Suica
- Deposit
- ¥500 deposit
- Use
- Services and shops with the mutual-use mark
- Refund
- Return JR East-issued cards to JR East. A ¥220 fee is deducted from the balance; the deposit is returned separately.
Which IC card do you need in Japan?
A Suica you use in Tokyo also works on participating services in Osaka and Kyoto. Check the IC acceptance mark before buying another card.
Compare the cards
ICOCA
- Deposit
- ¥500 deposit
- Use
- Services and shops displaying IC or ICOCA
- Refund
- Refunds at stations in the JR West ICOCA area. A ¥220 fee is deducted from the balance; the deposit is returned separately.
Welcome Suica
- Deposit
- No deposit
- Use
- 28 days including purchase day
- Refund
- No ordinary balance refund. Top up only what you expect to spend.
IC cards from other regions
Distinguish nationwide interoperability, regional coverage and postpaid cards. If you already have a card, check whether your route accepts it.
Kitaca
HokkaidoIssued by JR Hokkaido, Kitaca works on participating nationwide interoperable services. Check the specific station and route before travel.
A standard Kitaca starts at ¥2,000, comprising ¥1,500 stored value and a ¥500 deposit. Returning it for a refund deducts ¥220 from the balance and returns the deposit; when the balance is ¥220 or less, only the deposit is returned. Refunds are handled at designated staffed counters in the Kitaca area.
SAPICA
SapporoSAPICA is a regional card for Sapporo subway, streetcars and participating buses. It is not a nationwide interoperable card for use in other cities.
A standard SAPICA costs ¥2,000, including ¥1,500 usable value and a ¥500 deposit. It is a Sapporo-area card for the subway, streetcars and participating buses, not a nationwide interoperable card. Refunds are handled at designated counters with a ¥200 fee.
icsca
SendaiFor Sendai subway and buses, plus JR and the airport line within the Sendai Suica area. It is not a nationwide interoperable card.
icsca is sold in ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 denominations, each including a ¥500 deposit. It is a local Sendai-area transit card, not one of the nationwide interoperable cards. At designated refund counters, ¥220 is deducted and the deposit is returned.
Official sources & check date
2026-10-29
PASMO
Tokyo / KantoPASMO is used on participating rail and bus services in the Tokyo region and other nationwide interoperable services. Some routes are excluded.
A standard PASMO can be issued from ¥1,000 with a ¥500 deposit (a ¥2,000 issue gives ¥1,500 stored value plus the deposit). On return, ¥220 is deducted from the balance; if the balance is lower, the remaining balance is the fee and the deposit is returned. Refunds are available only at participating PASMO-area counters, and some integrated cards do not return a deposit.
TOICA
TokaiTOICA is JR Central’s IC card and works on participating interoperable services. Cross-area trips may require a separate ticket.
A standard TOICA costs ¥2,000, comprising ¥1,500 stored value and a ¥500 deposit. Refunds require returning the card at a JR Central counter in the TOICA area, with a ¥220 fee deducted. Do not assume another interoperable operator’s counter can refund TOICA.
manaca
Nagoyamanaca is used on participating Nagoya-area services, including Nagoya Municipal Subway and Meitetsu. Check the operator and route coverage.
A standard manaca costs ¥2,000, comprising ¥1,500 usable value and a ¥500 deposit. At Meitetsu, Meitetsu Bus and Toyohashi Railway counters, the card-balance refund fee is ¥220; if the balance is lower, the full balance is the fee. Other manaca operators may charge a different fee.
PiTaPa
KansaiPiTaPa is a postpaid card for participating Kansai services. Application and screening are required, so its issuance differs from a visitor’s instant-purchase transit card.
Application and screening are required for this postpaid card. Other interoperable areas use prepaid value; on cancellation, refunds follow fee and outstanding-payment deductions.
Official sources & check date
2026-10-29
はやかけん
FukuokaHayakaken is issued by Fukuoka City Subway and works on participating nationwide interoperable services. Refunds follow the issuer’s designated counters and rules.
A standard Hayakaken is sold in ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥4,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 denominations, each including a ¥500 deposit. Refunds are handled at Fukuoka City Subway station counters and commuter-pass offices; ¥220 is deducted, or the lower balance is treated as the fee, leaving the deposit refund.
Official sources & check date
2026-10-29
SUGOCA
KyushuSUGOCA is JR Kyushu’s IC card and works on participating interoperable routes. It is not accepted on every railway or bus in Kyushu.
A standard SUGOCA costs ¥2,000, comprising ¥1,500 stored value and a ¥500 deposit. Return it at a JR Kyushu Midori-no-Madoguchi counter inside the SUGOCA area; ¥220 is deducted. If the balance is ¥220 or less, only the deposit is returned, and points expire on refund.
nimoca
Fukuoka / Kyushunimoca is issued by Nishi-Nippon Railroad and works on participating interoperable services. Check route acceptance and the issuer’s refund counters.
A standard nimoca costs ¥2,000, with ¥1,500 usable value and a ¥500 deposit. Refunds are handled at designated nimoca stations, bus offices and other listed counters; ¥220 is deducted from the balance and the deposit returned. Nationwide interoperability applies only to participating transit services, while refunds follow issuer-counter rules.
OKICA
Okinawa Main IslandOKICA is a regional card used on Yui Rail and participating buses and stores on Okinawa Main Island.
A standard OKICA is sold in ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥4,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 denominations, each including a ¥500 deposit (a ¥3,000 card has ¥2,500 usable value). It is a local Okinawa Main Island card, not a nationwide interoperable card. Refund fees are set by each transit operator and must be checked at the designated service point.
Buying and topping up a physical card
Buy ICOCA at participating JR West machines or ticket offices: a ¥2,000 purchase includes a ¥500 deposit and ¥1,500 usable balance. Bring yen cash to top up physical Suica and Welcome Suica cards.
Using an iPhone or Apple Watch
Supported devices can add Suica, PASMO or ICOCA in Apple Wallet. Check Apple’s device, software and payment-card requirements. Transferring a physical card to Wallet disables the plastic card.
Getting to your tour meeting point
Fukuoka City Subway accepts Suica and other nationwide interoperable cards. An IC card is not an unlimited pass. A through journey between separate IC areas, such as Tokyo to Sendai, needs a separate ticket; limited-express travel also requires the relevant supplement.
Standard physical cards; mobile cards, commuter passes and special editions have separate terms. Official sources checked 2026-10-29