How to Ride the Train Without a Suica Card / Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan, Tokyo

Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan – About Suica card.
As of March 2024, regular Suica and PASMO cards are still suspended from sale.
Places where you can purchase Welcome Suica are limited.
You can also use mobile Suica and mobile PASMO, but you won’t be able to if your smartphone or credit card doesn’t support them.
With the method we’re introducing this time, you can easily ride the train without a Suica card and without worrying about your IC card balance.

◆PASMO PASSPORT
【website】https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/

– Where to buy
https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/buy/

◆Welcome Suica
【website】https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html

★Things to do in Tokyo – 12 spots

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We’re introducing not only famous places in Japan, but also some hidden spots that Japanese people don’t know much about. We hope this will be a good guide and tips for you when you travel to Japan. There will be lots of delicious food, so even if you can’t make it to Japan, our videos will make you feel like you’re actually there!
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An easy way to ride the train without a Suica card!  Hi, I’m Samurai Junjiro, born and raised in Japan! This time, we’ll introduce an easy way to ride the train without a Suica card.  By the way, Suica card sales have been suspended since August 2023.  There hasn’t been any announcement  regarding when sales will resume. 

In Japan, besides the Suica card, there are some IC cards that can be used for riding trains and shopping. Among those currently on sale, PASMO PASSPORT is particularly recommended for travelers. You can use it for 28 days after purchase.  However, the card balance can’t be refunded.

It’s available for purchase at various places in Tokyo. At Haneda Airport, it’s sold on the 2nd floor of Terminal 3. You can also buy it on the 2nd basement floor of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. At Narita Airport, it’s sold on the 1st basement floor of Terminal 1.

You can also buy it on the 1st basement floor of Terminal 2. You can also buy it at major stations in Tokyo. There is a link to the official website in the description box. For now, you don’t need to pay the 500 yen card issuance fee.

By the way, Welcome Suica can currently only be purchased at Terminal 3 of Haneda Airport. Similar to the PASMO PASSPORT, it can be used for 28 days after purchase, and the balance can’t be refunded. Both Suica and PASMO cards can be topped up at station ticket machines.

You can also top up at 7-Eleven ATMs. You can pay with a credit card when purchasing the IC card, but you can only use cash when topping up. If you have a regular green Suica card instead of a Welcome Suica, you can get a refund of the card balance at the ticket counter.

From the card balance, 220 yen will be deducted as a fee, and the remaining amount will be refunded along with the 500 yen deposit. If your card balance is 220 yen or less, there will be no fee, so it’s better to reduce your remaining balance as much as possible at convenience stores

Or elsewhere before getting a refund. At the ticket counter, basic English is understood, and many staff are friendly. For your information, if a regular Suica or PASMO card remains unused for over 6 months, it will be locked and you won’t be able to pass through the ticket gate.

In that case, you can either have it unlocked by the station staff or top it up at the ticket machine to unlock it. Additionally, transportation IC cards have an expiration period of 10 years from the date of last usage. If the card expires, ask the station staff.

You can get a refund for the card balance and deposit. There is Mobile Suica, which you can download onto your smartphone and use. If you have an iPhone, you can use Mobile Suica  by selecting Suica from the Wallet app.

You can top it up with your credit card and use it just like a regular Suica card. If you’re using Android, you can get Mobile Suica through the Google Pay app.  For Android, smartphones purchased outside of Japan may not support Mobile Suica,  

So please check if your smartphone’s Google Pay app allows for its use.  The Mobile Suica has no expiration date, but you can’t get a refund for the balance.  Suica and Pasmo are convenient, but you can also ride the train by purchasing a ticket. 

Usually, when you buy a ticket, you need to check the fare to your destination,   but this time, we’ll introduce a simpler way. First, purchase the cheapest adult ticket displayed in the top left corner of the ticket machine screen.  You can choose this fare without any issues regardless of the destination. 

After buying the ticket, pass through the ticket gate and ride the train.  When you arrive at your destination station, use the fare adjustment machine before exiting through the ticket gate. Insert your ticket and settle the fare difference.

Afterward, your ticket will be reissued, so please use this ticket to pass through the ticket gate.  With this method, you don’t need to worry about your Suica card balance.  It’s okay if you can’t use Mobile Suica on your smartphone or if your credit card doesn’t work with Mobile Suica.

You also don’t need to check the train fares in advance. Near the ticket gates at almost every station, there is a fare adjustment machine. If there isn’t one, you can hand your ticket to the station staff and settle the fare difference.  It’s easy to transition from the train to the Shinkansen. 

After inserting your train ticket  into the Shinkansen ticket machine, select your destination. The total amount, including the fare for the Shinkansen ticket and the settlement amount for the train fare you need to pay, will be displayed. Finally, let us explain some points to note. There are 2 types of ticket gates:

One is exclusively for IC cards, and the other is compatible with both IC cards and tickets. Tickets can’t be inserted into the gates exclusively for IC cards, so you need to use this gate.  Suica and Pasmo cards are very convenient,  but you don’t necessarily have to buy them. 

If you’re short-term travelers, a ticket might be enough.  Enjoy your travel to Japan in the way that’s best for you.  Once we have details about the reselling of Suica cards, we’ll share the latest information, so please subscribe to our channel and stay tuned! We share useful information for traveling in Japan on our channel.

If there is a place of interest or information you’d like to know, we’ll make a video about it, so let us know in the comments!  Well, that’s it for today! See you in the next video!