## Info
tl;dr As of June 27, you can now add a mobile ICOCA to your Apple Wallet as long as you have at least an iPhone 8 and iOS16.
Link: https://atadistance.net/2023/06/27/jr-west-launches-apple-pay-icoca/
## How to Install
Apple updated their page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207155
## Advantages for You (the tourist)
* **Rechargeable by Visa credit card (_for now_)** – I just tried with a Chase card and it worked fine.
* **Retrieve ICOCA card ID number without external app** – compare to both mobile Suica/Pasmo which need their respective apps installed to obtain the full number. This is useful info for services like SmartEx.
* CUTER DESIGN THAN SUICA.
## How does this compare to Mobile Suica and PASMO?
The ICOCA **functions the same** as mobile Suica/PASMO for all the typical things tourists will use it for (paying for transit rides, tapping as payment wherever IC cards are taken, binding to SmartEx).
Note if you do certain things like getting special passes (multi-day subway passes or such), those will require the specific card in question (e.g. Pasmo for Tokyo subway passes).
## What if I have a non-Japanese Android phone?
Sorry, there is no support for the Japanese mobile IC cards on Android devices sold outside the Japanese market.
8 comments
Not **exactly** the same, that is also true for physical cards, there is one small difference.
There is some specific discount tickets and day pass that can be loaded on a specific card. For example Tokyo Metro 24-48-72 hours on Pasmo, Tokunai Pass on Suica and Haruka + Icoca discount ticket on Icoca. I know for sure that at least some of them work on virtual cards, but not sure if they all do.
Still it is true that this will not touch all the tourist and some of these card exclusive tickets/discount are also available as standalone ticket.
What is it called in wallet? I can’t find it when I type in icoca
>Sorry, there is no support for the Japanese mobile IC cards on Android devices sold outside the Japanese market.
It seems this may have changed in recent months with the availability of software FeliCA now. However it may only work with Sony android phones sold outside of Japan. Software FeliCA requires a licence fee be paid to Sony to enable it on the phone and it seems Google, Samsung, and other manufacturer do not want to pay the fee for phones sold in markets outside of Japan.
Is there a way to withdraw balance… cause I accidentally added an extra 0 when loading 🙁
I have Suica already in my wallet. Can I also add the ICOCA card as well? I like the ICOCA design better.
Does it support foreign cards for balance refill in Apple Wallet?
I ask because I transferred my Pasmo balance to the Apple Wallet version and it turns out that Pasmo only allows balance refills on Apple Wallet using Japanese payments only (this is new, within the last year I think). Switched over to Suica on Apple Wallet and I was able to refill my balance using a MasterCard, but not any Visa cards.
For reference, I am from the US and was in Japan earlier this month, so my experience is *very* recent.
Transferred mine…looks like I have 515 yen left on it.
Is this looking like the best way to load up on cheap yen?