Regional (and Interchangeable!) IC Cards

Published on : 26/06/2016
by : Japan Experience

Suica/Pasmo
©Andrew Currie,https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/flicker/, CC BY-SA 2.0,https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcurrie/8617797399

Supplementing your Japan Rail Pass

IC Cards are a great way to zip through Japan's city transportation systems. Learn more about how they can help you and your Japan Rail Pass here!

IC Cards

IC Cards are really useful pre-paid transportation cards offered in major cities in Japan. When riding non-JR trains, these are a great way to supplement your JR Pass!

Although the brand of IC Card you get differs depending on the city in which you buy it, as of March 2013, all IC Cards are compatible with each other.

Interchangeable ic cards

The following is a list of IC cards that can be used interchangeably (and the regions from which they originate):

Suica (JR East) - Tokyo
Pasmo (Pasmo council) - Tokyo
New : Pasmo Passport - Tokyo
Icoca (JR West) - Kansai
PiTaPa (KANSAI THRU PASS) - Kansai
Toica (JR Central ) - Nagoya
Manaca (City of Nagoya Transportaiton) - Nagoya
Kitaca (JR Hokkaido) - Sapporo
Sugoca ( JR Kyushu) - Fukuoka
nimoca (Nishitetsu and others) - Kyushu
Hayakaken (Fukuoka City Subway) - Fukuoka

IC Pasmo/Suica
©Karl Baron,https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/flicker/,CC BY-SA 2.0,https://www.flickr.com/photos/kalleboo/9247024158/

Important notes

Please take care of the following points when traveling Japan with an IC Card:

You cannot travel long distances between IC Card Regions using an IC Card (for example, from Nagoya to Tokyo)
You cannot use airport buses or highway buses with an IC Card
Kyoto city buses do not yet accept IC cards

For a detailed list of where you can and cannot use an IC card, please check this chart.

More Travel tips

Latest Articles

How fast does the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train go?

Given the name, one would expect the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan to zip across the country at high speeds, and that would be correct!

Maglev train on the Chuo Shinkansen Line, Japan

How Japan’s Trains are Always on Time: The Keys to Japan's Public Transportation

Known for their efficiency and punctuality, Japan's train system is as much an attraction for visitors as it is a staple of everyday life for residents.