Hi there!

 

So you’re going to be in Tokyo for a few days and you know you need a suica card!

 

Suica card at haneda airport - where to buy ic card in tokyo for train - Backpacking Tokyo Japan travel blog

 

And if you don’t know…

The reason you will HIGHLY want to consider getting a suica card is because it can basically make your life easier while traveling around Tokyo!

These cards won’t save you any money, but they will allow you to avoid the hassle of having to buy individual train tickets before you board the train, and they will allow you to avoid having to pay for the bus fare with coins.

They are basically cash cards, and all you need to do is swipe to pay for your ticket!

You will be able to use a suica card at most places across Japan that accept “IC cards.”

There are different types of IC cards, and the suica card is one of the popular ones in Tokyo.

The pasmo card is also popular in Tokyo. The icoca card is popular in Kyoto, and in Okinawa there is the okica card.)

 

 

So…

If you’re landing in Tokyo at Haneda airport, can you get a suica card right away?!

Suica card at haneda airport flight. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

Yes, you can!

And you can use it immediately to get to your hotel in Tokyo by train from the airport!

 

 

🗾✈🚊

 
More info/pictures below, but... SIDE NOTE!
Where to go from Kyoto?! You can go to to Nachi Falls to see one of Japan's most famous views: Kyoto to Nachi Falls! Then you can loop back around to Osaka or Kyoto, making a stop at Ise along the way!

Here are more ideas for your Japan trip planning!

 

 

Where can you buy a suica card at the airport?!

If you’re headed into the city, you can get there by first taking a train from Haneda airport.

 

So once you arrive in Tokyo…

 

Suica card at haneda airport, arrival on international flight. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

You will look for signs that point you in the direction of the train line you want to take.

 

Suica card for haneda airport to tokyo train. directions to train. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

The directions below are if you are taking the “monorail” train.

But depending on where in Tokyo you’re heading, you might be looking for another train line. Consult Google Maps for which train line is best to take for your destination.

No matter which train you take (or even if you won’t be taking the train at all from the airport – there’s a bus too), the process is basically the same for buying a suica card!

 

So following the signs will bring you to the train ticket gate.

And right next to the ticket gate, you will find a number of ticket machines.

 

Suica card at haneda airport - train to tokyo location. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

This is where you would buy train tickets if you weren’t going to use a suica card.

 

Suica card at haneda airport - train ticket machine for train to tokyo. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

And it’s also the place where you can get your first suica card.

 

Suica card at haneda airport - train ticket machine for train to tokyo. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

 

WELCOME TO JAPAN suica card

I was most recently at Haneda Airport in May 2023 when I bought suica cards for my cousin’s family.

There are several ticket machines for the monorail.

There is a sign for the ticket machine if you want to buy a “welcome suica” card.

When I was there, this line was long with foreigners, while there was no line for the other ticket machines.

I imagine since there’s a sign that says “suica card” it makes it seem like you must go to that ticket machine if you want to buy a suica card.

But if you don’t need a “welcome” suica card, then you can buy the suica card at one of the other ticket machines too!

The “welcome” card does make for a nice souvenir, though!

And the welcome suica card does expire, unlike the regular suica card.

And, for the regular suica card, you will be able to get the additional 500 yen back that you paid for the card if you want to cash in your remaining balance at the end of your trip.

For the welcome suica card, you will not get that extra 500 yen back. (That’s around US$5.)

 

Suica card for kids

I don’t know if you can buy a suica card for kids at the other monorail ticket machine with no line.

But I do know that you can buy a suica card for kids at the “welcome” ticket machine, since that’s where I did buy a kid’s suica card for my cousin’s child.

I also tried buying a kid’s pasmo card at a different train station at Haneda Airport, but it was not possible to buy a kid’s card at the ticket machine I was at. (I did verify this with a train station worker.) So I went back up to the monorail ticket machine to buy a kids suica card.

If you have kids 6 to 11, then you want a suica card for kids. (Or another type of IC card for kids if the suica isn’t the first type of IC card you have the opportunity to buy.)

The child train fare is 50% off the adult fare.

For the most part, kids 5 and under can take the train for free.

There is an attendant at the monorail ticket machine, so you can ask if you can buy a kid’s suica card at the other machine too if you want to skip the line.

 

You need to buy suica cards one at a time

Whether there’s 2 of you or 4 of you in your group, you will need to buy your suica cards one by one at the ticket machine.

You won’t be able to buy 4 suica cards all at once from a ticket machine.

 

Do you need cash to buy a suica card from a ticket machine?

For the most part (if not always), my US credit card has not worked at train ticket machines in Japan.

I’ve tried a few times and failed, so now I just don’t try anymore.

So if your credit card is denied at the ticket machine, it’s not necessarily a problem with your credit card company, but rather something to do with foreign credit cards in general.

There is an ATM machine next to the monorail ticket machines.

If you are American and you have some time before your trip to Japan, I recommend looking into a Charles Schwab checking account. No ATM fees, worldwide! Or rather, you are reimbursed at the end of the month. The “catch” is that you do need to open up a brokerage account at the same time, but you don’t need to use it.

 

 

So…

How to actually buy a suica card?!

Once you’re at the ticket machine, it’s pretty straight forward!

First click the “English” button, and then just follow the prompts!

 

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

You have the option to get a “suica” or “my suica” card.

With the my suica card, you can put your name on it.

You will then be prompted to choose how much money you want to put on your card.

 

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

You will want to choose at least the 2,000 yen option if you’re headed to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, or another main area of Tokyo.

Since there’s a 500 yen deposit with the suica card, if you choose the 1,000 yen option, that leaves you with 500 yen on the card.

This won’t be enough to get you to Tokyo.

 

Suica card at haneda airport - how much cost for train from haneda airport to tokyo station, to shinjuku, to shibuya - Backpacking Tokyo Japan
Adult/child train fare from Haneda Airport

 

Then you’ll enter the cash into the machine. (No credit cards at this machine as of February 2019.)

 

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

And then you have your suica card!

 

Buy suica card at haneda airport at monorail train ticket machine - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

Suica card at haneda airport - ic card in tokyo for train - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

 

How to use the suica card for the train from the airport?!

Suica card for haneda airport to tokyo train (to tokyo station, to shinjuku, to shibuya). train ticket gate. Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

And then once you have the suica card in your possession, it’s swipe IN, and swipe OUT!

At the ticket gate, there will be a spot that says “IC card.”

And it’s here that you will swipe your card to get through the ticket gates and onto the train.

Most ticket gates will also have a display that says how much money you have left on the card once you swipe.

Then you’ll take the train to Tokyo!!

 

Suica card for haneda airport to tokyo train (to tokyo station, to shinjuku, to shibuya). first monorail train. - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

Suica card for haneda airport to tokyo train (to tokyo station, to shinjuku, to shibuya). first monorail train. - Backpacking Tokyo Japan

 

(Or maybe 2 trains.)

And then when you are at your destination, you will swipe to get out.

That’s when money will be deducted from your card.

There is also usually a display of how much was charged and how much you have left.

 

 

Suica card at haneda airport - ic card in tokyo for train - Backpacking Tokyo Japan
If you have extra time, wander around Haneda airport to check out the Nihonbashi Bridge (above), the Edo Market, or the observation deck for airplane spotting!

 

HAPPY USING YOUR SUICA CARD FOR THE FIRST TIME AT HANEDA AIRPORT!

 

 

Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!









Is a JR pass worth it?!

  • Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
  • In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
  • Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
  • So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
  • Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
  • And compare!
  • Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.




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