Suica

Sales of JR East's Suica card (image of a penguin on the front) will be discontinued for the time being due to a worldwide semiconductor shortage.

About Suica

Suica cards are a prepaid form of electronic money that are convenient to use when traveling and shopping. With one, you no longer need to buy tickets from ticket vending machines. Simply tap your Suica card onto the ticket gate and the fare will automatically be deducted from the card’s balance.

Suica can be used on trains, subways, buses, and monorails. Suica can also be used to pay with electronic money. Traveling in Japan will be even more comfortable with Suica.

  • Just tap it on the ticket gate to go through

  • Fares automatically adjusted at ticket gates

  • Enjoy riding trains and buses plus shopping with this one card!

Price

When purchasing a new card, a 500-yen deposit is included in the price. The difference between the child and adult cards is the fare amount deducted when using public transportation.

The child card is charged the child fare and the adult card is charged the adult fare.

Your deposit will be refunded when you return the card.

Suica Pricing
Adult 1,000 yen 2,000 yen 3,000 yen 4,000 yen 5,000 yen 10,000 yen
Child 1,000 yen 2,000 yen 3,000 yen 4,000 yen 5,000 yen 10,000 yen

How to Use Suica

You can top up!

When your card balance is low, you can top up using cash at regular and multifunctional ticket machines as well as well fare adjustment machines that have the nationwide mutual use symbol.

Top ups can be made in increments of 500 yen, 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen. The number of times you can top up is unlimited but the maximum balance is 20,000 yen.

Top ups can only be made using cash. Suica cards cannot be topped up using a credit card.

Perks of Using Suica

Riding Trains

  • When traveling, simply tap your Suica card on the ticket gate sensor instead of having to buy a ticket from the ticket gate.
  • The fare will be calculated automatically at the station you deboard at.
  • Your fare will be calculated based on the station you deboard at, but you will need to top up if your Suica balance is insufficient.
  • When using your Suica to ride a super (limited) express train, an express train, or in a green car, you will need to purchase a super (limited) express train ticket separately.

Valid Areas

  • Suica can be used on trains, subways, buses and monorails in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
  • In addition to the Tokyo metropolitan area, Suica can also be used on some public transport in the Sendai, Niigata, Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Hokkaido, Tokai, West Japan, Kyushu, and Okinawa areas.
See a map of central Tokyo

Areas Suica Can Be Used

Areas Suica Can Be Used

Please note

  • Suica cards can only be used within the applicable areas. You cannot use them to travel between each area.
    If you are traveling across several different areas, please purchase tickets in advance.
    (For example, you cannot use it to travel to the Sendai area from the Tokyo metropolitan area.)

Shopping

Once you top up your Suica card, it can be used at convenience stores, shopping malls, restaurants, etc., in addition to riding trains. It can also be used at shops located inside some private railway and subway stations.

The Suica card is available for use anywhere the following card logos are displayed.

  • Suica

    Suica

  • Kitaca

    Kitaca

  • PASMO

    PASMO

  • manaca

    manaca

  • toica

    toica

  • ICOCA

    ICOCA

  • Hayacaken

    Hayakaken

  • nimoca

    nimoca

  • SUGOCA

    SUGOCA

Refunds

  • Suica cards issued by JR East can only be returned at JR East stations. Please note that Suica cards issued by other companies, such as Tokyo Monorail, cannot be returned to JR East. Please contact the issuing company for details on how to return the card.
  • The 500 yen deposit and the remaining balance will be refunded when the Suica card is returned.
  • When returning the Suica card, a 220 yen handling fee will be deducted from the remaining balance on your card. When getting a refund, you will get back the 500 yen deposit regardless of whether or not you have enough remaining balance to cover the 220 yen handling fee.

[Refund Examples]

  • If your balance is 1,000 yen, you will receive a refund of 1,280 yen. (Remaining balance (1,000 yen – handling fee (220 yen) + 500 yen)
  • If your balance is 100 yen, you will be deducted 100 yen and still get back the full 500 yen deposit, despite not having enough to cover the 220 yen handling fee.
  • If your balance is 0 yen, you will get back the full 500 yen deposit, despite not having any remaining balance with which to cover the 220 yen handling fee.

Validity Period

If a Suica card is not used for 10 years, it will become invalid.

If your card has become invalid, you can use the service again by following the steps below.

  • ・Get a new Suica card

    If you have any remaining funds on your invalid Suica card, you can transfer the balance to your new card.

  • ・Get a refund

    The amount charged to the Suica card minus the handling fee will be refunded. In addition, the deposit of 500 yen will also be refunded.

Lost Suica cards cannot be reissued.

Suica for Visitors to Japan