Japanese transportation Prepaid IC cards

About IC cards

Japanese prepaid IC cards are cards that can be used on public transportation such as trains and buses. There are various types of cards such as Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA, which can be used on trains and buses nationwide through mutual use services.

To use a prepaid IC card, simply hold the card over the ticket gate or bus reader when entering the ticket gate or boarding the bus. When your balance gets low, you can top it up at a convenience store or station counter.

When purchasing a paper train ticket from a ticket machine, there are many systems in which you purchase from the "fare button" rather than the destination. To do this, you need to check the fare to your destination from the route map inside the station, as shown in the photo above. However, there are many places in the Tohoku region where route maps are not written in English. Even if you translate from a photo using an app, it may not be easy to translate the desired station from a large number of stations and check the fare.

Additionally, there are many stations in Tohoku that are "unmanned stations" and have no station staff. And, please be aware that manned counters may not always be open at some stations.

On the other hand, if you use an IC card, there is no need to check the fare and purchase a ticket. If you charge a certain amount of money, you can board the train immediately by touching the IC card at the ticket gate.

For these reasons, having an IC card is very convenient.

*Due to a semiconductor shortage, new sales of Suica and PASMO have been suspended. (As of September 2023)

How to buy IC card in Japan?

Welcome Suica vending machine
@ Haneda Airport T3

"Welcome Suica" and "Pasmo Passport" can be purchased.

"Pasmo Passport" is sold all over Tokyo, but "Welcome suica" sales are temporarily limited to Haneda Airport.

There is also an app version of Suica, but it is not practical because it is aimed at residents of Japan and cannot be registered unless the registered credit card for charging is issued in Japan.

If you are traveling to Tohoku, it would be a good idea to purchase an IC card that is sold in various parts of Tohoku.

Here are some Tohoku prepaid IC cards that can be used all over Japan.d IC cards that can be used all over Japan.

AOPASS -- Aomori

Towada SkyBlue Pass -- Aomori

Hachika -- Aomori

Iwate Green Pass -- Iwate

iGUCA -- Iwate

Shuhoku Orange Pass -- Akita

Akica -- Akita

Cherica -- Yamagata

Shoko Cherica -- Yamagata

Please be careful about refunding your deposit when purchasing an IC card. Basically, refunds of deposits will only be accepted by the company you purchased the product from.

How to use IC card

Please Check JR East : About "Welcome Suica"

If the balance is insufficient, the reader will turn red and the ticket gate will close. In that case, please charge your card at the payment machine in front of the ticket gate and try again.

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