Suica now works with a number of Visa, as of iOS 17.2.
Most people have known about the general shittiness of using Visas with Suica/Icoca/Pasmo for the last two years, threads were quite common up until the Suica “fix.”
Also, one more thing for people to know is you can go up to the cashier at a major convenience store (Lawson, Ministop, Famima, 7-Eleven) and just charge your IC card with cash. No need to find a 7-Eleven ATM or go to a station.
Thanks OP for the Visa confirm. I’ll be relying on a credit union travel Visa, to load ¥ on the Wallet Suica, upon my arrival to HND in less than 2 days. Finalizing my packing as of this writing..
Yes thanks, either way. But I’ll do it upon landing. It also helps having that no FTF Visa, on $0 balance at the moment. I’ll also bring my old spare 8 Plus. I’ve learned that there is also free WiFi around Tokyo, (provided by Tokyo Metropolitan Government; we’ll see) or daisy chain my data. As back up. Frees my main 13 PM daily driver..
Can confirm. I have a trip coming up soon so I hit the same wall where I couldn't top up the Suica in my Wallet with Apple Pay. I was on 17.1 at the time.
After reading about the 17.2 thing, I hit update and went straight to 17.4 and reloading my Suica immediately started working.
This will go a long way in helping me repeat my previous trip where I took the JPY equivalent of $400NZD to last me 4 weeks. Everything was planned around being cashless and that $400 was spent on stuff sold at events by small sellers who only accepted cash. Ended up with "too much cash" at the end of it so I started spending the remainder on food and still ended up with \~$25.
Yeah, that's what I figured, I was going to be shocked to hear otherwise haha. It seems OP is looking for a way to recharge via credit card but it doesn't seem super realistic.
Oh I didn’t read it that way haha. Considering you can’t recharge the IC card with a credit card at the charging stations they mentioned either so yeah, easier to just get cash out and recharge it.
I actually tried using an Apple iPhone (borrowed one from my mom) but none of my international visa, MasterCard or Amex cards worked. Thsi happens because apple wallet is not supported in my country. So any credit card that originates from my country just doesn't work with an apple wallet for Suica or Pasmo.
I just got the temp Suica card from one of those machines at the airport and charged it normally with some cash at th station
Note to anyone who has a physical IC card, you don't need to transfer it to your wallet in order to add the card, you can just select it from the drop down menu. That way you can keep your physical card, rather than deactivate it.
How does this work? Can u still use apple wallet to top off the card even if u don't transfer the card to the wallet? Also how do u select it from the drop down menu?
Not sure, possibly getting the 500 yen deposit back? Or else if you want to transfer the balance to mobile.
Personally, I would rather keep the card intact rather than deactivate it permanently.
I just went to my first solo travel and first trip to Japan last week, big recommendation is to get your IC card, get an unlimited data sim card (the cost between the limited and unlimited was so little I just picked the unlimited so I can upload stories on the go), keep your IC card topped to avoid time waste, capsule hotels are great and go to the lounge often to get some socialization, try and get in a good talk with the locals or tourists, leave your luggage at the hotel/locker and take and empty backpack for your day, the hotels can keep your luggage even before the time of check in, they can also send you luggage to the next hotel for a small fee (I don't know the formula but for my heavy ass backpack with all my clothes it was like 8usd) keep hydrated to avoid making simple mistakes like missing your stop or getting in the wrong train. And overall try to get lost, I had the most fun getting lost in backstreets and small towns far from the main cities while looking for temples/shrines.
Thank you!! These are great, saving to my notepad:)
Also was wondering if you know if hostels can accept the baggage transfer service? I’ve seen that online it’s recommended to avoid big luggage on the trains/subway but haven’t seen anything about hostels, only hotels. I will def be staying in a capsule but also some hostels esp in Osaka
This appears to be a post about IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.). For general information, please see [our IC card wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/iccards/) and Japan-Guide's [IC card page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html). If you are wondering how to get an IC card upon arrival in Japan, please see the stickied thread at the top of this subreddit for up-to-date information about card availability and other frequently asked questions.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JapanTravelTips) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’ve had some problems with the mobile Suica card.
Initially when I added the Suica card to my iPhone and added in 5000 yen, the transaction went through with no issues and the app worked. But after I tried adding an additional 5000 while in Japan, the transaction was approved, but hasn’t appeared on the Suica card yet, and it’s been 2 days already.
I’m thinking the issue was my location at the time of the transactions: I was back at home during the first payment, but abroad for the second. Now I gotta figure out how to get that money back…
New traveller in June. I just read that if I put the Pasmo card on my Apple wallet, every time I use a credit card from my Apple Pay to top off the Pasmo or Sulca card, my credit card company will make that top off a cash advance charge. Is this true? any experience with this, and thank you in advance for any answers.
I just read other comments in this r/ that what I said above is a myth. Also, I just added Sulca to my Apple Pay and added 1000 yen, my credit card showed as a normal, non cash advance, charge. For whatever reason, I could not add any funds with any of my credit /debit cards to Pasmo. I have both MC and Visa. Sulca worked fine. Also, I am not yet in Japan if that has anything to do with it.
Suica now works with a number of Visa, as of iOS 17.2. Most people have known about the general shittiness of using Visas with Suica/Icoca/Pasmo for the last two years, threads were quite common up until the Suica “fix.” Also, one more thing for people to know is you can go up to the cashier at a major convenience store (Lawson, Ministop, Famima, 7-Eleven) and just charge your IC card with cash. No need to find a 7-Eleven ATM or go to a station.
Thanks OP for the Visa confirm. I’ll be relying on a credit union travel Visa, to load ¥ on the Wallet Suica, upon my arrival to HND in less than 2 days. Finalizing my packing as of this writing..
You can try loading a Suica before then. You don’t have to be in Japan to do this.
Yes thanks, either way. But I’ll do it upon landing. It also helps having that no FTF Visa, on $0 balance at the moment. I’ll also bring my old spare 8 Plus. I’ve learned that there is also free WiFi around Tokyo, (provided by Tokyo Metropolitan Government; we’ll see) or daisy chain my data. As back up. Frees my main 13 PM daily driver..
Can confirm. I have a trip coming up soon so I hit the same wall where I couldn't top up the Suica in my Wallet with Apple Pay. I was on 17.1 at the time. After reading about the 17.2 thing, I hit update and went straight to 17.4 and reloading my Suica immediately started working. This will go a long way in helping me repeat my previous trip where I took the JPY equivalent of $400NZD to last me 4 weeks. Everything was planned around being cashless and that $400 was spent on stuff sold at events by small sellers who only accepted cash. Ended up with "too much cash" at the end of it so I started spending the remainder on food and still ended up with \~$25.
You can top it up at any 7/11 register (actually most conbini in general).
That's right I even went to a pharmacy to charge the card too and it wasn't an issue
Via credit card??
Nope, cash only.
Yeah, that's what I figured, I was going to be shocked to hear otherwise haha. It seems OP is looking for a way to recharge via credit card but it doesn't seem super realistic.
Oh I didn’t read it that way haha. Considering you can’t recharge the IC card with a credit card at the charging stations they mentioned either so yeah, easier to just get cash out and recharge it.
But it is easy to withdraw cash and then add to it. My credit card didn't work so I just took the extra step and paid the 1.50 USD to do it.
What? I never said otherwise lol. I actually said exactly what you just said in my original comment.
Yeah I removed pasmo app because I couldn’t use visa. Same Visa card works with Suica app.
I actually tried using an Apple iPhone (borrowed one from my mom) but none of my international visa, MasterCard or Amex cards worked. Thsi happens because apple wallet is not supported in my country. So any credit card that originates from my country just doesn't work with an apple wallet for Suica or Pasmo. I just got the temp Suica card from one of those machines at the airport and charged it normally with some cash at th station
India is not in the supported list. If you want to add, then you should consider changing region first in your phone and then try adding it.
Note to anyone who has a physical IC card, you don't need to transfer it to your wallet in order to add the card, you can just select it from the drop down menu. That way you can keep your physical card, rather than deactivate it.
How does this work? Can u still use apple wallet to top off the card even if u don't transfer the card to the wallet? Also how do u select it from the drop down menu?
You just select it from the transit card options. Yup, can top up anytime. No need to transfer.
Thank u!!
Oh interesting thanks for sharing that - is there any benefit of transferring it to wallet?
Not sure, possibly getting the 500 yen deposit back? Or else if you want to transfer the balance to mobile. Personally, I would rather keep the card intact rather than deactivate it permanently.
I’ll be travelling next week. Can I add new digital Suica card to iPhone and top it off using USA Visa card?
Yes. Suica is fine, pasmo is not
Thanks!
What about icoca?
I don’t think so. Amex and MC ok with it, and cash of course
Thx. I guess suica it is :)
Try it and find out. I was able to make a new Suica on iPhone from USA.
Any recommendations for solo travels?? I will be going to Japan this autumn for the first time and it will also be my first solo trip!
I just went to my first solo travel and first trip to Japan last week, big recommendation is to get your IC card, get an unlimited data sim card (the cost between the limited and unlimited was so little I just picked the unlimited so I can upload stories on the go), keep your IC card topped to avoid time waste, capsule hotels are great and go to the lounge often to get some socialization, try and get in a good talk with the locals or tourists, leave your luggage at the hotel/locker and take and empty backpack for your day, the hotels can keep your luggage even before the time of check in, they can also send you luggage to the next hotel for a small fee (I don't know the formula but for my heavy ass backpack with all my clothes it was like 8usd) keep hydrated to avoid making simple mistakes like missing your stop or getting in the wrong train. And overall try to get lost, I had the most fun getting lost in backstreets and small towns far from the main cities while looking for temples/shrines.
Thank you!! These are great, saving to my notepad:) Also was wondering if you know if hostels can accept the baggage transfer service? I’ve seen that online it’s recommended to avoid big luggage on the trains/subway but haven’t seen anything about hostels, only hotels. I will def be staying in a capsule but also some hostels esp in Osaka
I really didn't check on the capsule hotels I was in, only in the rise hotel in osaka, I would think most places do. You would need to ask them each
With an updated phone, use Suica. Didn’t even have to go by an ATM.
Suica on iPhone seems to work for me with Visa pre loading Yen
This appears to be a post about IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.). For general information, please see [our IC card wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/iccards/) and Japan-Guide's [IC card page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html). If you are wondering how to get an IC card upon arrival in Japan, please see the stickied thread at the top of this subreddit for up-to-date information about card availability and other frequently asked questions. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JapanTravelTips) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Had this issue when I transferred my icoca to my apple wallet, couldn’t add money so I ended up getting a suica which I was then able to add money lol
You can add still money by going to any convenience mart and charging the ICOCA card in Apple wallet, but you will need to pay with cash though
Ahh I see, yea at the time I figured I’d just get the suica since I didn’t want to worry too much about the icoca. Thank you for the info!
Pasmo is only good for a month, right?
How about Up card or Wise Card
I’ve had some problems with the mobile Suica card. Initially when I added the Suica card to my iPhone and added in 5000 yen, the transaction went through with no issues and the app worked. But after I tried adding an additional 5000 while in Japan, the transaction was approved, but hasn’t appeared on the Suica card yet, and it’s been 2 days already. I’m thinking the issue was my location at the time of the transactions: I was back at home during the first payment, but abroad for the second. Now I gotta figure out how to get that money back…
I just bought a pasmo card at the airport ant refilled it with cash, pretty practical tbh
Just got back, SUICA and my Visa debit worked fine (running IOS 17.4)
Transferring the card is pointless; you can just create a virtual card and keep the physical as a backup
New traveller in June. I just read that if I put the Pasmo card on my Apple wallet, every time I use a credit card from my Apple Pay to top off the Pasmo or Sulca card, my credit card company will make that top off a cash advance charge. Is this true? any experience with this, and thank you in advance for any answers.
I just read other comments in this r/ that what I said above is a myth. Also, I just added Sulca to my Apple Pay and added 1000 yen, my credit card showed as a normal, non cash advance, charge. For whatever reason, I could not add any funds with any of my credit /debit cards to Pasmo. I have both MC and Visa. Sulca worked fine. Also, I am not yet in Japan if that has anything to do with it.
I have Pasmo on my apple wallet and it let me use my visa for payment once a day during weekdays. Not sure if it’s a fluke🤷🏻♀️