Expanding Access to Convenience: Prepaid Card "Welcome Suica" Now Available Beyond Airports
Good news for inbound travelers to Japan! As announced yesterday by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), PASMO Council, and Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, the sales locations for the "Welcome Suica," a Prepaid Card designed for international visitors, will expand starting September 1, 2024.
Previously, the Prepaid Card "Welcome Suica" was only available at select locations within the airports, specifically at Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station, Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 Station, and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station. Now, starting September 1, 2024, you will be able to purchase it outside of the airports as well. The new sales locations include “Eki-tabi Concierge (JR EAST Travel Service Center)” (formerly known as View Plaza) at major stations such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, as well as the Japan Rail Café in Tokyo (located in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
Semiconductor Shortage Resolved: Paving the Way for Expanded Welcome Suica Availability
The expansion of sales locations has been made possible due to the resolution of a semiconductor shortage, which had impacted the IC chips embedded in the cards. Japan’s transportation IC cards are based on a unique standard known as FeliCa, which, while effective within Japan, is less common internationally, leading to severe impacts from the semiconductor shortage.
Travel and Shop with Ease: The Convenience of Welcome Suica
Welcome Suica is an electronic money card that makes it convenient to travel and shop. You no longer need to buy individual tickets from vending machines; simply touch your Welcome Suica at the ticket gate, and the fare is automatically deducted from your balance. Welcome Suica can be used not only on JR East trains but also on subways and buses, eliminating the hassle of figuring out fares in Japan’s complex transportation network, especially in Tokyo.
Mobile Suica Options: Current Limitations and Future Developments for International Travelers
International travelers can also use the mobile version of Suica, which can be embedded in smartphones instead of using the physical Welcome Suica card. However, Mobile Suica is only available on iPhones 8 or later and cannot be used on Android smartphones. Additionally, if you want to charge your Mobile Suica with an overseas-issued credit card, you must do so via Apple Wallet. Note that the Suica app is currently only available in Japanese, so you’ll need to navigate the registration process with some translation assistance.
Looking ahead, JR East plans to release a version of the “Welcome Suica Mobile” for international travelers in the spring of 2025 (iOS only). This will further enhance the convenience of traveling in Japan. However, given that Android smartphones are more widely used globally than iPhones, we also hope to see a version of “Welcome Suica Mobile” released for Android in the future.
Discover Kagurazaka in Shinjuku: Easy Access and Life-Changing Cultural Experiences with Welcome Suica
Our traditional cultural experience tours are based in the Kagurazaka area in Shinjuku, with Iidabashi Station as a convenient starting point. Iidabashi Station is within 30 minutes of all the new Welcome Suica sales locations starting from September 1st, making it easier than ever to visit. Here are the travel times to Iidabashi Station: Tokyo Station (about 9 minutes), Shinagawa Station (about 26 minutes), Shibuya Station (about 16 minutes), Shinjuku Station (about 11 minutes), Ikebukuro Station (9 minutes), Ueno Station (about 15 minutes), and Japan Rail Café Tokyo (about 14 minutes).
With such convenient access, we invite you to visit Kagurazaka using your Welcome Suica. Our traditional cultural experience tours offer a transformative experience that may very well change your life.
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How to Access Kagurazaka
The Kagurazaka area is conveniently located within 30 minutes from any major station in Tokyo. This is because Kagurazaka is situated in the heart of Tokyo, at the center of the Yamanote Line. Please come and visit this convenient and charming Kagurazaka.
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