Your VIP Pass to Japan!
(Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA—they all work almost exactly the same for our trip!)
Y’all…
This little card is basically your Black Card for Japan. 😂
Don’t lose it.
Don’t bend it.
Don’t let your spouse “hold it for you.”
And PLEASE don’t accidentally throw it away with your 7-Eleven receipt!
You’re going to use this little card almost every single day of our trip.
Trust me… by Day 3 you’ll be tapping it on everything!
💳 What Is an IC Card?
Think of your IC card like a prepaid debit card made just for traveling around Japan.
Instead of buying a train ticket every single time…
You simply:
✅ Tap in
🚆 Ride
✅ Tap out
Japan automatically calculates your fare.
No math.
No ticket machines.
No trying to read Japanese.
It’s one of the easiest public transportation systems in the world!
💰 How Much Does It Cost?
When we arrive in Japan, everyone will purchase an IC transit card and load money onto it. GET A WELCOME SUICA NO DEPOSIT- DONT PUT TOO MUCH ON IT NO REFUNDS!
T&T Travel recommends starting with approximately:
💴 ¥5,000–¥7,000
(About $35–50 USD.)
That amount should easily cover most of your local trains, subways, buses, and a few snacks during the trip.
If your balance gets low, reloading only takes about a minute.
💵 How Do I Reload It?
Super easy!
Reload machines are located in nearly every train station and are available in English.
Simply add more money whenever you need it.
Most machines accept cash, and many also accept credit cards depending on the station.
💳 Can I Connect It to My Credit Card?
Physical Card
No.
You’ll simply reload it whenever your balance gets low.
iPhone Users see below/ Androids out of luck! Not Compatible
A digital IC card can be added to Apple Wallet and may be reloaded with a compatible credit card.
- Open the Apple Wallet app and tap the “+” symbol in the top right corner.
- Select Transit Card.
- Scroll down to Japan and tap Suica or PASMO.
- Follow the instructions to choose an initial balance and confirm with Apple Pay.
- To Manage and Top-Up Later
- Use the app to monitor your balance.
- Set reminders for when it’s time to top up.
- Explore automatic top-up options if available.
- Apple Wallet: You can instantly top up your digital Suica or Pasmo using foreign credit cards already saved in your Apple Pay.
- Standalone Apps: If you need to link your card for reserved tickets (such as the Shinkansen) which require the full 17-digit card number, or if you want an English-friendly interface for short-term travel, download the Welcome Suica Mobile App
However…
T&T Travel recommends everyone use a physical card.
Why?
✔ Easier for families
✔ Easier for children
✔ No dead phone batteries
✔ No technology headaches
✔ Everyone in the group uses the exact same system
🚄 Are My Bullet Train Tickets Loaded on My IC Card?
Nope!
Think of them as two completely different things.
Your IC card is used for:
🚇 Subways
🚆 Local trains
🚌 City buses
🏪 Convenience stores
🥤 Vending machines
☕ Coffee shops
🛒 Many stores
🔒 Coin lockers
Your Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Tickets
These are completely separate.
🎟 Reserved-seat tickets
T&T Travel will provide your Shinkansen tickets on each long-distance travel day.
No need to worry—we’ll tell you exactly when to use them.
♨️ Is the Fuji-Hakone Pass on My IC Card?
No.
Your Fuji-Hakone Pass is also completely separate.
Don’t worry about figuring out which one to use.
We’ll tell you exactly when to use your Fuji-Hakone Pass and when to simply tap your IC card.
We’ve got you covered!
🥤 Wait… I Can Buy Food With It?!
YES!!
This is where your IC card becomes dangerous. 😂
You can use it at:
🥤 Vending machines
🏪 7-Eleven
🏪 FamilyMart
🏪 Lawson
☕ Coffee shops
🍙 Convenience stores
🍜 Many restaurants
🔒 Train station lockers
🛍 Many stores throughout Japan
It works in thousands of places.
🤔 So How Does It Keep Train Money Separate From Food Money?
It doesn’t!
Everything comes from one prepaid balance.
Example:
You load:
💴 ¥7,000
Take the subway:
🚆 -¥280
Balance:
💴 ¥6,720
Buy a Coke:
🥤 -¥180
Balance:
💴 ¥6,540
Grab an onigiri from 7-Eleven:
🍙 -¥220
Balance:
💴 ¥6,320
Japan keeps track of everything automatically.
Easy!
👧 What About Kids?
Children ages 6–11 can receive a Child IC card (such as Child Suica or Child PASMO).
These automatically charge child fares whenever they ride trains and buses.
A passport is required when the child’s card is issued.
Children under age 6 generally ride most trains free when accompanied by a paying adult (with some exceptions).
➖ Can My Balance Go Negative?
Sometimes… just a little!
If your fare ends up being slightly more than your remaining balance, many train systems allow a small negative balance.
Don’t panic!
Simply reload your card before your next trip and you’re good to go.
🚨 What If I Lose My Card?
Take a deep breath…
An anonymous physical IC card should be treated like cash.
If it’s lost, the remaining balance usually cannot be recovered.
That’s why we recommend:
✔ Keep it in the same place every day.
✔ Don’t hand it to someone else to carry.
✔ Double-check your pockets before leaving trains or restaurants.
Replacing the card is easy.
Replacing the money on it usually isn’t.
💴 How Much Money Should I Put On It?
For our trip…
I recommend starting with:
💴 ¥5,000–¥7,000
Why?
Because many of your biggest transportation expenses are already covered!
✅ Romancecar
✅ Shinkansen (Bullet Trains)
✅ Fuji-Hakone Pass
✅ Other transportation included in our itinerary
Your IC card will mainly be used for:
🚇 Local trains
🚆 Subways
🚌 Buses
🥤 Drinks
🍙 Snacks
🏪 Convenience stores
If your balance gets low…
Don’t panic!
Reloading takes less than a minute at almost every train station.
💰 What Happens to Leftover Money?
If you still have money left on your card at the end of the trip…
Congratulations! 😂
That means you didn’t buy enough snacks.
You have a few options:
🍙 Spend it at 7-Eleven before heading to the airport.
🥤 Buy drinks or souvenirs at the airport.
✈ Save your card for your next trip to Japan—it remains valid for years after its last use.
Something tells me many of us will be back someday. ❤️
💡 T&T Travel Pro Tip
Keep your IC card in an outside pocket of your backpack or wallet.
You’ll be tapping it dozens of times during the trip.
Don’t bury it underneath your passport, sunglasses, charging cables, snacks, and random receipts. 😂
It’ll save you—and everyone waiting behind you at the train gate—a whole lot of time!
❤️ Tam & Tula’s Advice
If there’s one thing you’ll use every single day in Japan…
It’s this little card.
By the end of the trip you’ll be tapping into train stations, grabbing snacks from 7-Eleven, buying drinks from vending machines, picking up souvenirs, and wondering why every country doesn’t make life this easy.
Treat your IC card like your hotel room key…
Only more important! 😂
Welcome to Japan—you’ll be a tapping expert before you know it! 🇯🇵🌸