Two versions of Japan’s essential transit card, one designed for tourists, one for everyone. The differences matter. Here is which one to get.
Japan’s Suica IC card is the most important thing to get at the airport. It covers every train, subway, and bus, and most convenience stores across the country. But there are two versions available to international visitors: the regular Suica and the Welcome Suica. They work identically for transit but differ in terms of deposit, expiry, and refund policy.
Regular Suica
- Deposit: 500 yen (refundable when you return the card)
- Expiry: No expiry, valid as long as you use it within 10 years
- Refund: Full balance plus 500 yen deposit returned at any JR East machine or counter on departure
- Where to get it: JR East ticket machines and counters at Narita and Haneda airports, and at major Tokyo stations
- Best for: Most visitors, especially if you want to recover the unused balance on departure
Welcome Suica
- Deposit: No deposit required
- Expiry: 28 days from purchase. The remaining balance is forfeited after 28 days.
- Refund: No refund of the remaining balance
- Where to get it: Airport vending machines at Narita and Haneda, specifically for tourists
- Best for: Visitors staying exactly 28 days or less who do not want to deal with a deposit or refund process on departure
Which Should You Choose?
For most visitors: regular Suica. The 500 yen deposit is small, the refund process at the airport on departure takes 2 minutes, and you receive any unused balance back. There is no practical reason to prefer Welcome Suica unless you specifically do not want to carry the deposit.
Using Suica makes sense if: you are staying for more than 28 days (regular Suica has no expiry), you are confident you will use up the balance, or you do not want to manage a refund transaction on departure day.
Load amount: Load 3,000 to 5,000 yen on your first load regardless of which card you choose. A typical day of transport in Tokyo costs 500 to 1,500 yen. Top up at any convenience store or station machine.
What Both Cards Cover
Both Welcome Suica and regular Suica work identically for:
- Every JR train in Tokyo (including the Yamanote Line and the Chuo Line)
- Every Tokyo subway line
- Most buses across Japan
- 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart convenience stores
- Vending machines and some restaurants
- Most taxis in major cities
Neither card covers the Narita Express (N’EX) or the Keisei Skyliner airport trains, which require separate tickets. See the Skyliner vs N’EX guide for airport train options.
Digital Suica (iPhone and Android)
Apple Pay and Google Pay users can add a Suica card digitally to their phone wallet, no physical card needed. The digital Suica works the same as the physical card, can be topped up remotely, and has no deposit or expiry concerns. This is increasingly the preferred option for tech-comfortable travellers. Set it up before arriving in Japan using the Suica app or directly via Apple/Google Wallet.
