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by RJIb8RBYxzAMX9u 1034 days ago
If you have an iPhone, don't bother getting the physical Suica card. You can add one in the Wallet app, and also charge it with your credit card directly! Moreover, you can do this ahead of time, before arrival to Japan.

Wallet app -> "+" on top right corner -> Transit Card -> Japan -> Suica.

Choose PASMO or ICOCA if you want to be different. ;-) All three are functionally equivalent.

The virtual card will work anywhere the physical card's accepted, so transit, convenience stores[0], vending machines, etc. IMHO there's no reason to get a physical card, unless you want a souvenir.

I'm sure the same could be done on Android, but I don't know the procedures.

[0] At least in Tokyo, many convenience stores will also accept contactless credit card payments (i.e. Apple Pay), even foreign cards. The process is sometimes a little convoluted, however, so if you just want to grab & go, use Suica and say "Suica de" and 99% you'll be in & out in less than a minute.
3 comments
smileysteve 1034 days ago
The same can not be said for android; Not even Samsung support the Japanese payment cards unless you buy the Japan model.
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thebitstick 1032 days ago
This is because ICOCA/PASMO/Suica use FeliCa rather than NFC for data. All iPhones have both FeliCa and NFC. Only Japanese Android phones would bother added FeliCa.
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valianteffort 1034 days ago
>IMHO there's no reason to get a physical card, unless you want a souvenir

My friends and I were unable to load our Suica using the Wallet app. It kept throwing an error. We had to visit stations that had ATM or kiosks for loading Suica that were wireless (tap instead of insert) so we could load from the card stored in Wallet app. Our one friend that had an Android was able to load his card anywhere.

This was difficult enough in Tokyo where most card loading machines are insert not tap, let alone outside of Tokyo. Most major stations seemed to support this but smaller ones were totally hit or miss.

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RJIb8RBYxzAMX9u 1034 days ago
I recall there was some issues with certain Visa cards. Ah right I did have issue where I couldn't load with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card. But I just switched to the Apple Card and it went smoothly.

So yes there may be some hurdles. However, since you can do this before arrival, you can figure out ahead of time which card(s) work and which don't.

Edit: just tried it with my CSR again and it still didn't work. Then I tried with a CapitalOne (Mastercard) card and that worked. Unfortunately, I don't have another Visa or Amex card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so I cannot say for sure if it's a payment network issue or bank issue. I had no issue using my CSR for contactless payments in Japan though.

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fomine3 1034 days ago
A rumor story is that Visa (and SMBC, big bank) blocks charging to Suica because they installing their open loop transit system https://atadistance.net/2023/07/15/foreign-visa-cards-blocke...
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psychphysic 1034 days ago
What about us peasants on android?
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