Japan IC Card Guide — Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA: Which to Get in 2026
Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA? A field-tested guide to Japan's IC transit cards in 2026 — which to get, where to buy, mobile setup, and how the balance system works.
For a short trip, compare Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO at your arrival airport. Regular Suica and PASMO are also on sale. If you have a compatible iPhone and payment card, consider Apple Wallet. Check validity and refund rules before loading money; a deposit-free card still needs a paid balance.
Card comparison
| Card | Where to buy | Deposit | Validity | Balance refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Suica | Selected JR East counters; airport machines | None | 28 days, including purchase day | No unused-balance refund |
| Tourist PASMO | Narita and Haneda airport stations | None | Through day 28 from sale | No unused-balance refund |
| Regular Suica | Participating JR East machines and counters | ¥500 | Invalid after 10 unused years | Issuer conditions and fee apply |
| Regular PASMO | Participating private-railway and subway stations | ¥500 | Issuer inactivity rules apply | Issuer conditions apply |
| ICOCA | JR West counters and ICOCA machines | ¥500 | Issuer inactivity rules apply | Issuer conditions and fee apply |
What Is an IC Card and Why Do You Need One?
An IC card is a rechargeable contactless smart card that works as your transit pass and everyday wallet across Japan. You tap it on a reader when you enter a train station, tap again when you exit, and the correct fare is deducted automatically. No more standing in front of a fare chart trying to figure out how much a ticket to Shibuya costs.
Beyond transit, IC cards are accepted at convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart), vending machines, coin lockers, and thousands of shops and restaurants. After a few days in Japan, you’ll find yourself tapping your card for almost everything. It’s faster than cash, eliminates the pile of coins you’d otherwise accumulate, and works without needing a Japanese bank account or phone number.
Understanding how IC cards fit into your broader payment strategy is worth doing before you land. If you haven’t figured out the cash vs. card question yet, read my Japan cash vs. card breakdown first — IC cards sit right in the middle of that equation.
The Cards: Suica vs Pasmo vs ICOCA
Japan has 10 different IC card brands, but only three matter for visitors:
Suica
Suica is JR East’s IC card and a practical option when arriving in the Tokyo area. Sales of unregistered regular cards resumed on March 1, 2025. Welcome Suica is the separate visitor card. Check the current sales locations before making a special trip to a counter.
Pasmo
PASMO is sold through participating private railways and subway operators. It shares the nationwide IC network with Suica where mutual use is supported. Regular PASMO has a ¥500 deposit; Tourist PASMO is the deposit-free visitor option available at Narita and Haneda airport stations. PASMO PASSPORT ended in 2024.
ICOCA
ICOCA is JR West’s IC card, useful when arriving in Kansai. A standard ¥2,000 purchase includes ¥1,500 to spend and a ¥500 deposit. It works across participating IC networks, including many routes beyond Kansai. ICOCA & HARUKA is a ticket offer, not a different type of IC card; check JR West’s current conditions.
The bottom line: all three cards work everywhere. A Suica bought in Tokyo taps fine on Osaka Metro. An ICOCA bought in Osaka works on JR Yamanote Line in Tokyo. Just get whichever is available at your arrival airport and don’t overthink it.
Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO
Both visitor cards have no deposit and are sold at airport locations. Regular cards are available too; compare expiry and refund rules before choosing.
Welcome Suica has no deposit and lasts 28 days, including purchase day. Buy it at designated airport machines or selected JR East Travel Service Centers. Top up with yen cash, up to a ¥20,000 balance. Unused value isn’t refunded, so add smaller amounts as your departure approaches. Check the current sales-location list before travelling to a counter.
Tourist PASMO launched on May 20, 2026 and is sold at Narita and Haneda airport stations. It has no deposit, expires after 28 days, and offers no unused-balance refund. At Narita, the ¥2,000 purchase is all stored value. PASMO PASSPORT, the earlier visitor card, ended in 2024.
Deposit-free doesn’t mean free travel: you still pay for the balance. Tourist PASMO at Narita starts at ¥2,000. Load enough for your first journeys, then top up as needed. ¥3,000 is about C$27 at the October 28, 2026 reference rate.
Apple Wallet and Google Pay: Mobile IC Cards
This is the move, honestly. If your phone supports it, set up a mobile Suica or Pasmo before you even leave home.
Apple Wallet: On a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, tap +, choose Transit Card, and select Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA. Use an eligible payment card and follow Apple’s account requirements. Test a small top-up before leaving. Regular Wallet cards and the separate Welcome Suica Mobile app have different validity rules.
Android: Don’t assume an overseas phone supports Japan’s mobile transit cards just because it has NFC. Check the exact device and the card provider’s requirements. Mobile PASMO generally does not support phones bought outside Japan. If compatibility is unclear, plan on a physical IC card.
Mobile can make top-ups and everyday journeys easier. Express Mode lets compatible Apple devices tap without unlocking. Keep the phone charged and have a backup way to pay. Check the specific card’s validity: Welcome Suica Mobile has a 180-day balance period from first charge; don’t treat every mobile card as permanent.
A reliable data connection helps for reloading on the go. I use an Airalo eSIM so I always have connectivity for top-ups and route planning without hunting for Wi-Fi. I have a full breakdown in my Japan eSIM guide for Canadians if you haven’t sorted that yet.
Where IC Cards Work Beyond Transit
Your IC card is basically a debit card that works at any reader displaying the IC logo (a stylized swoosh you’ll see everywhere). Here’s where I end up tapping mine constantly:
- Convenience stores — 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop. Tap at checkout for onigiri, drinks, or that 2am snack run. If you want a full breakdown of how to use konbini like a local, I have a convenience store guide worth reading.
- Vending machines — most drink vending machines across the country accept IC. Look for the card reader pad below the coin slot.
- Coin lockers — station lockers at major terminals (Tokyo, Shinjuku, Osaka, Kyoto) accept IC cards. Way easier than feeding coins, and you unlock with the same card.
- Restaurants and shops — chain restaurants like Matsuya, Yoshinoya, and many ramen spots. Drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Don Quijote.
- Taxis — most taxis in Tokyo and Osaka accept IC card payment.
- Airport shops — spend your remaining balance at the airport before you fly out.
That said, Japan is still a cash-heavy country, especially outside major cities. Small independent restaurants, shrines, and rural buses sometimes only take cash. If you’re unsure how much physical yen to carry alongside your IC card, my cash vs. card guide has daily budget tiers by traveler type. I keep 10,000–15,000 yen in my wallet as backup at all times.
Beyond transit and konbini, IC cards are a great way to pay for experiences too. Browse Tokyo experiences on Rakuten — many operators accept IC card payment on-site, and booking ahead locks your spot without touching your cash stash.
Loading Money and Getting Your Deposit Back
Here’s how the money side works:
Regular Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA have a ¥500 deposit. Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO have none; stored value still costs money.
Loading money (as of early 2026): Use the charge machines at any train station — they accept 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen bills. You can also charge at convenience store registers (just tell the cashier “charge” and hand them cash). Maximum balance is 20,000 yen (~$182 CAD).
Minimum fare trap: If your balance is too low to cover the exit fare, the gate will block you. Don’t panic — there’s a fare adjustment machine (“norikoshi seisanki”) next to the exit gates at every station. Insert your card, pay the difference in cash or with another charge, and you’re through.
Refund process (regular cards): Go to any JR or metro service counter. They’ll refund your remaining balance minus a 220 yen processing fee, plus return your 500 yen deposit (~$4.50 CAD). If your balance is under 220 yen, they just return the deposit. The whole process takes about two minutes.
Tourist cards: No refund. Spend your balance down at a convenience store or vending machine on your last day. I usually buy a few cans of coffee or snacks for the flight home.
One thing that trips people up at 7-Eleven ATMs: the ATM and the IC card top-up machine are separate. You withdraw yen from the ATM, then feed that cash into the charge machine at the fare gates — or just hand it to a konbini cashier and say “charge.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still buy a physical Suica card in 2026?
Yes. Sales of regular unregistered Suica cards resumed on March 1, 2025. Welcome Suica is also available at designated locations, with no deposit and a 28-day validity period including the purchase day. Check JR East’s current sales locations before you go.
Is Suica or Pasmo better for tourists?
For everyday journeys on participating networks, either can work. Compare where you can buy it, how long you’ll stay, and refund rules. Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO are visitor options; regular cards are available too.
Can I use my IC card on the Shinkansen?
Not directly. Bullet trains require a separate ticket or reservation. You can link your IC card to a Shinkansen booking via the SmartEX app, but the IC card alone won’t get you through the Shinkansen gates. For multi-city trips, a Japan Rail Pass (or pre-purchase individual Shinkansen seats on Rakuten Experiences) may be worth calculating against point-to-point fares — I have a full cost breakdown in my JR Pass guide. Note that a JR Pass direct booking can sometimes be cheaper than buying at the counter.
Do mobile IC cards work everywhere physical ones do?
Yes. Mobile Suica and Pasmo work at every reader that accepts physical IC cards — trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, coin lockers. The coverage is identical.
What happens to my balance when I leave Japan?
Refunds depend on the card. Ask its issuer about regular-card balance refunds, fees, and deposit returns. Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO do not refund unused value. Welcome Suica Mobile also has an expiry and no unused-balance refund; check your specific mobile product.
Can I use a Suica in Osaka or an ICOCA in Tokyo?
Yes. All major IC cards are interoperable across Japan’s 10 IC card regions. Your Suica works on Osaka Metro, your ICOCA works on Tokyo JR lines. The only exceptions are a handful of rural bus routes that only accept their local card.
Can I tap a bank card instead?
Some Kanto operators accept supported contactless bank cards at marked gates, including Tokyo Metro, Toei, Keikyu, and Odakyu. This is separate from IC-card travel; JR East is not part of that shared scheme. Check the route, card brand, and adult-fare conditions. Keep another payment option for unsupported journeys.
Before You Go — Action Checklist
- Set up mobile Suica or Pasmo before you leave home. Open Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, add a Suica, and fund it with your credit card. Takes five minutes at home; saves you a lineup at the airport.
- For plastic cards, check your arrival terminal’s Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO sales point. Carry yen for the starting balance and later top-ups.
- Sort your eSIM before you land. I use Airalo — install it at home, activate it when you land, and you have data for reloading your IC card and using transit apps from the moment you clear customs. See my Japan eSIM guide for the full setup.
- Load 3,000–5,000 yen on Day 1. That covers transit from the airport plus your first convenience store run. You can always top up at any station or konbini.
- Keep 10,000–15,000 yen in cash as backup. IC cards cover most daily spending, but you will hit cash-only situations. Read the cash vs. card guide to calibrate how much to carry by day.
- Know your ATM. 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) ATMs are the most reliable for international cards — 24/7, English interface, accepts Visa/Mastercard. If your card gets rejected, see my 7-Eleven ATM troubleshooting guide.
- Review your travel insurance before you fly. My Canada–Japan travel insurance guide explains what to check; Sacraw Financial provides travel insurance quotes.
- For multi-city travel, calculate whether a JR Pass makes financial sense for your route before you buy. The IC card handles local transit; the JR Pass handles Shinkansen and inter-city JR lines.
