The Suica Card on iPhone: Our complete guide for the e-Suica in Japan
Entrance to Shibuya subway station on the Ginza line
© Ayumi Kubo, Unsplash
E Suica, virtual Suica, digital Suica or even dematerialized Suica... You may have heard about the arrival of the Suica card on your phone!
What is the Suica card?
This is a Japanese prepaid transport card, one of the many IC cards available. You're probably also familiar with the Pasmo or the ICOCA? All these cards are the same! Their names and logos change according to their region of origin and the company selling them. The Suica, for example, is sold by JR East in Tokyo, and the ICOCA by JR West in Kansai.
But there's no difference in use: they can be used on almost any subway, train, or tramway line in any part of Japan. All you have to do is top it up by adding money to it. You can even pay in konbinis, the famous Japanese mini-markets, and in certain other stores and restaurants. It's a must-have for anyone traveling in Japan! You can even couple this card with a JR Pass, using lines other than JR, such as the Odakyu LIne or Keio Line, easily.
IC (integrated circuit) logo for Japanese smart cards
© East Japan Railway
In 2023, due to a shortage of semiconductors, JR East discontinued sales of the physical Suica card. But the IC card has not disappeared, and is now available digitally.
How does the E-Suica work?
How do you install your e-Suica card on your device?
For Android phones : Unfortunately, there are no solutions yet for downloading the Suica or Pasmo card onto your foreign Android phone. The only solution is to have an Android smartphone purchased in Japan.
For iPhone phones: With an iPhone 8 or higher, you can have your Suica or Pasmo card in your Wallet application. To install it, you'll need to have registered a credit card in the Wallet with Apple Pay.
After opening the Cartes application :
1. Tap on "Transport cards",
2. Then choose the card you want to add (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA),
3. After pressing the "Continue" button,
4. you'll need to select an amount,
5. Press the "Add" button,
6. Confirm the purchase,
7. Your card is added!
If you already have a physical Suica, Pasmo or ICOCA card from a previous trip, follow the same procedure until you've chosen the card you want (step 2). Then click on "Transfer an existing card" and follow the instructions. Place your card on your device and wait for the "Card Added" message to appear on your screen. Please note that if you transfer your physical Suica, Pasmo or ICOCA card to your phone, the physical card will no longer work. You can therefore buy another one if you want both a physical card in your wallet and a digital card. They will not be linked.
You can also install it on your Apple Watch.
While it is possible to transfer your physical card to your phone, the reverse is unfortunately not possible.
How do you use your e Suica in Japan?
It's very simple! When you arrive at the station entrance, at the ticket machines, put your phone on the ticket reader. This is the same place as with your physical Suica or Pasmo card. Note that if your phone is very thick, it may not make contact. Make sure you have a thin shell, or remove it when you validate with your digital Suica. If this doesn't work, you can go into your Apple Wallet and display the card manually, just as you would with your credit card.
To pay in stores with your e-Suica, there's often a payment terminal for physical IC cards. This is where you place your phone to pay for your purchases.
You don't need Wi-Fi or a network to use it! What's more, with Express mode, some iPhone models allow you to validate even if you're out of battery.
The rest of our explanation applies to iPhone users running the iOS system, as this is currently the only way for foreigners to put their Suica on their phone.
Charging the e-Suica on your iPhone
In Japan, you can recharge your e-Suica in several ways:
On the phone or Apple Watch directly: you'll need a card registered with Apple Pay. On your Wallet app, on your Suica card, tap "Add money", choose the amount and the card registered in Apple Pay with which you will pay to increase the balance.
On ticket machines in stations : On the machine, it's the same procedure as with your physical Suica card. Press IC Charge and place your phone where you would place the physical Suica card, and choose your amount. Then insert the money and pick up your phone.
In konbini: At the cash desk, ask to load your Suica: suica o chaji onegaishimasu. Then place your phone on the card reader and choose the amount on the touch screen, pay, then place your phone back on the reader so that the money transfers to your phone.
On 7-Eleven ATMs: In one of the ATMs, select "IC load", unlock your phone and open the wallet application on your Suica, Pasmo or ICOCA, place your phone upside down in the IC card reader, press load and choose the amount. Insert the bills and confirm before retrieving your phone.
A few details:
- You can check your balance on your card at any time directly on your iPhone in the Wallet app or on your Apple Watch.
- Suica (Suica App) and Pasmo (Pasmo App) apps exist and allow more options like buying Shinkansen tickets, but they're only available in Japanese for now (in January 2025).
- Please note that unlike a physical Suica, ICOCA or Pasmo, you cannot retrieve the amount you have on the dematerialized card on your iPhone.
- You'll also find the Welcome Suica Mobile application, which allows you to have the Welcome Suica on your phone, and which has a validity period of 180 days instead of the 28 days of the physical card! Unfortunately, it is not yet available in App Stores worldwide yet.
