Do you need Suica in Tokyo?

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.



In 2026, while not legally "required," a Suica card (or an equivalent IC card like PASMO) is considered essential for a smooth Tokyo experience. These "tap-and-go" cards serve as both a transit pass for all trains, subways, and buses, and a digital wallet for convenience stores, vending machines, and lockers. As of 2026, the Welcome Suica Mobile app has become the primary choice for international tourists, allowing iPhone and Android users to add a virtual card to their digital wallets before they even arrive in Japan. This bypasses the need to wait in line for physical cards at the airport. However, physical cards are still available at major stations for those who prefer them or for children without smartphones. Without an IC card, you would have to purchase individual paper tickets for every single journey—a process that is time-consuming, requires cash, and makes transferring between different rail companies (like JR and Tokyo Metro) significantly more complicated and expensive.

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You can load a minimum amount of JPY1,000 at convenience stores. 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.

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In addition to the Tokyo area, the Suica can be used for certain transportation systems in the Sendai and Niigata, Hokkaido, Tokai, West Japan and Kyushu areas.

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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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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.

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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. Thank you for the quick response.

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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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Where to buy a My Suica card? You can purchase a “My Suica” at any JR East station ticketing machine or booth, including the ones located at Narita and Haneda airport. You can also buy it at some tourist information centers.

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You can buy the Welcome Suica card through Vending Machines located at the Haneda Terminal 3 station, Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Terminal 2 Station, and Narita Terminal 1,2, and 3 Stations. For official information please visit the Welcome Suica Card official website.

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iPhone: How to Add a Mobile Suica or PASMO Card
  1. To add a card to your iPhone, go to the Wallet app and select “Add”.
  2. Select the “Transit Card” option.
  3. Choose either Suica or PASMO, then select “Continue”.
  4. Finally, enter in how much you want to charge your card, and then select “Add”.


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The only difference between PASMO and SUICA is who sells them. SUICA is from JR East, and PASMO is from Tokyo-area non-JR rail operators, including Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Wherever you can use SUICA, you can use PASMO, and vice versa.

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PASMO is a convenient prepaid transportation card that contains an integrated-circuit (IC) chip, allowing the user to enter the subway by simply placing the card over a PASMO card reader located on the fare gates. The card is rechargeable and can be used over and over.

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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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