Suica, credit cards and mobile wallets: choose the device first
Checked against 19 official sources. 13 minute read.
What to know first
Use a phone-based Suica if your device and payment card meet the service's requirements; choose a physical card if they do not, or if you want an option that does not depend on your phone. Standard physical Suica top-ups at JR East's listed machines require cash. Compatible Apple devices can use an eligible card in Apple Wallet, while Android Suica requires Osaifu-Keitai support.
Conditions to check
- A standard Suica costs ¥220 to refund and returns the ¥500 deposit.
- Physical Welcome Suica lasts 28 days; Welcome Suica Mobile is valid for 180 days from issuance, which normally happens at your first charge.
- Unused balances on visitor products are not normally refundable. A lost physical Welcome Suica cannot be reissued; Welcome Suica Mobile can be set up again on a replacement device with the same Apple ID.
- Android Suica needs Osaifu-Keitai; guidance about Japan-issued funding cards does not by itself show support for your foreign card.
- Suica cannot settle an ordinary train ride that crosses into the TOICA area, such as Odawara to Numazu; buy a ticket before boarding. A physical card transferred to a phone stops working.
- Standard Suica
- ¥500 deposit; ¥20,000 maximumCash top-up only
- Welcome Suica (physical)
- No deposit; 28 days including the purchase dayNo refunds, apart from the separate card-malfunction procedure
- Welcome Suica Mobile validity
- 180 days from issuance
On this page
Conditions that change the answer
- Best for
- Visitors deciding between physical Suica, Welcome Suica, Apple Wallet, Welcome Suica Mobile or an Android transit-card route.
- When it's not worth it
- If you only need to verify a specific ticket's validity or check troubleshooting steps for your device, head straight to that transit operator's or platform's official support page.
Choose by traveller type
- The IC-card order
- Device or card form → issuance → top-up method → validity and refund → exact route or merchant
- What a single IC logo won't tell you
- The Suica name alone cannot show whether the phone is compatible, a foreign card can fund it, the balance expires or one journey crosses an IC-area boundary.
Choose the device before the payment card
Check compatibility before convenience
- 01
Supported iPhone or Apple Watch
Check Apple's current model, operating-system, account and payment-card requirements. Welcome Suica Mobile adds country, location and service conditions.
- 02
Osaifu-Keitai-compatible Android
Google requires this hardware for Suica and PASMO e-money. A Wallet app installation does not prove compatibility.
- 03
Physical IC card
Use this route when phone setup is uncertain or a separate, battery-independent balance is more useful.
Your phone and card, and which Suica to choose
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Supported iPhone or Apple Watch, and a card that works in Apple Pay | Add an ordinary Suica in Wallet (Wallet → + → Transit Card → Suica) and fund it with that card. |
| Supported iPhone, but Wallet refuses your card for an ordinary Suica | Try Welcome Suica Mobile, a separate visitor service funded by an eligible Apple Pay card; it is valid for 180 days from issuance, normally your first charge. |
| Android phone with Osaifu-Keitai | Android Suica needs Osaifu-Keitai; Google describes funding with most Japan-issued cards, so check your own card before relying on it. |
| Android phone without Osaifu-Keitai, or an older phone | Buy a physical card. Welcome Suica: no deposit, 28 days, top-ups in yen only, at Narita T1, Narita T2·3 and Haneda T3 (Tokyo Monorail) stations and the JR EAST Travel Service Centers listed under Key facts. Welcome Suica Mobile is currently an iPhone/Apple Watch app. JR East and Samsung have announced a Galaxy version for the first half of 2027, limited to Galaxy models sold from 2027 onwards; regions and models are not yet announced, so an existing Android phone will not gain it. |
| Staying longer, or you want a refund route | Buy a standard physical Suica: ¥500 deposit, ¥20,000 maximum balance, cash top-ups, and a refund with a handling fee of up to ¥220 deducted from the balance; the deposit is returned in full. |
| You want a backup that doesn't depend on your phone | Carry a physical card as well; a card already transferred into Wallet is not that backup. |
Compare setup, top-ups, validity, and refunds side by side
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Route | Setup | Top-up | Validity and refund limits | Useful when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard physical Suica | Buy the physical card; JPY 500 deposit | Cash at JR East's listed machines | Refund procedure (handling fee up to JPY 220 from the balance; JPY 500 deposit returned in full); expires after 10 years of inactivity | A physical, battery-independent balance |
| Physical Welcome Suica | Visitor card; no deposit | Cash in yen at Seven Bank ATMs or machines with the Welcome Suica mark; no credit card | 28 days; unused value is normally non-refundable; no Apple Pay import | A short trip with deliberately limited stored value |
| Ordinary Suica in Apple Wallet | Add a new transit card directly in Wallet on a supported iPhone or Apple Watch | Eligible payment card in Apple Pay; check the selected card and device | Ordinary Suica terms; separate from the 28-day and 180-day visitor products | A compatible Apple-device route without choosing the visitor app |
| Welcome Suica Mobile | Check supported iPhone/Apple Watch models, iOS/watchOS, country settings and location requirements for the visitor service. | Eligible Apple Pay card for initial charge; later cash top-ups at supported locations | 180 days from issuance (normally your first charge); the remaining balance then expires; ordinary unused value is non-refundable, with exceptional recovery rules | A verified Apple-device route |
| Android e-money | Osaifu-Keitai-compatible device | Funding support is card- and service-specific | Provider and device-transfer rules apply | Only after verifying hardware and payment method compatibility |
These are different products and platform routes, not four skins over one universal Suica account.
No signal and a dead battery need different checks
At the ticket gates, not during setup
A sleeping or locked screen is not the same as a powered-off device. Express Mode removes the wake, unlock and authentication steps for a compatible card, but each power state still has its own boundary.
- No cellular or Wi-Fi, device on
- For the normal Express Mode transit flow, Apple says the iPhone or Apple Watch must be turned on. It does not need to be connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network for that transit-gate tap.
- iPhone needs a charge
- Depending on the iPhone model, a compatible Express Mode card might remain usable with power reserve. Apple says power reserve works for up to five hours with some cards, passes and keys, not that every iPhone or every transit card is guaranteed that time.
- iPhone manually turned off by the user
- Power reserve is unavailable. Turning off the iPhone does not preserve Express Mode for later.
Setup or top-up does not carry an offline guarantee. The exact iPhone model, card, remaining reserve time and terminal result remain unconfirmed until checked. Apple Watch power reserve is not confirmed by these Apple sources, and Android low-power behavior is also unconfirmed rather than inheriting the iPhone rule.
When asking “Can I use a credit card?”, the form of the card matters
JR East says standard physical Suica top-up at its listed regular, multifunction and fare-adjustment machines is cash only. A credit-card logo elsewhere does not change that machine rule.
For ordinary Suica, open Wallet, choose to add a transit card, select Suica and follow Apple’s device, account and eligible Apple Pay card requirements. On a supported Apple Watch, use the Watch app’s Wallet & Apple Pay route. Check current iOS or watchOS requirements for your exact device.
Welcome Suica Mobile is a separate visitor service. Its initial charge uses an eligible card registered with Apple Pay; after issuance, cash top-ups are also available at supported locations. Neither route promises that every overseas-issued payment card will work.
Google requires Osaifu-Keitai for Android e-money and describes funding with most Japan-issued cards. That is not evidence that one foreign card can fund every Android Suica or PASMO route.
Ticket vending machines at JR East Musashi-Sakai Station · 2024
Load against the expiry and refund rule
- Standard Suica
- JPY 500 deposit, a JPY 20,000 maximum balance, a published refund route and invalidation after ten years without use.
- Physical Welcome Suica
- No deposit, 28 days from purchase and no move into Apple Pay. Ordinary unused stored value is not refundable, including after expiry. If a still-valid card with a balance stops working, ask station staff in a Suica area for help. A fault in the card itself has a separate refund procedure: keep the faulty card and refund certificate. JR East accepts the refund from the day after application until 14 days after card expiry, not on the application day. The card number on the back must be readable. This procedure does not guarantee that an individual card qualifies.
- Welcome Suica Mobile
- Valid for 180 days from issuance, and the app normally issues it when you make your first charge; when the period ends, any remaining balance expires. Ordinary unused value is not refundable. Articles 16–17 of the English service rules effective 1 March 2026 provide separate exceptional recovery procedures. Those procedures do not create a routine unused-balance refund.
5 days in Tokyo: how much to load
Worked example
You arrive at Haneda T3 with an unlocked iPhone 13 and a UK Visa card, stay 5 days and want no refunds to chase at the end.
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Journey or spend | IC fare or amount |
|---|---|
| Haneda T3 to Shinagawa (Keikyu) | ¥327 |
| Tokyo Metro, 3 rides a day for 4 days, a mix of 1–6 km and 7–11 km | 12 × about ¥190 ≈ ¥2,300 |
| Shinagawa to Haneda on the last day | ¥327 |
| A few vending-machine drinks | About ¥600 |
| Total | About ¥3,550 |
- iPhone: add Suica in Wallet (Wallet → + → Transit Card → Suica), funded by the UK Visa through Apple Pay. If the card is refused, try Welcome Suica Mobile (also funded by an Apple Pay card), or fall back to a physical card. Your UK Visa also works directly at Keikyu and Tokyo Metro gates, but at the ¥10-unit adult fare (Haneda T3–Shinagawa ¥330 rather than the IC ¥327) and not on JR East, so still set up a Suica for the rest of the trip.
- Physical card instead: Welcome Suica from the machine at Haneda T3 (Tokyo Monorail) station. No deposit, valid 28 days, top-ups in yen only (ticket machines with the Welcome Suica mark or Seven Bank ATMs), no credit-card top-up and no refund of unused value.
How much to load: start with ¥3,000 and top up ¥1,000 when the balance falls below about ¥500. On a physical Welcome Suica, ordinary unused value is non-refundable. On a standard Suica, a refund returns the full ¥500 deposit and the balance less a handling fee of up to ¥220, so a ¥400 leftover returns only ¥680 (¥500 + ¥180).
Result: ¥3,000 + ¥1,000 covers the trip with about ¥450 to spend at a convenience store on the last day. The maximum balance on any Suica is ¥20,000.
Deposits, limits and expiry with dates
Key facts
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Fact | Value | Official source (checked 11 October 2026 unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Suica deposit, maximum balance and top-up | ¥500 deposit; ¥20,000 maximum; cash top-up only, in amounts of ¥500, ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000 or ¥10,000 | JR East Suica |
| Standard Suica refund | Handling fee up to ¥220 from the balance; ¥500 deposit returned in full | JR East Suica |
| Welcome Suica (physical) | No deposit; 28 days including the purchase day; ¥1,000–¥10,000 options; no refunds; top up at Seven Bank ATMs or marked machines, yen only, no credit card (sold from 27 March 2025 at listed points) | JR East Welcome Suica purchase |
| Where to buy Welcome Suica | Machines at Narita T1, Narita T2·3 and Haneda T3 (Tokyo Monorail) stations; JR EAST Travel Service Centers at those three airport stations and at Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yokohama and Sendai; JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ at Tokyo Station; and the TAKANAWA GATEWAY Travel Service Center. Some other centres show sales as temporarily halted. In principle, one card per person. | JR East Welcome Suica purchase |
| Welcome Suica Mobile validity | 180 days from issuance, normally at the first charge; the balance then expires (rules effective 1 March 2026) | Welcome Suica Mobile rules |
| Tokyo Metro IC fares | ¥178 (1–6 km), ¥209 (7–11 km) | Tokyo Metro fares |
| Contactless credit-card gates (11 Kanto rail operators) | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover or UnionPay credit, debit or prepaid cards, or a phone with one set up; adult fares in ¥10 units; enter and leave with the same card or phone; JR East not included; joint scheme from 25 March 2026 (Toei and Keikyu on their own lines from 23 December 2025) | Toei joint notice on contactless gates (checked 18 October 2026) |
| Welcome Suica Mobile on Android | Not available; a Galaxy version is announced for the first half of 2027, limited to Galaxy models sold from 2027 onwards; regions and models not yet announced | JR East and Samsung release, 21 April 2026 (checked 18 October 2026) |
The IC logo still has route boundaries
Interoperable cards work on supported transport and at merchants displaying the relevant IC mark. That does not mean every train, bus or shop accepts the card. Separately, 11 Kanto rail operators, including Tokyo Metro, Toei, Keikyu, Tokyu, Odakyu, Keio, Seibu and Tobu, let you tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover or UnionPay credit, debit or prepaid card (or a phone with one set up) at participating gates; the joint scheme started on 25 March 2026, after Toei and Keikyu had accepted them on their own lines from 23 December 2025. It charges adult fares in ¥10 units, you must leave with the same card or phone you entered with, and some operators cover only part of their network. JR East is not part of it: there is no touch-card entry on JR East lines, so it does not replace Suica.
Your Suica also works where other areas' IC logos are shown, including JR West's Kansai area (ICOCA), Kyushu and Hokkaido.
For ordinary train travel across the Suica and TOICA areas, buy a ticket before boarding. JR East gives Odawara to Numazu as an example that cannot be settled by tapping Suica. If you accidentally ride outside the area, tell staff at the arrival station and pay in cash. Registered Shinkansen services and qualifying cross-area commuter passes have separate rules.
Buying without a rail pass? See how to buy Shinkansen tickets for which JR site sells your route, card rules and the 10:00 JST sale time.
Lost visitor cards and changing devices
Lost physical Welcome Suica cards cannot be reissued. A card-malfunction refund is a separate procedure: take the faulty card and refund certificate to a JR East Ticket Office in a Suica area, from the day after applying until 14 days after the card expires. The 17-digit JE card number must be readable.
Welcome Suica Mobile can move to a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch using the same Apple ID. Keep the old device online, remove the Suica from its Wallet, then add it on the new device under Previous Cards and open Welcome Suica Mobile. A different Apple ID cannot receive the transfer.
If the phone is lost or stolen, email the Welcome Suica Mobile Support Center to suspend the card, then remove it through iCloud or Apple Care. Reconfigure it on a replacement device after 05:00 the following day, Japan time, using the same Apple ID. This is card recovery, not an ordinary unused-balance refund.
If a broken device still lets you operate Wallet, remove and reconfigure the Suica. If Wallet is inoperable, contact Apple Care. Transferring can change the Suica ID, so a locker or other service linked to that ID may need a separate update.
Checked 11 October 2026. JR East: physical Welcome Suica loss and fault refunds; JR East: move Welcome Suica Mobile to a new device; JR East: recover Welcome Suica Mobile after loss; JR East: a broken device; JR East: crossing an IC-area boundary.
If card setup or top-up fails, troubleshoot each issue individually
- Card cannot be created: check model, operating system, account, country and location conditions before changing the funding card.
- Top-up fails: confirm whether this route takes cash, an eligible Apple Pay card or a platform-specific funding method.
- Phone or service unavailable: switch to the separately valid physical card, another accepted payment method or ticket. A physical card already transferred to Wallet is not that fallback.
- If your contactless tap is declined on this route: check the operator, service area and displayed IC symbol instead of assuming the balance is broken.
Match the recovery step to the card and the missing transaction
Read the transit history and bank record separately
When the displayed balance is incorrect, Apple advises restarting your iPhone first. Next steps depend on whether the charge appears in your transaction history: follow Apple's current support guidance, using Service Mode only where offered. An unchanged balance is not permission to attempt payment again. If the issue persists, contact the transit-card issuer.
A transferred physical card cannot be used as a spare copy
Apple states that the original physical card stops working after transfer into Wallet and that a transit card is held on one device at a time. Do not plan to use that transferred physical card as the fallback, or move the card during an unfinished journey. A separately valid physical card or a permitted ticket is a different option.
Confirm any unresolved points directly with the provider
For authentication or a card charge, ask the payment issuer. For a missing transit transaction or unfinished entry/exit, use the transit provider or station staff. Record the product, attempted operation, actual message and which record changed. Do not publish identifiers, full card details or account screenshots to explain the problem.
Protect the next journey without abandoning the old balance
Before your scheduled departure, confirm a valid payment method or ticketing option accepted for that service. Have the original card and transaction details ready for support; do not assume buying again will resolve the issue. Track balance updates, payment reversals and trip corrections separately. None guarantees a refund or device compatibility in every situation.
These instructions were verified on ; this is not a full re-review of the article. Earlier source dates and rules remain attached to their original scope.
Sources for these steps
- Apple: transit-card balance not updating
To troubleshoot, first restart your device, then follow the steps tailored to your transaction history. Use Service Mode only when specific conditions are met; if the issue persists, contact your transit card issuer.
- Apple: Japanese transit-card setup and transfer
When you transfer a physical transit card to Wallet, the physical card stops working. The card can be on only one device at a time and should not be transferred during a transit journey.
Pre-trip IC-card checklist
- Check your exact phone model and operating system.
- Confirm Apple Wallet or Osaifu-Keitai compatibility.
- Check the specific payment card you plan to use, not just whether credit cards are accepted generally.
- Compare the product's validity and refund route.
- Check the first transport operator and any area crossing.
- Keep cash on hand for physical card top-ups and payment backups.
- Load only what the current itinerary is likely to use.
Do this now
Next step
- iPhone: open Wallet → + → Transit Card → Suica, and try adding ¥1,000 with your card. If it's refused, note the message and plan for Welcome Suica Mobile or a physical card.
- Android: check for the Osaifu-Keitai logo or setting. If it's missing, plan for a physical card.
- Physical card: keep ¥3,000–¥5,000 in cash for the first top-up. Machines don't take credit cards for Suica top-ups.
- Load only what the worked example above says you'll use.
Your next decision
Suica and mobile-wallet FAQ
Can I top up a physical Suica with a credit card?
JR East says standard physical Suica top-up at its listed ticket and fare-adjustment machines is cash only.
Can a foreign credit card top up Suica on iPhone?
Apple and JR East require an eligible payment card in Apple Pay. Check the exact card; the requirement does not guarantee every overseas-issued card.
Can any Android phone use mobile Suica?
No. Google states that Suica and PASMO e-money require an Osaifu-Keitai-compatible Android device.
Does Express Mode need mobile data or a charged iPhone battery?
For standard transit gates, Apple states that an active, compatible iPhone or Apple Watch does not need a Wi-Fi or cellular connection to tap through. Low battery is a different situation: depending on your iPhone model, select Express Mode cards may remain usable via power reserve for up to five hours when your phone needs charging; however, power reserve is disabled if you manually power off your phone. This feature does not guarantee offline card setup or balance top-ups.
How long does Welcome Suica last?
A physical Welcome Suica is valid for 28 days from purchase. Welcome Suica Mobile is valid for 180 days from issuance, and the app normally issues it when you make your first charge; when the period ends, any remaining balance expires (JR East's Welcome Suica Mobile rules, Articles 8(1) and 13, effective 1 March 2026).
Can I transfer a physical Welcome Suica to Apple Wallet?
No. JR East's official guide confirms that physical Welcome Suica cards cannot be transferred to Apple Pay.
Is unused Suica balance refundable?
Standard Suica has a deposit and refund route. Physical Welcome Suica does not offer refunds of ordinary unused stored value, including after expiry; a card malfunction has a separate JR East procedure. Ordinary unused Welcome Suica Mobile value is non-refundable; its service rules have separate exceptional recovery procedures. Load only what the trip needs.
Physical Suica vs mobile Suica for tourists
Should tourists use physical Suica or mobile Suica?
Use a physical card if you cannot set up a compatible wallet: physical Welcome Suica lasts 28 days, while standard JR East Suica has a ¥500 deposit and a refund route. On a supported iPhone, open Wallet → Add → Transit Card → Suica; Apple requires an eligible payment card and an Apple Account with two-factor authentication. Welcome Suica Mobile is a separate app: it needs location services for issuance and top-ups, is available only in selected countries, and lasts 180 days from issuance, normally at the first charge. Checked 11 October 2026; wallet eligibility does not guarantee every foreign card.
What is the difference between Welcome Suica and regular Suica?
Standard physical Suica has a JPY 500 deposit and a refund route (handling fee up to JPY 220 from the balance; deposit returned in full). Physical Welcome Suica has no deposit, is valid for 28 days from purchase and cannot be imported into Apple Pay. Welcome Suica Mobile is valid for 180 days from issuance, which normally happens at your first charge; any balance left then expires and is non-refundable. Choose the form that fits the trip length, device and end-of-trip balance plan.
Why does a foreign credit card fail when topping up Suica?
Standard physical Suica top-up at JR East's listed machines is cash only, so a credit card will not work there. On a phone route, a failed top-up can involve the wallet, card issuer, card network or the selected Suica form. Confirm whether money actually moved before retrying and keep another payment method available rather than repeatedly submitting the same charge.
What should I do with leftover Suica balance before leaving Japan?
For a standard physical Suica issued by JR East, return it at a JR East station: the refund is the balance minus a fee of up to ¥220, plus the ¥500 deposit. A ¥1,000 balance returns ¥1,280; a ¥100 balance returns ¥500. Ordinary unused physical Welcome Suica and Welcome Suica Mobile balances are non-refundable, so use them for eligible transport or purchases before their 28-day or 180-day expiry. Separate malfunction procedures still apply. These are form-specific rules checked 10 October 2026; the physical-card refund example is not a mobile-wallet refund rule.
How does child Suica differ from an adult card?
JR East's child Suica is a named child product with identity and age conditions; it remains usable through the first March 31 after the user turns 12. When using an Eki-net Shinkansen e-ticket, link an adult IC card to each adult booking and a child IC card to each child booking. Confirm the exact child product and reservation rule before travel.
Related decision guides
Read next
- Tax-free shopping in Japan in 2026Understand the shopping process and the planned November rules transition, including relevant dates and required documents for your purchase.
- Cash or card in Japan: plan your everyday paymentsBuild a practical mix of cash, cards and transport payments for shopping, food and getting around.
- Withdrawing yen with a foreign bank cardFind a suitable ATM, understand withdrawal options and work through the next step when a transaction does not go through.
Sources and how this guide was checked
About this guide
The top-up answer changes with the card form. Choose the physical, Apple or Android route before deciding whether a credit card can fund it.
How we checked this guide
How we checked this
What changes with the card form and device
Physical Suica, tourist Suica cards, and mobile wallets all use the same contactless tap, but they follow different rules for devices, top-up options, expiration, and refunds. All rows were rechecked against their primary sources on 11 October 2026.
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Question | What we found | Where it comes from | What this means for your trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can you top up a physical Suica with a credit card? | JR East notes that top-ups at its standard ticket machines, multifunction machines, and fare-adjustment machines are cash only. | JR East standard Suica guidance | Keep Japanese yen in cash for topping up physical cards, rather than relying on card brand logos. |
| What are the limits of the physical Welcome Suica? | It is a no-deposit visitor card valid for 28 days, with published IC-area limits and no import into Apple Pay. | JR East Welcome Suica guide | The balance is intended for a short trip, and obtaining a physical card remains a separate option. |
| Can I get a refund for unused funds on a physical Welcome Suica? | Ordinary unused stored value is not refundable, including after expiry. Card malfunction has a separate application and payment procedure; the card-validity period and the later refund-payment deadline are different. | JR East physical Welcome Suica purchase and usage guidance | Top up IC cards conservatively to match your planned travel. If a valid card malfunctions, speak with station staff and keep the legible physical card alongside any refund receipt, as approvals are assessed case by case. |
| What are the requirements for using Welcome Suica Mobile? | Welcome Suica Mobile needs supported iPhone/Apple Watch hardware and iOS/watchOS, location and country availability, and an eligible Apple Pay card for the initial charge. Later cash top-ups are available at supported locations. Ordinary unused value expires after 180 days from issuance/initial charge and is non-refundable; Articles 16–17 have separate exceptional recovery procedures. | JR East mobile service, setup and rules | Make sure to verify the full mobile setup process before adding any non-refundable funds. |
| Can every iPhone or Apple Watch use a Japan transit card? | No. Apple sets its own requirements for device models, iOS versions, account security, and eligible payment cards. | Apple Japan transit-card use and setup support | Verify your specific device compatibility and Wallet configuration before relying on mobile contactless transit. |
| What changes between no network and an iPhone that needs charging? | Apple says a turned-on iPhone or Apple Watch can perform a normal transit-gate tap with a compatible Japan transit card set to Express Mode without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Depending on the iPhone model, some compatible Express Mode cards might remain usable through power reserve for up to five hours when the iPhone needs charging. If the user turns off the iPhone, power reserve is not available. | Apple Japan transit-card and Express Mode support | Treat no network, screen sleep or lock, an iPhone that needs charging and manual shutdown as separate states. Setup or top-up does not carry an offline guarantee. The exact iPhone model, card, remaining reserve time and terminal transaction result are still unconfirmed. Apple Watch power reserve is still unconfirmed in these Apple sources, and Android low-power behavior is still unconfirmed rather than inheriting Apple's rule. |
| Can every Android phone use Suica or PASMO e-money? | No. Google requires an Osaifu-Keitai-compatible device and does not promise that an overseas-issued card can fund the balance. | Google Wallet Japan e-money support | Verify Android compatibility at both device and payment levels rather than assuming support from the Wallet app alone. |
| What is the shortest IC-card setup decision? | Choose a compatible digital wallet or a physical card first: physical cards top up with cash only at JR East machines, a physical Welcome Suica lasts 28 days, and Welcome Suica Mobile value expires unrefunded after 180 days. | Based on combined terms from JR East, Apple, Google, and JNTO | Clear breakdown of setup steps and balance rules that differ across the Suica family. |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Official sources and what each confirms
Where this information comes from
Official sources
Device lists, countries, payment cards, service hours and product availability can change. Recheck the exact route before setup or top-up.
- JR East and Samsung: Welcome Suica Mobile Galaxy plan (21 April 2026)
What this confirms: A Galaxy version is planned for the first half of 2027 for Galaxy models sold from 2027 onwards; models and regions are not yet announced. It is not available on existing Android phones.
Last checked - Toei: joint notice on contactless gates
What this confirms: Joint contactless credit, debit and prepaid card travel across participating gates of 11 Kanto rail operators from 25 March 2026; adult fares in 10 yen units; use the same card or phone to enter and leave. JR East is excluded.
Last checked - Keikyu: Haneda Airport Terminal 3 fare table
What this confirms: Keikyu’s fare table from Haneda Airport Terminal 3 lists Shinagawa at 12.5 km, with a paper-ticket fare of ¥330 and an IC fare of ¥327. This confirms the fare used for the outbound leg of the worked example; it does not by itself show the fare for every Tokyo journey.
Last checked - JNTO: cashless payments and IC-card boundaries
What this confirms: Overseas mobile payment apps and non-Japanese smartphones may run into compatibility issues, whereas buying or topping up a physical IC card at ticket machines requires cash.
Last checked - JR East: standard physical Suica
What this confirms: A standard Suica requires a deposit, can be refunded, has a JPY 20,000 maximum balance, and supports cash-only reloads at designated JR East ticket machines. JR East also notes that standard Suica cards expire after 10 unused years. Suica cards work only within valid service areas and cannot be used to travel between them.
Last checked - JR East: My Suica and child Suica purchase conditions
What this confirms: Child Suica is a registered card issued for eligible children, requiring proof of age/identity at purchase. JR East confirms it remains valid through the first March 31 after the child turns 12.
Last checked - Eki-net: Shinkansen e-ticket IC-card linkage
What this confirms: Shinkansen e-ticket boarding requires an individual IC card for each passenger: adult tickets pair with adult cards, and child tickets pair with child cards.
Last checked - JR East: physical Welcome Suica
What this confirms: Physical Welcome Suica has no deposit, lasts 28 days and works only within published operator, area and IC-logo boundaries.
Last checked - JR East: physical Welcome Suica usage guide
What this confirms: JR East notes that physical Welcome Suica cards cannot be added to Apple Pay.
Last checked - JR East: physical Welcome Suica refunds and trouble procedures
What this confirms: Ordinary Welcome Suica stored-value refunds are unavailable regardless of validity-period status or remaining balance. A still-valid card with sufficient balance that does not work should be checked by a station attendant in a Suica area. If the card itself malfunctions, a separate application uses its readable 17-digit card number beginning with JE; JR East then issues a refund certificate. The faulty card and certificate are required at a JR East Ticket Office within a Suica area, from the day after application until 14 days after card expiry; same-day payment is unavailable. Lost cards cannot be reissued. This does not by itself show individual eligibility or a lost-card refund.
Last checked - JR East: Welcome Suica Mobile
What this confirms: The iOS visitor app lets you issue and top up Suica using an eligible Apple Pay card, depending on your device and service terms.
Last checked - JR East: Welcome Suica Mobile setup
What this confirms: Issuance and top-up require location services, the app is country-limited and some users must wait until arrival in Japan.
Last checked - JR East: Welcome Suica Mobile rules
What this confirms: The English rules effective 1 March 2026 require an eligible payment card in the user’s name through Apple Pay for the initial charge. After issuance, supported cash top-ups are also available. Ordinary unused value expires 180 days from issuance/initial charge and is non-refundable; Articles 16–17 separately provide exceptional recovery procedures.
Last checked - Apple Support: Japan transit cards in Wallet
What this confirms: Apple publishes device, operating-system and account requirements for Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and TOICA in Wallet. For the normal Express Mode transit flow, the iPhone or Apple Watch must be turned on but does not need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Depending on the iPhone model, Express Mode might remain available when the iPhone needs charging.
Last checked - Apple Support: add a Japan transit card to Wallet
What this confirms: Adding a Suica, PASMO, ICOCA or TOICA card to Apple Wallet requires Apple's listed device, operating-system and account conditions plus an eligible payment card in Apple Wallet. Device transfer is a separate flow and can require an internet connection.
Last checked - Apple Support: Express Mode and power reserve
What this confirms: With Express Mode on, iPhone power reserve may let you use select transit cards, passes, and digital keys for up to five hours after the battery runs out. Power reserve is unavailable if the iPhone is powered off manually.
Last checked - Google Wallet: Japan e-money requirements
What this confirms: Google Wallet's Japan guidelines include Suica and PASMO for transit and e-money, but an Osaifu-Keitai-compatible Android phone is required. While most Japan-issued credit cards are accepted for balance top-ups, acceptance of cards issued overseas is not guaranteed.
Last checked - Apple: transit-card balance not updating
What this confirms: To troubleshoot, first restart your device, then follow the steps tailored to your transaction history. Use Service Mode only when specific conditions are met; if the issue persists, contact your transit card issuer.
Last checked - jreast.co.jp: Does my Tokyo Suica work in Kyoto and Osaka?
What this confirms: Your Suica also works where other areas' IC logos are shown, including JR West's Kansai area (ICOCA), Kyushu and Hokkaido.
Last checked
Review dates and complete update history
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- The JR East physical Suica and Welcome Suica purchase pages were checked on 16 October 2026. The accepted editorial correction records the ledger rows as rechecked on 11 October 2026. Mobile, JNTO and other sources retain their individual check dates.
- Latest update
- : Completed the Welcome Suica sales list and added the announced 2027 Galaxy plan and Kanto contactless-card gates, including their limits and the Haneda worked example. Other source-check dates stay unchanged.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Scoped additions from 18 October source checks
Completed the Welcome Suica sales list and added the announced 2027 Galaxy plan and Kanto contactless-card gates, including their limits and the Haneda worked example. Other source-check dates stay unchanged.
- Partial article update
Added the listed city Travel Service Centers and corrected the physical Suica top-up denominations; reconciled the ledger with the existing 11 October review.
- Guide updated
Does my Tokyo Suica work in Kyoto and Osaka?
- Scheduled recheck
Rechecked on 11 October 2026: the dated facts in this guide were compared with their primary sources. Nothing had changed.
- Situation table
Added a “your situation, what to do” table, using only facts already in this guide. No facts were rechecked, so the review date is unchanged.
- Corrected Welcome Suica Mobile validity and added a loading example
Corrected the Welcome Suica Mobile validity to 180 days from issuance under JR East's rules, updated the physical Welcome Suica top-up and standard Suica refund fee, and added a 5-day loading example, key facts checked on 8 October 2026 and a do-this-now list. Full-guide review schedules are unchanged.
- Clarified compatible device models for Welcome Suica Mobile
Updated the Welcome Suica Mobile setup guide to reflect the iOS app coverage described in its documentation. Original source-check dates and full-guide review schedules are unchanged.
- Clarified child Suica and IC-card linkage
Updated the standard and child Suica records along with the English supplementary child-Suica guidance, including Eki-net adult and child IC card linking. The earlier review date for the complete guide remains unchanged.
- Practical next-step workflow included below
Updated the guide to include top-up recovery and backup steps for transferred cards, based on targeted source checks; earlier full-review dates and specialist requirements still apply.
- Distinguished offline transit tap from iPhone power reserve features
Clarified the distinctions between offline Express Mode use, the conditions and limits of iPhone power reserve, manual shutdown and factors that vary by device.
- Published the device-first IC-card setup guide
Published a device-first IC card guide detailing options for physical Suica, Apple Wallet, Welcome Suica Mobile, and Osaifu-Keitai on Android.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.