IC Cards latest update

I will be arriving in NRT Airport in early May and would like to get the following information:

1) with lots of conflicting information regarding the supply of SUICA and PASMO due the chip shortage, is either one of these cards available in NRT to tourists? I am interesting in the long term card instead of the 28 days tourist card because of the length of my visit;

2) can I use credit card to buy the IC card if they are available or it is a cash only purchase?

Thank you for your help.

1) with lots of conflicting information regarding the supply of SUICA and PASMO due the chip shortage, is either one of these cards available in NRT to tourists?

The only card available at Narita Airport is the Pasmo Passport:
https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/

You can get them at the SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER in terminal 1 and 2.

2) can I use credit card to buy the IC card if they are available or it is a cash only purchase?

Cash only.

I think there has been an update, according to this video:
https://youtu.be/74mMXxvuh-g?si=-FyPX4NvyvUoIYmP

Details around 2:32.
The video says regular SUICA is now available at NRT. JR East did predict the shortage to end some time around Spring of 2024. Things can change.

Nothing official has been announced in these directions. I would not count on it.

Since approximately 12th January physical suica cards have been available on a limited basis at the travel service centers in central Tokyo at approximately six major stations. These are the proper, ordinary, rechargeable, non-expiry cards, not the tourist versions. I have not seen an official announcement on the JREast websites, but did inquire at Shinjuku when I was there last week - the lady I spoke to said yes, they have them (assuming she understood the question).
There are a few travel websites that have reported on this and some limited coverage in specialist news that I have seen a few weeks back.

My apologies: there has been an official update:
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/top.html/

Isn't it the case that if you buy the Suica from JR now, you have to provide a telephone number and residence in Japan? This means that new tourists can only use the 28-day Suica.

> Isn't it the case that if you buy the Suica from JR now, you have to provide a telephone number and residence in Japan? This means that new tourists can only use the 28-day Suica.

Please provide a source for this, as this seems like an impactful claim.

If you get a personalised SUICA, then yes, but the availability of normal SUICA is improving. However, I did find that one of the places I buy IOCCA cards (Hiroshima Station) they were not available - I got some from a smaller station.

I just managed to buy a Sugoca card at the Nagasaki train station. I bought it at the ticket office counter, but I think it could be purchased at the machines as well, although the menu is available only if you keep the interface in Japanese.

Good luck travellers!

I was the one posted the question. Here is my own experience on May 1, 2024.

In NRT airport, each customer can buy up to 2 SUICA cards which is good for 10 years. Only Cash purchases and no other payment method is accepted. In fact, they have staff re-confirm with customers on Cash only policy before

which is good for 10 years

The correct statement is: if you don't use them for 10 years, they will become invalid.