If I attach my U.S. debit card to the suica app on phone am I adding cash from my bank to suica or it’s like using my debit card in a foreign country with transaction fees?
This appears to be a post about IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.). For general information, please see [our IC card wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/iccards/) and Japan-Guide’s [IC card page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html). If you are wondering how to get an IC card upon arrival in Japan, please see the stickied thread at the top of this subreddit for up-to-date information about card availability and other frequently asked questions.
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The transaction occurs in Japanese Yen, so if you have a fee for that then it will be charged.
You transfer money to suica using your bank card. When you run out of suica funds you can add more $$ . It’s like loading a prepaid card with money.
I wouldn’t say you are “attaching” your card to Suica. All you are doing is identifying your card as the source you want to use to each time you top up (or buy) credit on the suica card. As someone else has commented here, the easiest way to do all of this is via Apple Wallet or Google pay, by adding a transit card. (And yes, all transactions are in JPY so it will be converted back to USD on your bank account and subject to whatever fees your bank charges. On that note I suggest you research before you leave for an account or card that doesn’t charge fees for foreign currency transactions)
4 comments
This appears to be a post about IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.). For general information, please see [our IC card wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/iccards/) and Japan-Guide’s [IC card page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html). If you are wondering how to get an IC card upon arrival in Japan, please see the stickied thread at the top of this subreddit for up-to-date information about card availability and other frequently asked questions.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JapanTravelTips) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The transaction occurs in Japanese Yen, so if you have a fee for that then it will be charged.
You transfer money to suica using your bank card. When you run out of suica funds you can add more $$ . It’s like loading a prepaid card with money.
I wouldn’t say you are “attaching” your card to Suica. All you are doing is identifying your card as the source you want to use to each time you top up (or buy) credit on the suica card.
As someone else has commented here, the easiest way to do all of this is via Apple Wallet or Google pay, by adding a transit card. (And yes, all transactions are in JPY so it will be converted back to USD on your bank account and subject to whatever fees your bank charges. On that note I suggest you research before you leave for an account or card that doesn’t charge fees for foreign currency transactions)