Riding Trains Simply touch the Welcome Welcome Suica card to the reader at the ticket gate when out and about. There is no need to purchase a ticket from a vending machine. The fare is automatically calculated at the station where you get off. When you get off the train, the fare will be calculated at that station.

The Welcome Suica is a specialized, prepaid electronic money card designed specifically for short-term foreign visitors to Japan. Unlike the standard Suica card, it requires no deposit fee, but it comes with a strict 28-day validity period, after which any remaining balance is forfeited and cannot be refunded. In 2026, users can also utilize the Welcome Suica Mobile app for iOS, which allows travelers to issue a digital card and top it up using a credit card via Apple Pay before even arriving in Japan. The card works on a "tap-and-go" basis for nearly all trains, subways, and buses across Japan, and it is widely accepted as a payment method at convenience stores, vending machines, and some restaurants. Because it belongs to the nationwide IC card network, a Welcome Suica issued in Tokyo can be used in other major cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Sapporo. However, it cannot be used for continuous travel between different IC regions (e.g., taking a local train from Tokyo to Sendai); for such long-distance travel, you must still purchase a separate Shinkansen or express ticket.