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.

I'm very happy to hear that travelers to NRT can now buy 2 SUICA cards.

Where would I find the airport location to purchase the cards?

Thank you!

We already have 2 Suica and 2 Icoca cards, still valid, for 4 travellers in October, arriving at KIX.
We plan to go to the JR West Office to exchange our pre purchased Limited Express Haruka vouchers and organise reserve seats to Kyoto.
Are we able to add cash to our 4 IC cards at the same time?
Will JR West add cash for us to both Suica AND Icoca cards?

I had SO much hassle trying to do it at a machine in Osaka last time I still cringe at my uselessness!

Thank you.

They can. But will probably direct you to the machines. The customer service counters are always super busy. So using the super easy machines is preferred.

And yes, Suica and Icoca can be charged at JR West stations.
It is extremely straight-forward:
1) insert the card into the machine
2) click the amount to charge
3) insert the cash

Suica and Icoca can be charged at JR West stations
And they can be recharged all over the country at other JR stations/JR areas, subways (and other non-JR rail companies), on buses, at convenience stores, on trams and a few other places I can't immediately think of. ATMs also allow recharging (for some).

Thank you for the replies to my questions everyone.

If the KIX JR counter is too busy and I am directed to "super easy machines" I really hope I can manage (aged person here).
It was a nightmare some years ago in Osaka station: I needed assistance from a delightful helper whose head literally "pooped out" from a window beside the machines: nearly died of fright when he appeared!

We will have the correct cash so hopefully be OK: fingers crossed

Thanks again

you can charge it at convenience stores.

One more thing to ease your mind. The re-charge machine is multi languages, English is one of the choices.