Suica vs PASMO vs ICOCA vs Welcome Suica
For ordinary travel these cards are interchangeable — one card rides the trains in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo alike. What is not interchangeable is the deposit, the expiry date and whether you get your leftover money back, and that is where visitors lose money.
| Card | Suica in Apple / Google Wallet | Welcome Suica Mobile | Welcome Suica (plastic) | Ordinary Suica / PASMO | ICOCA | Tourist PASMO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A card created inside the phone’s wallet app | A visitor card issued in JR East’s own iPhone app | A physical visitor card with a cherry-blossom face | The standard unregistered plastic card | JR West’s equivalent card, sold in the Kansai region | PASMO’s visitor card, launched 20 May 2026 |
| Who can get it | iPhone 8 or later, or a Japanese-market Android with Osaifu-Keitai | iPhone XR / XS or later on iOS 17.2+. No Android version | Any visitor. No device needed | Anyone | Anyone | Visitors |
| Deposit | None | None | None | 500 yen, returned on refund | 500 yen, returned on refund | None |
| Expiry | None | 180 days from issue | 28 days from issue | None, but deactivated after ten years of no use | None, ten-year inactivity rule applies | 28 days from issue |
| Refund of balance | Not needed — the balance simply stays until your next trip | Not available — spend it before you go | Not available | Yes, at a window of the issuing operator, less a handling fee | Yes, at a JR West window | Not available |
| Where you get it | From anywhere, before you fly | App Store. Pre-arrival issue only from KR, TW, MY, SG, AU, VN | Airport counters and JR East Travel Service Centers | Station ticket machines and windows across Tokyo | Kansai airport and JR West stations | Airport and major private-railway counters |
| Topping up | Apple Pay / Google Pay, or cash at any ticket machine | Apple Pay, built around foreign cards, or cash | Cash at ticket machines and convenience stores | Cash everywhere; some machines take cards | Cash at machines across the country | Cash |
| Where it works | Nationwide, across all ten mutually accepted IC networks | Nationwide, same as a Suica | Nationwide | Nationwide | Nationwide — it works in Tokyo too | Nationwide |
| Best for | Anyone whose phone has FeliCa, and anyone who will return to Japan | Visitors flying from the six pre-issue countries | Short trips on a phone with no FeliCa | Stays longer than 28 days, and repeat visitors | Travellers arriving through Kansai International | Short trips when the Welcome Suica counter has run out |
The short version
If your phone has FeliCa, put an ordinary Suica in the wallet app: no deposit, no expiry, nothing to hand back. If it does not, buy plastic at the airport — a Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO for a trip of 28 days or less, an ordinary Suica or PASMO for anything longer.
Why the regional names do not matter
Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and seven other cards are mutually accepted nationwide, so the name on the card has almost no bearing on where it works. The two exceptions worth knowing: a single journey has to start and end inside the same IC area, and local operators in Kumamoto left the scheme in November 2024.
The expiry trap
The visitor cards charge no deposit, and the expiry is the trade for that. A plastic Welcome Suica dies 28 days after issue, a Welcome Suica Mobile card 180 days after issue, and in both cases the balance is not returned. Keep the balance low as your departure approaches.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Suica or PASMO better for a tourist?
Neither is better. They are accepted at the same gates, the same shops and the same vending machines nationwide, and they cost the same. Buy whichever the counter in front of you is selling.
Can I use a Suica in Osaka and Kyoto?
Yes. Suica is accepted throughout the Kansai region under the nationwide mutual-use agreement, so there is no reason to buy an ICOCA as well unless you happen to arrive through Kansai International and it is what the counter sells.
What is the difference between Welcome Suica and Welcome Suica Mobile?
The plastic Welcome Suica is valid for 28 days and is bought at a counter; the mobile version is issued in an iPhone app and is valid for 180 days. Neither refunds the balance, and neither takes a deposit.
Should I buy a card for each city I visit?
No. One card covers the whole country for ordinary journeys. Buying several means splitting your money across balances you then have to spend down separately.
Sources
- Suica (JR East, English) — JR East (Last checked 2026-09-09)
- Welcome Suica Mobile on the App Store — JR East / Apple App Store (Last checked 2026-09-09)
- PASMO official site — PASMO (Last checked 2026-09-09)
- ICOCA (JR West) — JR West (Last checked 2026-09-09)
- Prepaid IC cards in Japan — nationwide mutual use — japan-guide.com (secondary) (Last checked 2026-09-09)