There is a charge of 220 yen to return a Suica card, which is deducted from the total. For refunds, a fee of 220 yen is subtracted from the total (a result of less than zero is considered zero), and then the initial 500 yen deposit is added.

Yes, you can get a refund for the balance on a physical Suica card, but there are specific rules to follow in 2026. Refunds can only be processed at JR East ticket offices (Midori-no-Madoguchi) within the Tokyo metropolitan area; you cannot get a refund at stations managed by other companies like JR West in Osaka. When you return the card, JR East will refund the remaining balance plus the ¥500 deposit. However, a handling fee of ¥220 is deducted from the balance itself. If your balance is less than ¥220, you will only receive the ¥500 deposit back, and the remaining balance is forfeited. For digital Suica users on Apple Pay or Google Pay, the process is different; you usually cannot get a cash refund at a station. Instead, the balance stays on your device for future trips (valid for 10 years) or can sometimes be refunded to a Japanese bank account via the Suica app, though this is often difficult for short-term tourists without a local bank link.