In my last post, I talked about how useful IC cards are in Japan. But when you’re actually planning a trip, it can be hard to decide what to do.
- Get a tourist IC card
- Get a regular IC card
- Don’t get one
Let’s rule out option 3 for now. You probably saw that coming.
Being able to buy an IC card once and stop worrying about train tickets is a huge advantage.
Buying tickets during a trip can be surprisingly stressful. You need to find the ticket machine, figure out the correct fare, and use coins you’re not familiar with… and all of this while trying not to hold up the line.
I would choose option 2 — a regular Suica or PASMO, not a tourist version.
It’s true that these cards are only sold at certain stations, but honestly, finding a station that doesn’t sell them might be the rare part. Getting one is usually very easy.
I’d probably keep it as a souvenir. And maybe as a little good-luck charm too — hoping I can come back to Japan again within the next 10 years.
Before we figure out which option is best for you, let me explain a couple of words.
A deposit is a refundable fee you pay when the card is issued. In Japan, it’s 500 yen. For comparison, that’s about the price of three or four 500ml bottles of water.
You’ll also hear the word ”charge”. In Japan, that’s what we call adding money to a prepaid card.
With that in mind, let’s see which option fits you best.
Tourist IC Cards Might Be Best For You If…
- You absolutely don’t want to pay a deposit.
- You’re staying in Japan for 28 days or less.
- You’re confident you won’t forget to buy one at the airport.
- You’d like to keep the card as a souvenir.
- You’re comfortable keeping an eye on your balance and using it all before you leave.
A Regular Suica or PASMO Might Be Better If…
- You’re okay with potentially leaving the deposit behind if you decide not to claim it back.
- You want the option to refund both the deposit and any unused balance.
- You’re staying in Japan for more than 28 days.
- There’s a chance you’ll come back to Japan within the next 10 years.
How about you?
Can you decide which one sounds better for your trip?
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
If You Choose a Tourist IC Card
- I strongly recommend buying it at the airport if possible. There aren’t many sales locations, and even from the perspective of someone who lives in Japan, some of them are a little inconvenient.
- There’s no deposit, but any money left on the card cannot be refunded. Make sure you use up the balance before you leave Japan.
- If only a small amount remains, some stores allow you to combine IC card payment with cash.
- Convenience stores can usually do this, but it’s always best to ask first.
- You can try asking: “IC card and cash, OK?” Funny enough, simple keywords often work better than full English sentences in Japan.
If You Choose a Regular IC Card
- A deposit is required, but if you request a refund, both the deposit and any remaining balance can be returned.
- Once you get a refund, you’ll need to hand the card back, so a tourist card may be better if you want to keep it as a souvenir.
- Using the card even once within 10 years resets the expiration period.
- But if more than 10 years pass without any use, there’s no way to reactivate it, so don’t forget about it!
One more thing: a fee may apply when refunding the remaining balance. It’s roughly the price of a bottle of water.
If you don’t want to pay even that, just stop by a convenience store before you leave and spend the remaining balance on snacks. Not a bad ending, right?
If you’d like the official details about tourist IC cards, you can find them here:
Welcome Suica
https://www.jreast.co.jp/en/multi/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html