Got a question about JR Passes or IC cards (Suica/Pasmo/ICOCA/etc)? Read through the information below and feel free to ask additional questions in this thread! Please [see here](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/search/?q=%22Do%20you%20have%20a%20JR%20Pass%20or%20IC%20Card%20(Suica%2FPasmo%2Fetc.)%20question%3F%22&restrict_sr=1&sort=new) for old versions of this megathread.
## JR Pass Info
The nationwide JR Pass is a travel pass that allows train and bus travel for a fixed cost over a certain period of days on Japan Railways (JR) services. For a comprehensive source of information on the pass, check out [our wiki page](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/jrpass/) or [Japan Guide’s JR Pass page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html).
The JR Pass can be purchased in one of two ways:
* Online at the [official site](https://japanrailpass.net/en/)
* Online from an authorized retailer (also often called a “third-party seller”)
There is no way to be certain if a JR Pass will be valuable for you without knowing your exact itinerary and doing the math out. If you are trying to work out whether a JR Pass is the right choice for you, here are some calculators:
* [JRPass.com’s calculator](https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator)
* [Japan Guide’s calculator](https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/)
* [Daisuki calculator](https://www.daisuki.com.br/jrpass_calculator.html)
**As of October 1, 2023, the nationwide JR Pass and regional JR Passes have increased in price significantly.** The price increase makes it so that there are _very few itineraries_ that the nationwide JR Pass will be worth it for. For more information and discussion on the price increase, see [this search result of prior discussion threads](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/search/?q=jr+pass+increase).
## IC Card Info (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.)
### General Information
An IC card is a stored-value card used to pay for transportation in Japan. That means you can load the card with money and use the card to pay for trains, buses, etc by tapping the card at train station gates or fare readers. Even if you have a JR Pass or other travel pass, an IC card is recommended because it can be used across transportation systems operated by many different transit companies, as well as for payment at convenience stores, restaurants, shops, vending machines, and other locations.
For tourism purposes, there are nine major IC cards and all of them are completely interchangeable and usable in each other’s regions, so it doesn’t really matter which one you get. Where you start your travels in Japan often dictates what IC card you get, since different IC cards originate in different regions, but then you’ll be able to use it during most of your traveling, even if you move to a different region. For general information on IC cards, see [our wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/iccards/) or [Japan Guide’s IC card page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html).
## Physical IC Cards
Currently, sales of regular Suica, named Suica, regular Pasmo, and named Pasmo cards [are _technically_ suspended due to a semiconductor shortage](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/sale-of-pasmo-and-suica-cards-suspended-except-those-for-tourists-080223) (except children’s versions and commuter versions). That said, there have been recent reports in early 2024 of people getting regular Suica cards at some stations in Tokyo.
**If you are landing in/starting your trip in Tokyo,** tourists can still get:
* A [Welcome Suica](https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html) at Haneda Airport (HND) or a [Pasmo Passport](https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/) at both Tokyo airports (HND and NRT)
* A [Pasmo Passport](https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/) at certain train stations within Tokyo (**Note:** Pasmo Passport will be discontinued in August 2024, and may be subject to limited availability before then, based on supply)
* _Possibly_ a regular Suica at some major JR East stations in Tokyo (subject to very limited availability)
* A digital IC card (see next section for more information)
A Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport acts exactly like a regular IC card, with two exceptions: it is only valid for 28 days, and it cannot be refunded. Please see [this thread and its top comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/15ebhwb/issuing_of_personalized_suica_and_pasmo_cards_is/) for information.
**If you are starting your trip in another region** (e.g., Kansai, Kyushu, etc.), sales of their regional IC cards are unaffected by Suica and Pasmo shortages. Please see [this page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html) to identify which card you’ll get, and it should be available at airports and train stations in those regions.
### Digital IC Cards
If you are looking to get a digital IC card, please note that digital Suica, Pasmo, and ICOCA cards can only be used on iPhones, Apple Watches, or *Japanese* Android phones (this means the phone was purchased in Japan). For instructions on how to get a digital IC card in Apple Wallet, see [here](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207155). You _do not_ need the Suica or Pasmo apps (which are all in Japanese) in order to get a digital IC card. It can be loaded and used entirely through Apple Wallet.
Please note that not all credit cards work to load a digital IC card. Amex cards seem to have the highest success rate, but Mastercards and Visas can be flaky. Although Visa previously didn’t work at all, as of December 2023, loading a digital Suica with some Visa credits cards seems to work, although not all of them. See this [At A Distance blog post](https://atadistance.net/all-about-apple-pay-suica-recharge/) for more info and updates. It is not uncommon to not have any of your cards work to load a digital IC card, and if that happens, you might need to stick with a physical IC card.
Keep in mind that digital IC cards cannot be refunded (that requires a Japanese bank account), so you will need to burn down whatever value you’ve loaded onto them before the end of your trip.
### IC Card FAQ
**I have an old IC card from a previous trip. Can I use it on my upcoming trip?**
> IC cards are valid for ten years after their last date of use, so if you received the card and/or used the card in/after 2014, it’ll work.
**Can more than one person use the same IC card for travel?**
> No. All travelers who want to use IC cards on transit need to have their own card. Most transit in Japan is distance-based, and the card is “keeping track” of your journey, and it can only keep track of one at a time.
**Are there children’s IC cards? How do I get one for my child?**
> Children under six years old can ride transit for free. If your child is between the ages of six and eleven, you can get a children’s IC card from JR offices by presenting the child’s passport for proof of age. There are also Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport versions for children. If you are getting IC cards at the airport, they are able to provide children’s cards.
**Can I load money onto a physical IC card with a credit card?**
> No. Physical IC cards can only be loaded with cash, which can be done at ticket machines in train stations, convenience stores, and 7-Eleven ATMs.
**I have a physical IC card and I want to transfer it to my phone. If I do that, can I still use the physical card?**
> No. Once you “move” the physical card to your phone and turn it into a digital card, the physical card becomes invalid. It cannot be used or reactivated.
**I’m landing in Tokyo, but then I’m going to Osaka and Kyoto. Do I need a suica in Tokyo and then an ICOCA in Osaka/Kyoto?**
> No. Once you have one of the major IC cards, it can be used pretty much anywhere. There are some exceptions to this, but they are mostly on individual lines or in specific rural regions. If you are traveling to major tourism cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, etc., you are likely fine with whatever IC card you originally received upon arrival.
**Should I buy an IC card online before arriving in Japan?**
> If you want to get an IC card online from a reputable vendor, there’s nothing wrong with that. Some of the authorized JR Pass website (as well as other websites targeted at tourists) will sell them bundled with other purchases. That said, there isn’t really any reason to get your card ahead of time. If you’re landing in Tokyo, the 28-day Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport is good enough for most tourists. And if you do end up in the country for longer than 28 days, you can simply get an IC card from another region once you’re in one (such as the ICOCA from Kansai).
**Help! I tried to load my digital IC card through Apple Wallet and the transaction didn’t go through! What do I do?**
> To start, did you attempt to create it/load it overnight in Japan? The digital system goes down for maintenance from about 1am to 5am JST, so try again during Japan’s daytime hours. Beyond that, Visa cards often cannot be used to load digital IC cards. Mastercards sometimes have issues too, depending on the issuing bank. Unfortunately, if you can’t find a digital card + credit card combo that works for you, you may not be able to use digital IC cards.
### Recent IC Card Threads
To see some recent discussion on IC cards, check out [the following threads from our search results here](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/search/?q=IC+card).
by Himekat
9 comments
What’s the IC card availability situation at Narita these days?
This is probably be a sign of things to come; 2 weeks ago Shimbashi station was definitely on the [list of pasmo passport stations](https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/buy/) when I went there to get one for my son, but just now I’ve noticed it’s no longer listed. Just as well regular suica seems to be getting more available.
As I understand correctly…I land in Tokyo and plan to buy a Welcome Suica, then when I go to Kyoto via Osaka, I can use my Suica there as well?
I don’t understand this at all. I read the links and they state that the IC cards can be used all over but then say they can’t?
So which ones do we need if our trip is going to look like:
Arrive at Narita Airport
Go into Tokyo and spend 3 days
Hit Kyoto for 2
Hit Osaka for 2
Hiroshima for 2
Unstructured Time, might go further south towards Fukuoka or return towards Tokyo
Do I need one card? Multiple? I’d really prefer one card and it be physical.
I used one of the calculators and it said I would save money with the JR pass but I think that’s because it’s assuming I will be doing it all in 7 days, but my trip is 11 days so the Shinkansen from Haneda to Tokyo wouldn’t be included. Also, the amount of “savings” is basically negligible. So I’m thinking I should just buy single tickets in the end. Based on my below itinerary, does that make sense?
Land at Haneda – take Shinkansen to Tokyo. (Day 1)
Day trip to/from Hakone (Is it worth getting the Hakone free pass/do I need to get it in advance or can I just buy it in Shinjuku station when I get there?) Day 3
Next few days in Tokyo, including Disneyland parks (Days 4-5)
Tokyo to Kyoto (Day 6)
Kyoto to Nara and back (Day 8)
Kyoto to Osaka and back (Day 9)
Kyoto to Hiroshima (Including Miyajima) and back (Day 10)
Kyoto back to Tokyo (Day 11)
Tokyo back to Haneda
So does it make sense to buy the pass or not? And if I don’t, is it best to buy the individual tickets online? [smart-ex.jp/en](http://smart-ex.jp/en) Is the site I see, but is it better to use the app? I have an iPhone and will be using an e-SIM.
And then local transportation around Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima/Nara. Can I use the Welcome Suica card locally in all these places? If so I will buy it at Haneda when I land.
Sorry for so many questions, I read through the above but am second guessing myself.
Is there a disadvantage to getting a digital IC card in Apple Wallet before I get to Japan as opposed to trying to get a Welcome Suica at HND?
So between my landing in NRT in October, after Pasmo Passport is discontinued, and the general IC shortage, what would be the best course of action to get an IC card?
At Narita T2/T3 station, can I use a physical Pasmo card to tap through the gates to get on either Narita Express or Skyliner **without buying a paper ticket**?
And can I top up Pasmo card anywhere inside Narita, ideally near the T2/T3 train station?
Do I need to re-activate a regular Pasmo card after not using it over a year? If so, can I do it at Narita airport?
Having a JR Pass or IC card question? Look no further! Whether you’re trying to decide if a JR Pass is worth it for your itinerary or wondering about the differences between IC cards like Suica and Pasmo, this is the place to get answers. Feel free to ask any additional questions you may have – the community is here to help!