Japan visitor Suica card

[RockTheDots]

Currently doing some last minute planning for our Tokyo trip next week and I just discovered Japan have recently introduced a new visitor Suica card - called Welcome Suica. The card is free for foreign visitors, valid for 30 days and available to pick up from Narita airport. This is great as normal Suica cards have to be purchased with a 500 Yen deposit. The Welcome Suica works the same as regular Suica cards, you top it up at a machine and then use it on transport, at vending machines, in shops etc.

I've already added a Suica card to my iPhone so I can top-up with Apple Pay but my husband's phone is too old to do this so he will be getting a physical card. Just thought I'd share for anyone else travelling to Japan soon.

[AntonyJ]

Interesting - thanks!
I had mine on my phone and was very easy to use - have great trip!

[RockTheDots]

Originally Posted by AntonyJ

Interesting - thanks!
I had mine on my phone and was very easy to use - have great trip!

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That's good to know! Thanks

[AntonyJ]

Originally Posted by RockTheDots

That's good to know! Thanks

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One thing I found, which did not really affect me for reasons will explain, was the lack of places in stations etc. to charge the Suica on my phone, with cash.

Via Apple Pay was dead easy, and saw places in the stations (including Disney Monorail stations) to add cash onto a physical Suica card – but ones with a “shelf” that you could rest your phone and add cash to it, never saw.
Have seen they are all over the place on YT videos that taught me all about the card, but I never saw one!

I added cash a few times to the card, in convenience stores- and was dead easy.
Just cannot remember if I said “Charge Suica?” to them, then the showed me what to do, or if I help up Suica on iPhone and a handful of cash!
Anyway, it was dead easy and they guided me through it