Get a Suica Card

Suica (スイカ) is an integrated circuit (IC) card from JR East that can be used for rail travel across Japan as well as for shopping. You can get a Suica card at a ticketing machine. This wikiHow will show you how to get a Suica card.[1]

Steps

Getting a Suica Card at a Ticketing Machine

  1. Locate a machine that uses Suica. These can be found primarily at major JR East stations like Shinjuku or Shibuya. Visitors can also obtain a Suica card immediately after landing in Japan by going to Narita Airport Terminal 1, Narita Airport Terminal 2•3, and Haneda Airport Terminal 3.[2] Look for the Suica logo on the machine to know that they match.
  2. Change the language to English. To do so, select "Language" on the ticket machine, then select "English" from the list of languages.
  3. Select "Suica" from the list of options. This will allow you to obtain a Suica card.
    • If you do not see "Suica" listed from these options, then the ticket machine does not dispense Suica cards. Make sure to find a machine that uses Suica.
    • There are dozens of other popular transit cards such as Pasmo that can also be obtained from these vending machines, however they usually only work in a specific city or metropolitan area.
  4. Select "Purchase a new Suica". New Suica cards require a JP¥500 deposit that can be refunded before leaving Japan, however there is a ¥220 fee to refund the balance and deposit. However, the deposits on Welcome Suica cards are not refundable.
  5. Choose between a MySuica and a blank Suica card. A MySuica card can be reissued if it is lost or stolen. However, a blank Suica card can never be reissued. Selecting "MySuica" will prompt you to enter your first and last name, your phone number, your gender, and your birthday, which can be used to reissue your Suica card if you lose it. This information will be printed on the card.
  6. Decide how much money to add. The machine will show some commonly added values. You can also select a custom amount.
  7. Present payment. The Suica machines only accept cash as payment. If you do not have cash on hand, you may be able to get some at an ATM. Take note though that if out of country you may be docked both the currency exchange fee and the withdrawal fee.
  8. Collect your new Suica card. If you want a receipt you can press the "Print receipt" button. The machine will also print your ticket shortly after.

Getting a Suica Card on Your Phone

This is only available if your phone's region is set to Japan.

  1. Open Apple/Google Pay. Apple Pay has a wallet icon on a black background. Google Pay has a colored pass on a white background.
  2. Tap the "Add Card" button. On Apple devices, this looks like a +. On Android, tap the card in the corner and select Add a card on the bottom.
  3. Select Suica. This will let you create a new Suica card.
  4. Input payment details and the amount that you want to load. Your payment details may automatically be loaded from your mobile wallet.
  5. Select Continue. This will finish adding the card to your mobile wallet. You may need to use biometrics.
  6. Turn on Express Transit (iOS). To do so, select the card in Apple Pay then turn the toggle on for Express Transit.

Adding Your Suica Card to Apple Pay

  1. Open Apple Pay. Apple Pay has a wallet icon on a black background. Google Pay has a colored pass on a white background.
  2. Tap the "Add Card" button. On Apple devices, this looks like a +. On Android, tap the card in the corner and select Add a card on the bottom.
  3. Select Suica. This will let you create a new Suica card.
  4. Select Transfer an existing card. This will allow you to register your Suica card to Apple Pay.
  5. Hold your Suica card on the NFC reader of your phone. This is on the back of your phone and may be marked with a square. Hold it there until the card registers.
  6. Maintain an Internet connection. The Suica data is being uploaded to Apple Pay where it can be viewed on multiple devices.
  7. Turn on Express Transit. To do so, select the card in Apple Pay then turn the toggle on for Express Transit.

Using Your Suica Card

  1. Locate the payment reader. This reader has a colored ring around it and may have the letters "IC" (short for "integrated circuit") in the center.
  2. Tag your Suica Card. Tap your physical card or your mobile device to do so.
  3. Proceed. If your Suica card is valid the reader lights will light blue or green and beep once. Another color means there is likely a problem with your Suica card.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html
  2. ↑ https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html

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