With more first time inbound visitors coming to Japan recently, there are many westerners experiencing highly integrated wide area public transit for the first time. This results in the same questions posted repeatedly on social media sites which isn’t very helpful because people who think they know the answer post incorrect or out of date information. Here are some topics that get seem to be asked the most.
Q: Who can use Mobile Suica when visiting Japan?
A: Anybody with iPhone 8 and later with an Apple Pay payment card already added to Wallet for adding money to Suica. To non-Japanese issue VISA cards you must have iPhone XS or later running iOS 17.2 or later.
Q: I have an Android device.
A: If your Android device was not purchased in Japan then your smartphone cannot use Mobile Suica. Garmin and Fitbit devices support Suica paired with non-JP Android smartphones but the setup is not user friendly. You can get a plastic Suica at JR East Travel Centers located at Narita, Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno stations, a registered ‘My Suica’ at any JR East black labeled ticket machine or Welcome Suica at Haneda and Narita.
Q: Can I also pay the fares of my family or companions on my iPhone using multiple Suica cards?
A: Absolutely not. Mobile Suica payment at transportation facilities is limited to one device per person. Don’t be dumb and try using multiple Suica cards on one device to pay transit for multiple people as you are breaking JR East Suica rules (that all transit operators basically use) and risk paying a 2 X fare fine on top of paying full fare in cash (per person I might add). Mobile Suica is adult fare only, 13 and older are eligible to use Apple Pay in Japan.
Q: Can I use Mobile Suica (Apple Pay Suica) for non-JR East transit?
A: Yes. All Transit IC card regions across Japan are mutually compatible, just look for the IC logo:
Q: Can I use Mobile Suica for riding the Shinkansen?
A: Yes. This is the most convenient way for seamless transit across regular and Shinkansen lines. Get the Suica card number by downloading Suica App and tapping the displayed Suica card. Copy the Suica card number string. Be aware there are eTicket purchase and linking differences depending on the Shinkansen line you use:
Use JR East Train Reservation for reserve seat eTickets on JR East Shinkansen linked to Suica. Note that you may need to remove the ‘JE’ leading 2 letter code of the Suica card number string (15 characters)
Use JR Central smartEX for reserve and non-reserve seating on JR Central, JR West, JR Kyushu Shinkansen EX eTickets linked to Suica with the entire string including the JE’ leading 2 letter code of the Suica card number.
Q: So I can ride from Aomori to Fukuoka with Mobile Suica?
A: Yes but you’ll have to purchase an Eki-Net eTicket for JR East Shinkansen for Aomori to Tokyo and a smartEX eTicket for JR Central/JR West/JR Kyushu from Tokyo to Fukuoka. If you are using that much Shinkansen during your trip a Japan Rail Pass will probably save you money.
Q: I can’t add money Mobile Suica, what should I do?
A: See the recharge guide
Q: My iPhone battery is running low before my final station, what should I do?
A: Power Reserve Express Mode is your best friend. Do not shut down your iPhone, turn on AirPlane mode and let it to into Power Reserve Mode automatically. Power Reserve Express Mode is good for up to 5 hours.
Q: Can I get a Mobile Suica card balance refund?
A: Only if you have a Japanese bank account. Otherwise remove Suica from Wallet until you want to use it again…you’re coming back to Japan sometime right? If you have a clean Wallet fetish and lots of time on your hands, run the balance down to 0 and permanently delete your Mobile Suica.
If I missed a topic that you’d like to see, let me know.
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