IC Cards in Japan are chargeable cards that can be used for accessing public transportation in Japan. As previously mentioned, IC cards aren’t passes like the JR Pass or the regional passes. These are used as an alternative to individual tickets or passes for trains for convenience and in order to save time, as commuters have to simply scan in and then out. The fare will be dedicated to the amount available on the IC card. For residents of these major cities, an IC Card, be it a physical one or one available on mobile wallet applications, is an everyday essential! Physical PASMO and SUICA cards in Tokyo have halted sales for a bit but will start selling once again on March 1st, 2025 in Japan. They are available for e-wallet applications, however, and Japan Experience will start selling Welcome Suica starting from April, 2025.
Different cities have different IC Cards, and the main ones, such as SUICA and PASMO in Tokyo, ICOCA in Kansai, Kitaca in Hokkaido, and SUGOCA in Fukuoka, are largely able to be used universally throughout other parts of Japan. However, there are some local train lines and buses that require a city-specific IC card to access, more commonly found in more rural parts of Japan. Be sure to do some research and ask station staff about what lines can use these IC cards!
Beyond transportation needs, IC cards can even be used to purchase items at many stores and vending machines and even be used to rent lockers within stations. This makes them a generally great Swiss army knife for traveling around Japan!
Train Tickets
Of course, conventional tickets can be purchased for transportation across Japan. At stations for local travel, a ticket with a specific fare amount must be purchased depending on the destination. Shinkansen and limited express tickets can be purchased as well at designated stations. There are kiosks available for purchasing tickets, but at JR offices (known as “Midori no Madoguchi”) tickets can be purchased as well. For these trains, however, it is suggested to purchase tickets ahead of time to assure space on the train and a reserved seat.
AloJapan.com