Entering Tokyo station

Dear all,

I plan to eat inside Tokyo station ticket gates without using the train. Can I tap in and out using Suica ? and if so would it be charged ?

Thank you.

Yes, a 入場券 ("station-entering ticket") is required to enter a station, such as eating there or seeing off somebody. It costs the same as the cheapest ticket available (150 yen in the Tokyo area). It allows you to spend up to 2 hours inside the station.

In case of JR Tokyo Station it is possible to use your Suica card to do so (but it does not work for other companies and outside the JR East service area). Also, you cannot use Suica for entering the shinkansen area (a paper 入場券 would be required for that), but there are no restaurants there, anyway.