Can I use a Suica card on the Narita Express?

Don't wait on line when you arrive in Japan Easy: Use a prepaid transport card (like a Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport) instead of a train ticket. From Narita, the card will cover your basic fare on the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner into town and you can buy a reserved seat/express ticket with cash on the platform.



You can use a Suica card (including the Welcome Suica or Mobile Suica) to pay for the base fare of the Narita Express (N'EX), but it is not a "tap-and-go" service for the entire journey. The N'EX is an all-reserved, "Limited Express" train. This means you must have two things: a base fare ticket and a Limited Express reserved seat ticket. You can tap your Suica at the gate to cover the base fare (approx. ¥1,500 to Tokyo), but you must purchase the reserved seat supplement (approx. ¥1,700) separately at a ticket machine or online. If you only tap your Suica and board the train without a seat reservation, you will likely be caught by the conductor and asked to pay the supplement in cash, often at a higher "on-board" price. For most tourists in 2026, the N'EX Round Trip Ticket (¥5,000) is a much better value than using a Suica card, as it covers both the base fare and the reserved seat for a significantly discounted total price.

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The Suica card can be used in the majority of Japanese public transport: subways, buses and all local trains, as well as in buses and taxis displaying the Suica logo. Please note that the Suica card does not work on express trains, shinkansen, highway buses or airport shuttles.

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This limited express train service is fast, reliable and punctual, and you can ride it for free with your Japan Rail Pass.

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Purchasing the Welcome Suica Card JR EAST Travel Service Centers located in Narita Airport and Haneda Airport.

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The Narita Express – also known as N'EX – is the most convenient Tokyo city transfer from and to Narita International Airport, which hosts most of the overseas flights to Japan. This limited express train service is fast, reliable and punctual, and you can ride it for free with your Japan Rail Pass.

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Each person needs one. Pasmo/Suica is read when touching the IC card reader upon entering and exiting a gate, and the correct fare is deducted from the card. The same card cannot be read entering twice at the same station.

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The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.

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Smart cards like Icoca, Suica and Pasmo are generally valid across Japan, so don't worry about which one you buy. You can use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica for all trains, subways and buses in Osaka. You can also use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica at many shops, especially convenience stores.

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You cannot use the Suica to travel between Tokyo and Osaka, but you can use it to travel within cities such as Osaka and Kyoto. However, please note that not all areas of Japan have adopted IC cards. In areas where IC cards are not used, it's necessary to purchase paper tickets.

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Short-term visitors can also consider the special Welcome Suica card. This tourist card with a sakura design comes without a JPY500 deposit fee but is valid for only four weeks and the balance credit cannot be refunded. It makes a cute souvenir to take home for memories.

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No visitor to Tokyo should be without a Suica card and no visitor to Japan should be without a JR Pass. The Suica card is convenient for intercity trains and buses while the JR Pass saves you time and money when traveling through the country. Here are the deets.

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