An IC card is the single thing that makes Japan’s trains effortless: tap in, tap out, correct fare taken automatically, across JR, private railways and subways alike (if that sentence needs context, start with Japan’s Trains Explained — internal link). But which card should you actually get in 2026? After a few confusing years of shortages, here’s the clear, current answer from someone who lives here.
The quick answer
- Have an iPhone? → Add Suica to Apple Wallet (mobile Suica). Easiest of all, never sold out, top up with your card. This is what I’d tell most visitors to do.
- Want a physical card as a souvenir / don’t have a compatible phone? → Get a Welcome Suica (tourist card, no deposit) at the airport.
- Suica or PASMO — does it matter? → No. They work identically across the country. Get whichever you can.
First, the good news: the shortage is over
From mid-2023, a global chip shortage made regular Suica and PASMO hard to buy. That’s largely resolved: regular unnamed Suica and PASMO returned to normal sale from March 2025, though availability can still vary by station. So in 2026 you have plenty of options again.
Do Suica and PASMO differ?
Practically, no. Both are rechargeable tap-to-pay IC cards that work on virtually all trains, subways and buses nationwide, plus convenience stores and vending machines. Suica is from JR East; PASMO is from the Tokyo private railways — but for a traveler they’re interchangeable. Don’t overthink it: get whichever is in front of you.
What about ICOCA, TOICA and the other regional cards?
Suica and PASMO aren’t the only IC cards — most regions have their own. You’ll come across ICOCA (JR West / Kansai), TOICA (JR Central), SUGOCA (Kyushu), Kitaca (Hokkaido), manaca (Nagoya), PiTaPa (Kansai private lines), and nimoca and Hayakaken (Fukuoka), among others.
Here’s the key point: these ten major cards are mutually compatible nationwide. Whichever one you hold works on trains, subways, buses and shops across the country wherever the IC logo appears — so if you have a Suica, you don’t need an ICOCA in Kyoto, and vice versa. Get one, use it everywhere.
The one caveat: a handful of small local railways and buses run their own cards outside this nationwide system. In a few rural areas the national cards aren’t accepted, or a local-only card is used. It’s rare on typical tourist routes, but keep a little cash on hand in the countryside just in case.
For train fans: each card has its own design and mascot — Suica’s penguin, ICOCA’s platypus, and so on. Some enthusiasts collect a different regional card in each area they visit — a fun, fully usable souvenir. There’s no practical need to, but it’s a nice way to remember a trip.
Your options in 2026
1. Mobile Suica (on your phone) — best for most
Add a Suica to Apple Wallet (any iPhone) or, on supported Japanese Android phones, to Google Wallet. Top it up with a credit card, tap your phone at the gate. Never sold out, no deposit, no card to lose. For iPhone users this is the easiest option by far.
– Catch: most overseas Android phones can’t add a Suica (they lack the needed chip). If you’re on Android, check compatibility or plan to get a physical card.
2. Welcome Suica — best physical card for tourists
A tourist version of Suica with no ¥500 deposit and 28-day validity. Buy it at JR EAST Travel Service Centers at Narita and Haneda airports and major Tokyo JR stations, loaded with the balance you choose. Great as a keepsake and simple to use.
👉 Klook Welcome Suica / IC card
3. TOURIST PASMO — the PASMO equivalent
A no-deposit tourist PASMO, also 28-day validity. The old PASMO PASSPORT was discontinued in 2024; its replacement, TOURIST PASMO, went on sale in May 2026 at Haneda and Narita airports. Functionally the same as Welcome Suica — pick whichever is easier to find.
4. Regular Suica / PASMO — back in stock
Standard cards (with a refundable ¥500 deposit) are available again from 2025. Good if you visit Japan often, since they don’t expire like the 28-day tourist cards.
How to top up (charge) your card
- At the station: use the ticket machines (they switch to English) — insert cash and add value.
- Mobile Suica: top up in the app/Wallet with a credit card, anytime, even on the train.
- Convenience stores: you can also charge with cash at the register.
Keep a little balance on it — you’ll tap it dozens of times a day.
What an IC card does NOT replace
- The Shinkansen and long distances: for bullet trains you still buy tickets (or use a rail pass). See Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth It? (internal link).
- Some limited-express reserved seats. For everyday city trains, subways and buses, the IC card is all you need.
Related guides on Wayfarer Japan
FAQ
Suica or PASMO — really no difference?
Correct. Both work nationwide and identically for travelers. Get whichever is available.
Can I use one card for my whole trip across different cities?
Yes. A single Suica or PASMO works in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and almost everywhere else.
Can two people share one card?
No — each person taps their own card through the gate. Get one per traveler.
Can I get my money back?
Regular cards refund the remaining balance and deposit (a small fee may apply). Tourist cards (Welcome Suica / Tourist PASMO) generally don’t refund the balance, so spend it down or keep the card.
iPhone or Android?
iPhone: add Suica to Apple Wallet easily. Android: only Japanese/compatible models can — most overseas Androids cannot, so get a physical card.
The verdict
Don’t agonize over Suica vs PASMO — they’re the same for you. In 2026: iPhone users should add a mobile Suica (easiest, never sold out); everyone else should grab a Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO at the airport (no deposit, ready to tap). Load it up, and Japan’s trains become as simple as tapping in and walking through.
New to the whole system? Read Japan’s Trains Explained first (internal link).
Written from Japan by the Wayfarer Japan team. Some links are affiliate links that support the site at no extra cost to you.
