I finally have a Suica card!…
For those who don’t know what that is, Suica is an IC card which can be used (among other things) to pay for public transport around Tokyo, and the rest of Japan.
A prepay card in essence.. You load it with funds and simply touch it at the entrance and exit gates at train stations and when boarding a bus, it will automatically deduct the cost of the journey from your balance.
It is an extremely convenient and efficient way to pay for public transport.
The Suica card can also be used at vending machines and convenience stores to pay for goods.
Chip Shortage
Due to a chip shortage, the Suica card has been unavailable to purchase for some time, but (for tourists) it is once again available at certain locations in Tokyo.
Japanese nationals are expected to use a digital Suica with their smartphone, but for tourists this might not be an option.
IC cards do not use the same technology as NFC which is found in most foreign devices. If you are an Android user and/or your device was not purchased in Japan, it might be the case that your device does not contain the right technology to use with a digital Suica.
Therefore purchasing a physical card might be your only option.
Where to Buy (Tokyo Station)
Tokyo Station is one of the few locations where new Suica cards are available for tourists to purchase. If you require one, please visit Tokyo Station and head to the JR East Travel Services Centre at the Marunouchi North Entrance. Here you can purchase a Suica card from the desk.
There is a ¥500 deposit, deducted from the amount you choose to start with. A maximum of ¥2000 can be loaded at the desk, paid by cash only.
Once you have your card, you may load up to ¥20,000 at any of the machines in one of the many JR East stations around the Tokyo area.
Welcome Suica
If your stay in Japan is less than 28 days. You can get a “Welcome Suica” from both Narita and Haneda airport upon arrival.
The Welcome Suica is only valid for 28 days, so if you plan to stay for longer then you may consider purchasing a Suica card from Tokyo Station and enjoy the convenience for a while longer.
Apple Pay
For iPhone users, it may be possible to add a Suica card to your Apple Pay wallet, without buying the physical card.
Simply open the wallet application, click the plus sign and select “Transit Card”, select Suica and top up with funds from an existing Apple Pay linked bank card.
You can then freely use your Suica enabled iphone to pay for transport and good in and around Japan!
I hope this is of help to anyone visiting or planning a visit here in Japan! Thank you for reading.
