Suica, IC cards & the Shinkansen
Japan's IC card system is one of the most elegant transport solutions in the world. Load it once, tap through every train gate, bus door, and most convenience store checkouts without fumbling for tickets or cash. Unlike Singapore's EZ-Link or Thailand's Grab, Japan's IC card works even when your phone is off, your battery is dead, or you have no data connection at all. For a traveler, this changes the data equation entirely: transport is handled, which frees your eSIM for navigation, translation and communication.
The IC card is the single most useful thing to set up before your Japan trip, more useful than any app. It runs transport. Your eSIM runs everything else.
The IC card landscape
Japan has multiple regional IC cards, but they are interoperable across the country's major transit systems. For a tourist, you only need to know three.
| Card | Issued by | Best for | Works across Japan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suica | JR East | Tokyo and eastern Japan. The most widely recognised and recommended for most tourists. | Yes, accepted nationwide on IC-compatible transport. Also works in Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka. |
| PASMO | Tokyo Metro and private railways | Functionally identical to Suica for tourist purposes. Interchangeable. | Yes. PASMO PASSPORT is a 28-day visitor version available at airports and select Tokyo Metro stations. |
| ICOCA | JR West | Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and western Japan arrivals. Buy at JR West stations in Kansai. | Yes, accepted nationwide. Convenient if landing in Osaka. |
iPhone 7 or later can add Suica directly to Apple Wallet via the Wallet app. Android phones supporting NFC can use Google Pay. Digital Suica works even with a dead battery (iPhone Express Card feature) and can be topped up using a linked credit card without visiting a machine. For many travelers, this is more convenient than a physical card.
What the IC card covers (and does not)
- Covers: Tokyo Metro, JR trains in urban areas, private railways, city buses, convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson), most vending machines, some taxis.
- Does not cover: Shinkansen reserved seats (separate ticket required). Limited express surcharges (extra ticket on top of IC fare). Some rural private lines still cash only.
- Rural warning: Deep rural buses and single-car local trains in remote prefectures may still require cash. Always carry some yen in remote areas.
IC cards cannot be used for journeys that cross between different JR regional corporate zones. For example, you cannot tap through from a JR East station to a JR Central station in one continuous journey using only an IC card. You need to buy a separate ticket for cross-regional JR travel. This mostly affects journeys like Atami to Numazu on the coast between Tokyo and Nagoya, not typical tourist routes.
The Shinkansen: what you need
The JR Pass covers unlimited travel on JR Shinkansen (except Nozomi and Mizuho on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines), JR express trains and some buses. A 7-day ordinary pass costs around 50,000 yen (approximately $325 USD at April 2026 exchange rates). Worth it if you plan two or more long Shinkansen round trips.
Buy at the station, at ticket machines (often with English), or via the JR app. For a single Tokyo to Kyoto one-way, an individual ticket is typically cheaper than a JR Pass. Compare before buying the pass.
Regardless of JR Pass or individual tickets, load a Suica for all local transit, city metros, buses and convenience stores. The two systems complement each other.
Data needs for Japan transport
The IC card system makes Japan uniquely low-data for a transport-heavy trip. Once Suica is loaded, every gate tap requires zero data. Google Maps for route planning uses minimal data. The main transport-related data use is looking up Shinkansen schedules and booking, which can be done in advance on wifi. A week of heavy Japan transport use adds perhaps 200 to 300 MB to your data plan from Maps and scheduling apps.
Plans for Japan
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FAQ
What is the best IC card for tourists in Japan?
Suica is the default recommendation for most tourists. It is issued by JR East, works nationwide on all IC-compatible transport and payment systems, and can be added to iPhone Wallet or Google Pay without a physical card. PASMO is functionally identical. If you are arriving in Osaka rather than Tokyo, ICOCA from JR West is the local equivalent and works everywhere.
Can I use Suica on the Shinkansen?
For the base fare on some local Shinkansen services, yes. For reserved seats on most long-distance Shinkansen services including the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo to Osaka), you need a separate ticket or JR Pass. The IC card handles local transit, metros and buses seamlessly, but the Shinkansen seat reservation is a separate system.
Do I need the JR Pass?
It depends on your itinerary. A 7-day ordinary JR Pass costs around 50,000 yen (approximately $325 USD). If you plan two or more long-distance Shinkansen round trips in 7 days, it typically saves money. For a Tokyo-only trip or a trip using mostly local transit and one or two Shinkansen journeys, individual tickets are usually cheaper. Calculate based on your specific route.
Do I need data to use Suica?
No. Suica works without any data connection, even if your phone is in airplane mode or has a dead battery (using iPhone Express Card). The card taps through gates using NFC hardware that does not require a network connection. Top it up at any station machine using cash. Digital Suica linked to a credit card can be topped up remotely, but the card itself always works offline.