Mobile Suica and IC Cards for Visitors: Tap and Go

Find out which Suica option fits your phone and trip, from the visitor-only Welcome Suica to a card inside Apple Wallet.

Published October 26, 2026 at 9:20 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Visitors have three Suica routes: a plastic Welcome Suica card (28 days, no deposit), the Welcome Suica Mobile app for iPhone and Apple Watch (180 days, no deposit), or a regular Suica added to Apple Wallet. Tap the phone or card on the gate reader to ride trains and buses nationwide, and pay at shops that show the IC mark. Remaining balance on Welcome versions is not refundable.

Few things make travel in Japan feel as smooth as tapping a card on a gate and walking straight through. The Suica system, run by JR East, turns that habit into a pleasure for visitors, and in recent years it has moved from plastic cards to phones. The choices can be confusing, though: there is a classic Suica, a visitor-only Welcome Suica, a mobile app version, and a card you can add to a phone wallet. This guide explains what each option is, who it suits, how to top up, where it works, and what to check before you arrive, with links to official sources so you can confirm details before you travel.

What Suica is and why it is so handy

Suica is a rechargeable smart card launched by JR East in November 2001. It began as a way to pass through ticket gates without buying individual paper tickets. In 2013 it became interoperable with nine other regional cards, including Pasmo, ICOCA, Kitaca, TOICA, manaca, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca and Hayakaken, so one card can work on trains and buses across large parts of the country.

The same card also pays for small purchases at convenience stores, vending machines and many shops that display the compatible IC logo. It does not give a discount on fares, but it saves time, because you never need to read a fare map before boarding. Treat it as a prepaid wallet for transport and small purchases rather than a general payment card.

The three visitor-friendly options

The first option is the Welcome Suica card, a plastic card issued by JR East for visitors from abroad. JR East describes it as a special 28 day card that needs no deposit. You can use it on trains and buses and for shopping with a single tap. Because it has no deposit, it is not refundable, so load only what you expect to spend.

The second option is Welcome Suica Mobile, an app for iPhone and Apple Watch that JR East released in March 2025. It issues a digital Suica without a deposit, and JR East's materials list a validity of 180 days from issue. You can set it up and top up with a credit card registered in Apple Pay, without visiting a ticket office, and the remaining balance cannot be refunded. The third option is a regular Suica added to Apple Wallet. It needs a payment card to set up and a starting balance, and the balance can be recharged from the phone.

Setting up on an iPhone

For Welcome Suica Mobile, download the app from the Apple App Store, follow the on-screen steps to enter basic information, choose a starting amount, and pay with Apple Pay. The digital card is then added to Apple Wallet, where you can view your balance. For a regular Suica, open Apple Wallet, tap the plus sign, choose the transit card option, and search for Suica. A starting balance is required, and guides report that some foreign credit cards can be declined, so have a second card ready.

Turn on Express Transit for the Suica card in Apple Wallet, as recommended in setup guides. With it, you can tap the top of the phone on the gate reader without unlocking the phone or using Face ID, which keeps lines moving. Set up before you arrive if you can, since airport Wi-Fi can be slow and you will want the card ready when you reach the first station.

What about Android phones

Most Android phones sold outside Japan do not contain the FeliCa chip that Suica uses, so they cannot hold a Suica regardless of apps. Japanese-market phones with the wallet feature can, and Google Pay support for those phones was announced in 2018. For visitors, the practical answer today is a plastic Welcome Suica card from a machine at an airport or major station. JR East has announced plans for a Welcome Suica Mobile app for certain Samsung Galaxy phones, but details such as models and regions were still to be confirmed in its announcement, so check the JR East site for updates before you travel.

Using the card day to day

At a gate, touch the card or phone to the circular reader and wait for the beep and green indicator. On buses, tap on entry or exit depending on the route, following the signs and driver instructions. In shops, say the card name, tell the cashier you will pay with Suica, and touch the reader when prompted. The same step works at many vending machines and coin lockers.

If the gate shows red and beeps, your balance may be too low. Go to a fare adjustment machine or station staff to add money or settle the fare. On physical cards, top-ups are done with cash at machines. On the mobile versions, top-ups use your registered payment card. Convenience stores can also add cash to a physical card if you tell the cashier you want to charge it.

Limits and rules to know

The standard JR East Suica carries a 500 yen deposit, can hold up to 20,000 yen, and can be refunded only at JR East stations with a small handling fee, according to JR East. Welcome versions have no deposit and no refund. The card works across the Tokyo area and on many transport systems in other regions, but it does not generally let you ride between separate regional areas, so long trips between regions may need a separate ticket.

Cards and apps cannot be used for everything. Some shops, small restaurants and smaller bus systems take cash only, and shinkansen tickets are bought separately. JR East has also described tap-and-ride features for certain trains in its own area, so read official pages for the latest rules and routes.

Which option fits your trip

If you have an iPhone and want zero fuss, Welcome Suica Mobile is the simplest choice for a short stay, because it issues a card without a deposit and lets you top up on the phone. If you plan to return to Japan, a regular Suica in Apple Wallet may be more useful, since you can keep it and reload it later. If you use an Android phone from overseas, buy the Welcome Suica card and keep a little cash for top-ups.

Whichever you pick, confirm prices, availability and supported devices on the JR East website shortly before departure. Sales and features have changed in recent years, including a period when plastic cards were scarce because of a global chip shortage, so a quick check prevents surprises at the airport.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Tokyo Info Guide is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors use Mobile Suica on an iPhone?

Yes. Visitors can install the Welcome Suica Mobile app for iPhone and Apple Watch, which issues a digital card without a deposit, or add a regular Suica to Apple Wallet. Both tap through gates and pay at IC card shops. Setup uses Apple Pay or a payment card, so check that your phone model and card are supported.

Does Mobile Suica work on Android phones from overseas?

Not generally. Most Android phones sold outside Japan lack the FeliCa chip that Suica needs. The practical choice is the plastic Welcome Suica card. JR East has announced plans for an app for certain Samsung Galaxy phones, so watch its website for updates and confirm before you travel.

Is unused Welcome Suica balance refundable?

No. JR East states that the Welcome Suica card needs no deposit and that remaining balance is not refunded, and the same applies to the mobile version. Load small amounts and top up as needed. A regular Suica can be returned at JR East stations with a handling fee, but rules can change.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: IC Cards in Japan: Pasmo, Icoca and Friends, How To Ride Japanese Trains: Gates, Tickets and Platforms and Staying Connected in Japan: A Simple Guide to eSIMs and Mobile Data.