Japan offers a variety of convenient transportation IC cards that allow you to transfer between trains and buses with just a touch at the ticket gate. Among these, JR East’s Suica is the most popular IC card due to its wide usage area and its ability to be used for shopping at convenience stores and supermarkets nationwide.
In Kyoto, a top tourist destination in Japan, you can use Suica to ride trains and buses and enjoy shopping. This article is aimed at foreign tourists planning a trip to Kyoto, detailing where you can buy Suica in Kyoto, the types of IC cards that can be used in Kyoto, and common questions about using IC cards in Kyoto.
1.Where to Buy Suica in Kyoto
Suica is a transportation IC card issued by JR East Japan since 2001. It was the first IC card issued in Japan and has become widely used, primarily in eastern Japan. There are two types of Suica cards: the Suica for residents of Japan and the Welcome Suica for visiting tourists.
With a Suica card, you simply touch the card to the reader at automatic ticket gates or electronic payment terminals, and the fare is automatically deducted. This eliminates the need to navigate unfamiliar ticket machines or handle paper money and coins.
While Suica is known for its wide usability among transportation IC cards, it is important to note that it cannot be purchased everywhere in Japan. Since Suica is an IC card provided by JR East, it cannot be purchased in western Japan, including Kyoto.
Instead, in Kyoto, you can purchase an IC card called ICOCA issued by JR West Japan. The locations for purchasing Suica, Welcome Suica, and ICOCA are as follows:
| Card Type | Purchase Locations |
|---|---|
| Suica | Multifunction Ticket Machines, Midori no Madoguchi (JR Ticket Offices), Talkable Reserved Seat Ticket Machines at JR East stations |
| Welcome Suica | JR EAST Travel Service Center and Welcome Suica Vending Machines at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station |
| ICOCA | Ticket Machines, Midori no Madoguchi (JR Ticket Offices) at JR West stations; Ticket Machines and Commuter Pass Sales Offices at private railway companies in western Japan (Osaka Metro, Kintetsu, Hankyu, etc.) |
2. Types of IC Cards Usable in Kyoto, Including Suica
山陽新幹線の車内販売でもICOCA電子マネーが使えます！出張・旅行の時にぜひお使いください！ホットコーヒーやお弁当、アイスクリームなど座席に座ってから購入できるので、大きな荷物がある時も便利ですよ。 #ICOCA #車内販売 https://t.co/lTIaF1zrw0 pic.twitter.com/xZoQRbyVwR
— ICOCA電子マネー (@ICOCA_shopping) February 5, 2024
In Japan, in addition to Suica and ICOCA, various IC cards are issued regionally. Kyoto, which attracts many domestic and international tourists, allows the use of a wide range of IC cards for public transportation and shopping.
The following table summarizes the types of IC cards that can be used in Kyoto:
| Suica | Issued by JR East Japan |
|---|---|
| ICOCA | Issued by JR West Japan |
| PiTaPa | Postpaid IC card issued by private railway companies in Kansai |
| Kitaca | Issued by JR Hokkaido |
| PASMO | Issued by railway operators and private bus companies in Kanto |
| Hayakaken | Issued by Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau |
| TOICA | JIssued by JR Central |
| manaca | Issued by Nagoya Transportation Development Organization and Meitetsu Group |
| nimoca | Issued by Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd., a major private railway company in Kyushu |
| SUGOCA | Issued by JR Kyushu |
3.Places Where Suica Can Be Used in Kyoto
Using an IC card in Kyoto offers many benefits for visiting tourists.
The main advantage is that it reduces the hassle of unfamiliar payments. Whether you’re using transportation or shopping, you can simply touch your IC card to the dedicated reader, which completes the transaction. This is particularly reassuring for tourists who may not be familiar with handling Japanese paper money and coins.
Understanding where you can use an IC card in Kyoto will allow you to navigate the city more efficiently. Here, we introduce the specific places in Kyoto where IC cards can be used.
3-1.Trains
One of the primary places where you can use IC cards in Kyoto is on trains. Most train lines within Kyoto City accept Suica and other IC cards.
- JR West
- Kyoto Municipal Subway
- Kintetsu Railway
- Keihan Electric Railway
- Hankyu Railway
- Keifuku Electric Railroad (Randen)
- Eizan Electric Railway
To use an IC card on trains in Kyoto, simply touch your pre-charged IC card to the reader on the automatic ticket gates that connect the station premises and platforms. You need to touch the card both when entering and exiting the ticket gates.
If the IC card does not properly make contact with the reader, an error will occur, and the gate will not open.Make sure to firmly touch the card to the reader.
3-2.Buses
In addition to trains, IC cards can be used on most bus routes within Kyoto City.Buses are particularly useful for sightseeing around various parts of Kyoto, so it’s important to understand how to use IC cards on buses as well.
- Kyoto City Bus
- Kyoto Bus
- Keihan Kyoto Bus
- Keihan Bus
- Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus
- West Japan JR Bus
- Kintetsu Bus
- Hankyu Bus
When using an IC card on buses in Japan, you will need it both when boarding and when deboarding. Upon boarding, touch your IC card to the reader located to the right of the entrance. When getting off, touch your IC card to the reader on top of the fare machine.
If you fail to touch the IC card when boarding, an error will occur when you try to touch it when getting off. Always remember to touch your IC card when you board.
3-3.Participating Stores
引用：JR-EAST
In Kyoto City, you can also use IC cards for payments at some convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and tourist facilities.
IC cards usable in Kyoto, such as Suica and ICOCA, are part of the Nationwide Interoperable IC Card system, identified by the “IC” symbol featuring a pantograph and wheels.
Stores displaying this symbol accept IC card payments. Here are some examples of stores in Kyoto City where nationwide interoperable IC cards can be used:
- Yodobashi Camera
- AEON
- Yoshinoya
- CoCo Ichibanya
- McDonald’s
- Karaoke Kan, etc.
4.Q&A on Using IC Cards like Suica in Kyoto
For visiting tourists, Japan’s IC cards are very convenient.
While you might encounter some difficulties if you are not used to using them, don’t worry—most issues can be resolved easily.Even if you accidentally purchase the wrong item, you can usually get a refund or exchange by inquiring at the counter.
Here, we address some common questions about using IC cards like Suica and ICOCA in Kyoto in a Q&A format.
4-1.Should I Buy Suica or Icoca?
You can use either Suica or ICOCA without any problems during your travels. Although the issuing areas are different (East Japan for Suica and West Japan for ICOCA), both cards can be used on transportation systems and for shopping across most areas.
It generally doesn’t matter which one you choose, but if you are coming from Haneda or Narita Airport to Kyoto, Suica might be more convenient. If you are coming from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto, ICOCA is a good choice. Additionally, if you are traveling from Tokyo (Haneda Airport) to Kyoto, the Welcome Suica is recommended.
4-2.Where Can I Recharge My IC Card?
You can recharge your IC card at ticket machines and convenience stores nationwide. To avoid running out of balance when you need it, make sure to recharge regularly.
However, note that Welcome Suica cannot be refunded, and any balance remaining after the 28-day validity period will be unusable. Therefore, it is recommended to recharge only what you need.
4-3.Are There Digital Versions of IC Cards?
As of July 2024, there is no digital version of IC cards available for visiting tourists.
However, in spring 2025, the Welcome Suica Mobile app is scheduled to be released for tourists. This app will be available for iPhone and Apple Watch. Once installed, you can issue a mobile Suica in advance and recharge it instantly with a credit card linked to your smartphone.
4-4.What Should I Do If I Don’t Have Enough Money on My Card for the Train or Bus?
Running out of balance on your IC card when riding trains or buses is a situation that can happen to anyone, including locals.
If you have cash on hand, you can quickly resolve the issue on the spot. However, the procedure differs between trains and buses.
【For Trains】
Use the fare adjustment machine near the ticket gates at the exit station.
- Insert the IC card used for boarding into the machine.
- Insert the amount of cash needed to cover the shortfall.
- Retrieve your IC card, which now has the additional balance.
- Use the IC card to exit through the ticket gate.
【For Buses】
Recharge your IC card on the bus.
- Inform the driver that you need to recharge your card.
- Touch your IC card to the reader on the fare machine.
- Insert the amount of cash you want to add into the fare machine.
※The recharging procedure on buses may vary depending on the bus company.
Conclusion
Suica is a transportation IC card issued by JR East Japan. It has a very wide usage area, making it convenient for using public transportation and shopping in Kyoto.
However, it’s important to note that you cannot purchase a Suica card in Kyoto, as it falls within the West Japan area. Instead, you can buy an ICOCA card, which is issued by JR West Japan.
Additionally, various IC cards issued across Japan can be used on Kyoto’s public transportation and in stores, not just Suica and ICOCA. To make your trip to Kyoto smoother and more convenient, consider purchasing an IC card.
*This article is based on information available as of July 2024.
