 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Japanese. (October 2023)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
  Suica being tapped inToyama, Japan | |
| Location | Nationwide usability, with issuance in: |
|---|---|
| Launched | April 8 – July 8, 2001: Pilot at 57 stations November 18, 2001: Official launch at 424 stations |
| Technology | |
| Manager | JR East |
| Currency | Japanese yen (¥20,000 maximum load) |
| Stored-value | Pay as you go |
| Credit expiry | Ten years after last use[1] |
| Auto recharge | Yes |
| Validity | |
| Retailed | |
| Variants |
|
| Website | www |
Suica (Japanese:スイカ,romanized: Suika) is a prepaid rechargeablecontactless smart card andelectronic money system used as afare card on train lines and otherpublic transport systems in Japan, launched on November 18, 2001, byEast Japan Railway Company (JR East). The card can be used across the nation as part of Japan'sNationwide Mutual Usage Service.[4][5] The card is also widely used aselectronic money for purchases at stores and kiosks, especially atconvenience stores and within train stations. In 2018, JR East reported that Suica was used for 6.6 million daily transactions.[6] As of October 2023, 95.64 million Suica (includingMobile Suica) have been issued, and 1.63 million stores accept payment via Suica's digital currency.[7]
Since Suica is completelyinteroperable withPasmo, it is supported on virtually any train, tramway, or bus system inTokyo and theGreater Tokyo Area (excluding various limited andshinkansen trains, as well as some local buses).
Suica is abackronym for "Super Urban Intelligent Card".[8][9] In the logo, the letters "ic" are highlighted, which stand forintegrated circuit and see use in the term "IC card", the common Japanese word forsmart card. An additional meaning comes from theideophone "sui sui" which means "to move smoothly and swiftly", intended to highlight the simplicity of using the card compared with traditional (paper) train tickets, similar to how penguins can swim smoothly through water[10][11] The motif was also chosen due to the Japanese homonymsuika (スイカ; "watermelon"); just like penguins in cold climates have never encountered watermelons, as the first major transportation IC card in Japan, the card was promoted as a never-before-seen item for riders.[12]
TheSuica penguin mascot [ja] was designed by illustratorChiharu Sakazaki [ja] and is licensed for use by JR East andDentsu, first appearing in a 1998 picture book by Sakazaki.[13][14] It is set to be retired in the spring of 2027 and replaced with a new mascot.[15][16]
While Suica's primary usage is as a fare card for public transportation, it can also be used aselectronic money for general purchases. With the exception of archaic, first-generation cards ("Suica IO Card") printed before 2004, all Suica have the
logo, which indicates that the card can be used for e-money payments.[17]
Other components that may also appear alongside the e-money mark include:
Chain stores such asFamilyMart,7-Eleven,Lawson,Yodobashi Camera,Bic Camera,Doutor Coffee,CoCo Ichibanya, andMOS Burger support transactions with Suica.[26] Many shops at airports, and taxis throughout Japan, also accept Suica payment.[27] Stores that accept IC card payment are indicated by displaying theNationwide Mutual Usage Service "IC" logo, typically alongside the various card logos.[26] Mostvending machines, kiosks, and baggage lockers within JR stations can also be paid with the card; the card may also be used as an electronic key to open these lockers.[27][28]
As of 2004, JR East employees use the card as an employee ID card.[29]
.jpg)
Usage of the card involves scanning it at a card reader. The card's technology allows for it to be read at a short distance from the reader, so contact is not required,[30] despite instructions which often inform users to "touch" (タッチ,tacchi) cards on readers. Many riders[who?] leave IC cards in wallets or pass cases, and pass these objects over reader when entering a ticket gate. The balance on the card is displayed when riders pass through ticket gates. In the JR East area, the minimum fare to ride at least one stop is required to enter, but no fare is charged until the user exits the system, upon which cards must be touched on readers at fare gates again.[30][31]
A travel record of the past 20 trips is stored on the card, and can be displayed or printed out at ticket machines or some fare adjustment machines.
Along with fare balance, Suica may store commuter passes, pre-purchased fares for one, three, or six month periods along a certain route which make future rides a line between the specified stations free of charge.[32]
When traveling from a JR East station where Suica is supported to a station outside of the JR East area, purchasing a paperticket is required.[33] Tickets may be purchased with a Suica's balance.[citation needed]
Suica are available atticket vending machines or customer service windows in the Suica area, namely at allJR East train stations. A new card costs 2,000yen, which includes a 500 yen deposit that will be refunded if the card is returned. The remaining 1,500 yen is immediately available for rides on transport, and more money can be charged on to the card (in 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen increments), up to a card maximum of 20,000 yen. Cards may also be charged at fare adjustment machines within any station's ticket gates, i.e. inside thefare-paid zone.
Due to the2020–2023 global chip shortage, JR East announced a temporary suspension of sales of unregistered cards on June 8, 2023, with a suspension on registered cards following two months later.[34][35] While Welcome Suica remained on sale to inbound tourists at airports and JR East Travel Service Centers throughout Greater Tokyo, residents were instead encouraged to useMobile Suica.[36] Standard Suica cards again became available in January 2024 in limited quantities at customer service centers.[37][38] Registered Suica (My Suica) sales resumed via station ticket vending machines on September 1, 2024,[39] and unregistered cards returned to public sale on March 1, 2025.[40]
Suica are sold by JR East and two of its subsidiaries:
TheView Suica [ja] pairs the prepaid Suica with a credit card. Various types of these "affiliate cards" exist, including at least one available throughJR and View, and others such as theBic Camera Suica. These function both as a prepaid Suica as well as a regular credit card, and provide an auto-charge feature to prevent exhausting the Suica balance. The automatically recharged amount is added to the user's credit card bill. Thus, these cards have two balances: a prepaid Suica balance and a credit balance for which monthly bills are sent. Thus, store-related cards like the Bic Suica can include fully three separate functions: serving as a store point card, a general use Suica, and as a credit card. Any credit purchase (restricted, in the case of Bic, toJCB) adds a small amount to the available points on the store point card. Yet another type of Suica offered byJapan Airlines that is called JALCARD Suica. In addition to having Suica and credit card functionalities, a JALCARD Suica can also function as an electronic boarding pass for a JAL-operated domestic flight in Japan at an airport that offers the JAL IC service.
"My Suica" is JR East's term for a Suica registered in one's name. Riders may input their personal information at the time the card is created which allows for a transfer of balance if the card is lost, stolen, or breaks.[42] Child versions (which charge half fares) are also available.
In August 2019, JR East unveiled Welcome Suica, a Suica variant designed to be used by international tourists visiting Japan. The card's design features whitecherry blossoms on a red background.[43] Welcome Suica is also reloadable, but unlike regular Suica cards, Welcome Suica does not require the user to make a deposit. However, Welcome Suica can only be used for 28 days from the date of purchase after which it expires permanently. It is also nonrefundable, regardless of the balance or user's activity.[44] Child versions are also available. The Welcome Suica app for foreign visitors was released in March 2025.[45]
JR East request customers using the card carry with them a reference sheet, printed at the time of purchase.[44]
Ticket gates return an error when the scan encounters more than one compatible card. Although it is intended that each person have only one Suica, many people have more than one, or may carry other IC cards as well.[citation needed] Consequently, JR East began an awareness campaign in March 2007 to discourage commuters from storing multiple cards together.[citation needed] Incompatible cards, such asEdy, seem to have an inconsistent effect on a machine's ability to read the card which may depend on the reading device. On the other hand, theExpress-IC (EX-IC) card forTokaido Shinkansen reservations is meant to be used in this manner (stacked on top of an IC card to facilitate transfer between Shinkansen and regular lines).[citation needed]
The card incorporates a contactlessNear Field Communication (NFC) technology developed bySony calledFeliCa.[46] The same technology is also deployed in theEdy electronic cash cards used in Japan, theOctopus card in Hong Kong, and theEZ-Link Card in Singapore.
On 18 March 2007, the Tokyo-area private railways, bus companies, and subways implementedPASMO, asmart card solution to replace the existing Passnet magnetic card system. Through collaboration with JR East, passengers can use Suica wherever PASMO cards are accepted to ride any railway or bus in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Monthly passes for JR East lines can only be on Suica, while monthly passes for Tokyo Metro can only be on PASMO cards; besides this caveat, the cards are functionally identical for commuters.
This agreement has since been implemented with other systems across Japan, known as theNationwide Mutual Usage Service. As a result, beginning in 2013, Suica has full interoperability withKitaca,PASMO,TOICA,manaca,ICOCA,PiTaPa,SUGOCA,nimoca, andHayakaken IC cards.
On 22 July 2014,Nintendo added support for Suica and PASMO cards in theNintendo eShop through theNFC function of theWii U GamePad[47] and theNew Nintendo 3DS.[48] The service was discontinued on January 18, 2022.[49]
Since January 2006, a version calledMobile Suica (モバイルSuica,Mobairu Suika) was incorporated intomobile FeliCa wallet phones by Japan's mobile operators.[50] This system includes Java applications to manage the Suica function in themobile phone, to recharge the Suica stored in the mobile phone, review the stored value and perform other functions via the mobile phone. An enhancement for 2007 allowed for Suica charges to be added directly to the phone bill, eliminating the requirement to constantly add to and monitor the remaining balance. On May 23, 2011, JR announced[51] debut of Mobile Suica app for Android Smartphones supportingOsaifu-Keitai. It was first launched by the carriersNTT DoCoMo andau, and now also offered bySoftBank Mobile andWillcom.
Like physical cards, Mobile Suica cards can also be charged when the remaining balance gets low. Other features supported by the mobile phone includes the ability to review past Suica transactions via the phone's display. Mobile Suica interacts with the FeliCa chip usingJava technology.[citation needed]
Since October 2006, it is possible to register for Mobile Suica using any major credit card. A limitede-money-only application called "Easy Mobile Suica" (which does not require a credit card) was also launched in late October 2006.[citation needed]
On September 7, 2016, Apple announced that Suica cards could be added toApple Pay in the Wallet app and used in the same way as a physical card.[52] This functionality was limited to devices purchased in Japan which included FeliCa support:iPhone 7 (model A1779 and A1785) andApple Watch Series 2.[53] With the release of theiPhone 8,iPhone X and theApple Watch Series 3, and later, devices purchased anywhere in the world could be used with Apple Pay Suica.[54][53]
iOS 13 introduced support for creating a virtual Suica card from the Wallet app.[53]
iOS 15 introduced new Wallet app improvements and a dedicated category for adding Suica and other transit cards regardless of the device region setting.[55]
On May 24, 2018, Google announced that Suica cards could be added toGoogle Pay.[56] This functionality is limited to Android devices that have their Google Account's region set to Japan and which supportOsaifu-Keitai, i.e. the phone must have been purchased in Japan, or berooted (and have a FeliCa chip, as modernGoogle Pixel phones do) to enable this feature.
| Shinkansen | |
|---|---|
 JR East linespassing through Central Tokyo | |
| JR East lines in satellite cities or suburbs | |
 Tokyo Metro | |
 Toei Subway | |
 Yokohama Municipal Subway | |
 Keikyu | |
 Keio | |
 Keisei | |
 Odakyu | |
 Seibu | |
 Sotetsu | |
 Tobu | |
 Tokyu | |
| Other heavy rail lines | |
| Medium-capacity rails | |
| Monorails | |
| Trams and light rails | |
| People movers | |
| Hinterland | |
| Funiculars and aerial lifts | |
 Bus | |
| Public ferries | |
| Major terminals | |
| Miscellaneous | |
Transit inSendai | |
|---|---|
| Shinkansen | |
.svg){kind=logo} JR East | |
 Sendai Subway | |
| Other railways | |
| Terminals | |
| Miscellaneous | |
Digital payment providers | |
|---|---|
| Active |
|
| Defunct | |
| Remittance | |
| Related | |
.svg){kind=logo}
.svg){kind=logo}
_symbol.svg)
_symbol.svg)
_symbol.svg)
_symbol.svg)
_symbol.svg)
