Get a rechargeable IC card on your first day in Japan. With one card you tap through train gates, pay on most subways and buses, and buy small items in many shops and vending machines. You can use Suica and ICOCA in Tokyo and Kyoto, and in most other large cities. Buy one card, and keep it charged for the whole trip.
Suica or ICOCA: what is the difference?
Both are prepaid IC cards. They look the same and work the same way on most trains. The names come from the railway companies that started them:
- Suica started with JR East, the main railway company in the Tokyo area.
- ICOCA started with JR West, the main railway company in the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara).
Most IC cards from different companies work across Japan's major transit systems. For a first trip, either card is fine. Pick the one that the station machine shows first, or the one your phone wallet supports.
Check first: Ask the railway operator which areas your card works in. Start with the JR East and JR West websites, and check the bus operator in each city.
Where to buy the card
You can buy a card at the ticket machines in large stations and at major airports. Choose the English menu on the screen. Buy the card at the station where you start your day, so you do not have to find a counter later.
Some visitors add the card to a phone wallet instead of a plastic card. This only works with a phone that supports it, and the setup can take time. Do it before you land, with Wi-Fi. A plastic card is easier if you share a phone or do not want to rely on battery power.
Add money and check the balance
Add money at the machines in stations and at some shops. Keep a small balance, but not so small that a single ride fails. Many gates show the balance after you tap. Check it before you walk through.
Tap in, tap out
On trains and subways, tap your card on the reader at the gate when you enter, and tap again when you leave. The gate takes the fare for the distance you travelled. If you forget to tap out, the gate may keep the card closed, and you need to go to a station office to fix it. This is the most common first-day problem.
On many buses you tap when you get on, or you pay when you get off. Look at the sign near the driver. Some city buses do not accept IC cards, so keep some cash for them.
Other places that take IC cards
Convenience stores take IC cards at the register. So do many vending machines, some taxis and some restaurants. Look for the IC card sign on the door or on the machine. This sign is useful when you do not want to carry cash.
Getting your money back
When you leave Japan, you can often get back the balance on the card. Go to a ticket office at a station, and ask for a refund. Some fees may apply, and the card must be in good condition. Do not throw the card away with money on it.
Common mistakes
- You forget to tap out. Tap out at every exit.
- The balance is too low for the gate. Check it before you travel.
- You try to use the card on a bus that does not accept it. Look at the sign first.
- You lose the card. Keep the balance low on the card you carry, and note the card number from the receipt if the machine gives one.
Using the card in a second city
Your card keeps working on most local lines when you change cities. Check the balance before you leave a city, and top up at a station machine in the new city if you need more. Some private railways and some city buses use their own card or ticket. Look for the sign at the gate that shows which IC cards work there. If a bus has only a cash box, ask the driver before you board.
Keep the card in the same place each day, such as a front pocket or a card holder. Many visitors lose time searching for it at the gate. A clear place saves you from holding up the people behind you.
What to do next
Use one card for the whole trip and check the balance each morning. Read the Tokyo guide before you plan your first day, then the Kyoto guide if your route includes it.
