meitetsu, which is the company that has rail to the airport.

[@nateshf9303]

Not sure if you mentioned in your video - If you've set a mobile card to "transit mode," you can tap your iPhone without even turning it on.

[@andy-kai-chan]

Are there IC cards that allow the purchase of a day pass instead?

[@KenshoQuest]

Hi, great question. In general, passes are separate tickets. For instance, in the Tokyo area you can get a subway/metro pass which is a great value. Here is a link ( affiliate link ): geni.us/tokyosubwaypass

[@orlandopotts4819]

Question if u have a ic card ion your iPhone if u have money left over would it stay there until your next trip to japan

[@KenshoQuest]

Yes, any remaining balance will stay on the card until your next trip.

[@orlandopotts4819]

@ thanks great video

[@nateshf9303]

True. My wife and I each have all three mobile IC card apps on our iphones, and we've already topped them up. We've been to Japan three times in the last year and a half and used them every time.

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

I"m curious why you prefer the PASMO digital card. Just personal preference?

[@KenshoQuest]

In case you need to install the PASMO Finance app ( for instance to figure out your full card number) it’s easier to use than the Suica Finance app. The digital cards themselves work the same. 🌸 Heidi

[@Root_066]

Regarding the registered IC card, in case of the person whose name is on the card is not using, can it be used by any of his family member?

[@normavela4552]

Does it make any sense to get both a digital and physical card?

[@KenshoQuest]

You only need one IC card. If you have a digital card, there isn’t really a reason to get a physical card.

[@normavela4552]

@ so if they take IC cards at all, they will all work for digital as well? Amazing. I’ll be there in six weeks.

[@KenshoQuest]

@ Yes, digital IC cards work the same as physical cards to pay at stores, restaurants, vending machines, lockers, etc.

[@normavela4552]

@ thank you so much for replying and for all your wonderful content. I’ve been planning this trip for almost a year and your channel has been so incredibly helpful.

[@johnmar7088]

Why do you like Pasmo better?

[@KenshoQuest]

In case you need to install the PASMO Finance app, it's more simple and straight forward to use than the Suica Finance app. This is mostly if you need to get your full card number, to link a Shinkansen ticket purchased on SmartEX or eki-net to your digital IC card.

[@darrylk808]

Was that Heidi's birth year that was blurred?😂

[@KenshoQuest]

Haha! Are you heading to Asia this year?

[@darrylk808]

@KenshoQuest Next month. I think Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, maybe squeeze in Manila.

[@M_a_k_u_14]

We have 7 ic cards 😅😂 since 2018

[@JMSmiles001]

How do kids under 5 get through the gate if they don’t need a card?

[@KenshoQuest]

@@JMSmiles001 They can just walk through with a paying adult.

[@JMSmiles001]

⁠@@KenshoQuestThank you! Your videos are so helpful!

[@Middlecurvewar]

Did you cover how to buy a child's card?

[@KenshoQuest]

Here’s our video on how to buy a Child Suica card. It should be similar for other IC cards. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJPZgqiof8mCpMUsi=UBtcApx3bSBxp2Zw

[@Gen_635]

Yay-another informative video! We can’t thank you enough for all your hard work. Everyone LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE-100K soooonnn! Mahalo. 🤎

[@KenshoQuest]

Mahalo! 💕