Suica is JR East’s prepaid IC e-money for trains, buses, and stores that show the transit-IC mark—tap to ride, tap to pay.
This piece follows JR East Welcome Suica Mobile pages and terms for travelers using an iPhone. Details change; the official site is the source of truth.
Official sites
What Suica does
- Rail and bus in Suica and many interoperable IC areas
- Konbini and shops showing IC/e-money marks
Not every rural line or unmarked shop accepts it—carry a cash backup.
Visitor options
| Type | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Suica Mobile | iPhone + Apple Pay visitors | ~180 days; no deposit per JR copy; balance non-refundable |
| Physical Welcome Suica | No iPhone / prefer plastic | Different validity/deposit rules—read the card product |
| Standard Suica/PASMO | Residents / eligible users | Visitors who cannot issue one should use Welcome products |
iPhone setup (Welcome Suica Mobile)
- Download the app (may be restricted in some countries)
- Accept terms; set a secret keyword
- Enable location as prompted (used for top-up eligibility)
- Issue Suica; top up via Apple Pay; watch the balance cap in the terms (commonly up to ¥20,000)
Needs a recent iOS (App Store cites 17.2+) and Apple Pay. Unused balance is not refunded when the 180-day period ends.
Top-ups
- In-app via Apple Pay
- Yen cash at supported machines/stores in Japan (per terms)
- If a foreign card fails: try another card, wait until after arrival, or use cash charge
Riding trains and buses
- Tap the phone/Watch on the reader
- Use the same Suica to enter and exit
- Top up before the balance runs out at the exit gate
- Keep the device powered on
Konbini and shopping
Tell staff you are paying with transit IC / e-money and tap. Great for small purchases; not universal.
Myths
Screenshots at the gate — no, it must tap.
Same signup as a resident Wallet Suica — visitors should use Welcome Suica Mobile / Welcome plastic.
Refunds to your credit card — not for Welcome Suica Mobile remaining balance per JR East.
With airport trains
Limited expresses such as Skyliner and N’EX still need their own limited-express tickets; Suica covers local/IC riding afterward. See Narita and Haneda guides. Data for the app: Japan eSIM.
Bottom line
iPhone visitors: Welcome Suica Mobile → Apple Pay top-up → tap; remember 180 days and no balance refund. Otherwise buy a physical visitor IC and read its label. JR East’s current pages are authoritative.
