Where to Buy a Suica Card at Tokyo Station

Quick Answer: You can buy a physical Suica card from the JR East ticket machines located inside Tokyo Station. One of the easiest places to find them is near the Yaesu side of the station.

Look for the black JR ticket machines marked “Tickets/Commuter Pass/Suica.” The process takes less than a minute. Simply select Purchase New Suica, choose the amount you want to load onto the card, insert cash, and collect your new card.

The Details

Tokyo Station is huge, but finding a Suica machine is easier than many visitors expect. Here are detailed directions to finding the right machine and buying a Suica card.

Step 1: Find the Yaesu North Entrance of Tokyo Station

The Yaesu North Entrance is on the Yaesu (east) side of the station under the big tower that is Daimaru Department Store.

Step 2: Find the Yaesu North JR East Ticket Machines

Enter the station here and walk straight toward the Yaesu North ticket gates (marked “Tohoku/Joetsu/Hokuriku Shinkansen/JR Lines”). Before the gates, turn right and look for the ticket machines on your left.

Step 3: Find the Suica Machine

Look for a black-topped machine marked “Tickets/Commuter Pass” and lower down “Suica.”

Not every machine in Tokyo Station sells new Suica cards, but the machines shown in this guide do.

Step 4: Change the Language to “English”

Find the language selections near the top of the screen and select “English.”

Step 5: Select “Purchase New Suica”

Touch the “Purchase New Suica” button.

Step 6: Select “Blank Suica”

Select “Blank Suica.” Note that you can also choose a name-inscribed Suica, which is registered with JR East and can be replaced if lost, but this is a bit fiddly and takes some time, so I normally recommend a blank Suica.

Step 7: Choose the Amount

The machine will ask how much money you want loaded onto the card. Most visitors start with between ¥2,000 and ¥5,000. Remember that the amount you pay includes both:

• The refundable card deposit (¥500).
• The stored travel balance.

Step 8: Insert Cash

Insert your cash into the machine. The screen will display the amount received and the amount being loaded onto the card.

Step 9: Take Your New Suica

The machine will issue the card from the card slot below the screen.

Be sure to take:

• Your new Suica card.
• Any change returned by the machine.
• Your receipt (optional – if you pressed the receipt button).

How Much Money Should You Put on a Suica?

For most visitors, ¥5,000–¥10,000 is a good starting amount.

You can use Suica for:

• JR trains
• Subways
• Most buses
• Convenience stores
• Vending machines
• Many restaurants and shops

You can easily add more money later at ticket machines and convenience stores throughout Japan.

Can I Use a Suica Outside Tokyo?

Yes. IC cards like Suica are not city-specific. You can use them in virtually all major cities and regions of Japan. You just need one IC card for your whole Japan trip (but everyone in your group/family will need their own, including children, for whom there are children’s Suica cards).

Should I Get a Physical Suica or a Digital Suica?

If you have an iPhone and a compatible credit card (Amex or MasterCard), I generally recommend using a digital Suica in Apple Wallet because you can charge it directly from your credit card (and you can enter train systems and pay at stores just by tapping your phone). Here are the details on digital Suica.

However, many visitors still prefer a physical card because:

• It works immediately.
• No battery power is required.
• It is easy to lend to family members.
• Some foreign credit cards (mostly Visa cards) do not work reliably with digital Suica top-ups.

Note that if you have an iPhone but your Apple Wallet is not linked to an Amex or MasterCard, you can buy a physical Suica as we describe on our How To Import An IC Card page and you can “import” the physical Suica into your iPhone and then charge it with cash.

Related Reading

• Suica, Welcome Suica, Icoca: The Complete IC Card Guide.
• How to Charge a Suica, Pasmo or Icoca Card in Apple Wallet.
• How to Import an IC Card (Icoca, Pasmo or Suica) Into Your iPhone.

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