Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA? Japan's IC Card System Explained
One IC card works almost everywhere in Japan, so which one you get barely matters — until it does. Here's what's actually different between them.
Last updated 2026-08-28
They all do the same thing
Suica (JR East / Tokyo), Pasmo (Tokyo's private and metro lines), ICOCA (JR West / Osaka), and the various regional cards — Kitaca in Hokkaido, TOICA around Nagoya, SUGOCA in Kyushu, and others — are all interoperable on trains, subways, and buses nationwide, with only rare regional exceptions. In practice this means the "right" card is just whichever one is easiest to buy in the city you land in, not a decision that locks you out of anywhere else.
Physical vs mobile
A physical card carries a refundable ¥500 deposit on top of your starting balance; regular Suica and Pasmo sales have had supply hiccups in the past, with tourist-only options like a non-refundable Welcome Suica sold specifically to sidestep the deposit. Mobile Suica, added straight into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, skips the deposit entirely and lets you top up from your phone with a compatible card — genuinely the simplest option if your phone and card support it, since there's no physical card to lose or return.
What it can and can't pay for
An IC card covers trains, subways, and buses in most cities, plus convenience stores, vending machines, and coin lockers with a tap. What it doesn't cover is a reserved Shinkansen seat, which needs a separate ticket or SmartEX booking — see our Shinkansen ticket guide for how that works. Running low mid-trip is common and not a problem: top-up machines sit at the entrance of essentially every station.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Suica, Pasmo, and ICOCA?
Almost nothing for a visitor — they're issued by different regional operators, but all of them work interchangeably on trains, subways, buses, and convenience stores across nearly all of Japan.
Can I use an IC card on the Shinkansen?
Not for the reserved-seat fare itself — you need a separate ticket or SmartEX booking, though you can still use the IC card for a connecting local train or a station kiosk purchase.
Is mobile Suica better than a physical card?
For most visitors, yes — it skips the ¥500 deposit and lets you top up directly from a compatible phone and card, as long as your phone supports Apple Wallet or Google Wallet in Japan.
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