How do I top up a Suica or Pasmo card?

Learn where and how to add money to a Suica or Pasmo, which amounts and balance limits apply, and how phone-based top-ups differ from cash.

Published October 20, 2026 at 6:17 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Insert the card in a station ticket machine marked for IC cards, choose the charge option, and add cash. JR East lists top-up amounts from 500 yen up to 10,000 yen, and a card cannot hold more than 20,000 yen. Convenience store registers often accept cash top-ups too, and phone-based cards are topped up inside the phone wallet. Check the issuer's page for current details.

The basic idea: you charge a card with cash

Suica and Pasmo are prepaid, which means the card holds money that you add in advance and that is deducted as you ride or shop. Japanese stations and shops call the act of adding money "charge," so the button you are looking for on a machine is often labeled Charge in English. A plastic card is typically topped up with cash, although phone-based cards use a different method.

JR East's English page is plain about this for the plastic Suica: top-ups can only be made using cash, and credit cards cannot be used. Pasmo's pages describe top-ups at station machines, convenience stores and some shops, and also on buses. It is worth knowing that before you arrive, because many visitors expect to tap a credit card to add money and then find the machine asks for bills or coins.

Topping up at a station machine

The standard method is a ticket machine, or a fare adjustment machine, bearing the nationwide mutual-use symbol of the IC card. The JR East page states that top-ups are available at regular and multifunctional ticket machines and fare adjustment machines. Insert the card into the card slot, switch the screen to English if a language button is shown, choose the charge option, and then insert the cash.

The machine shows the new balance and returns the card. Machines differ in what cash they accept, and Pasmo's page says the amount that can be added per transaction varies by vendor and machine. Because the card is accepted across the nationwide network, you can top up a Suica at a Pasmo-operated machine and the other way around.

Amounts, increments and the maximum balance

JR East lists top-up increments of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen for Suica, with no limit on the number of top-ups but a maximum balance of 20,000 yen. Pasmo's page states the same ceiling for station machines: a top-up is refused if the balance would exceed 20,000 yen. A first-time Suica purchase, by comparison, is offered in set amounts that include a 500 yen deposit.

Because the minimum increment is small, you do not need to commit to a large load. A common approach is to start with a few thousand yen and top up when the balance falls below a few hundred. Remember that the rule is about the card's total, not the amount added, so a card with 19,000 yen on it can accept at most 1,000 yen more.

Convenience stores and buses

Pasmo's page mentions that top-ups can be made at convenience stores and some shops, and recommends asking the shop for details. The page does not say which payment methods the shops accept, so the practical steps are to hand the card to the clerk, say the amount and ask how to pay; cash is the safest assumption.

On buses, Pasmo's page describes topping up by speaking to the driver, in 1,000 yen increments using only 1,000 yen bills, with a balance limit of 10,001 yen on a bus. This is useful if you are about to run out of money in a place without a station nearby. It requires a bus that offers the service, so do not count on it everywhere.

Phone-based cards

A card stored in a phone wallet is not topped up with cash. For Pasmo in an iPhone wallet, Pasmo's page says to open the wallet, tap Add Money, enter an amount, select a payment card and confirm with Face ID or Touch ID. For Welcome Suica Mobile, JR East says top-up is done in the app, which needs location services turned on, and that top-up is restricted by law in some countries.

That convenience comes with limits. The mobile card for visitors is valid for 180 days, and the remaining balance cannot be refunded after that period. The plastic Welcome Suica is described by JR East as valid for 28 days, and Pasmo's visitor page says its visitor-only card is no longer sold. Choose the type that fits the length of your stay, and avoid loading more than you expect to spend.

Mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is trying to top up with a credit card at a machine, which the plastic card does not allow. The second is overloading the card: since a refund of leftover value costs a handling fee on standard cards and is not available on visitor cards, a large balance can become stuck. The third is topping up at a machine that is not marked for IC cards, such as a machine that sells only paper tickets.

Another mistake is leaving the balance too low before entering a station gate, since a low balance can stop you at the exit and require a stop at the fare adjustment machine. The fare adjustment machine, usually near the gates, lets you add the missing amount and then leave. Finally, check that you have inserted the card correctly and not a different card from your wallet.

Planning tips and next steps

Keep a few thousand yen in coins and notes available for top-ups, because machines differ in what cash they accept. Check your balance before long train days, and top up at the start of the day, not at the gate of a crowded station. For a short stay, load enough for a couple of days at a time.

If you want to avoid cash altogether, a phone-based card may suit, provided your device and card are supported. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. Check the issuer's English page shortly before your trip, because machines, amounts and apps change from time to time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum balance on a Suica or Pasmo?

JR East lists the maximum balance for Suica at 20,000 yen, and Pasmo's page says that at station machines a top-up is refused if the balance would exceed 20,000 yen. On buses, Pasmo lists a lower limit of 10,001 yen. Visitor cards follow similar limits, so check the card's rules.

Can you top up a Suica with a credit card?

Not for a plastic Suica. JR East states that top-ups can only be made with cash. A phone-based card is different: Pasmo in an iPhone wallet uses a payment card linked to the wallet, and Welcome Suica Mobile is topped up in its app. Support depends on your device, country and card, so check the official page before you rely on it.

Where can you top up in a hurry?

Station ticket and fare adjustment machines marked for IC cards are the usual choice, and convenience store registers often accept top-ups if you ask. Pasmo's page also describes top-ups on buses. If you are at an unfamiliar station, look for the nationwide IC mark, or ask a staff member for help.

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