Suica vs ICOCA vs PASMO
| Card | Issued by | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Suica | JR East | Tokyo & East Japan |
| PASMO | Tokyo Metro / private lines | Tokyo metro & private rail |
| ICOCA | JR West | Osaka, Kyoto & West Japan |
| TOICA | JR Central | Nagoya & Tokai region |
| Kitaca | JR Hokkaido | Sapporo & Hokkaido |
All cards are mutually accepted across Japan since 2013. Get whichever is available where you land.
How to get a Suica
The easiest option is the Mobile Suicaon iPhone (Apple Pay) or Android. You can set it up before you land and there's no physical card deposit. It's free to create — just add money.
For a physical card: get it at any JR East ticket machine at Narita, Haneda, or any Tokyo JR station. Deposit is ¥500 (refundable).