Everything about Japan's prepaid transportation card (IC) Suica (iPhone and Android)
What is Suica?
Suica (hereinafter referred to as Suica) is a prepaid transportation card (IC) issued and operated by JR East Japan.
Which iPhone can you use Suica?
Available in the iPhone 7,8,X,XS,11,11Pro,SE (2nd generation) series.
Only Japanese domestic models are available for 7, and Suica models after 8 are available regardless of where you purchased them.
For Apple Watch, models after Series 2 are available. However, in the case of Series 2, only Japanese domestic models are available like iPhone 7.
How do you issue a Suica?
Download the Suica app from the App Store and issue it.
How to read the actual physical Suica card and save it on your iPhone.
On the iPhone Wallet/Apple Pay app, press the new issue of Suica to issue it.
However, it can be issued only when there is a credit card or a free-fade card that is responding to Apple Pay.
However, if you use the Suica application, you can charge it with a credit card/freefade card that does not respond to Apple Pay.
You can download Mizuho Bank Wallet from the App Store and issue Mizuhoica (blue) from the app.
If you read the actual Suica card close to the iPhone and add it,
The card you have in real life will never be used again. Instead, 500 yen, which was the cost of issuing cards, will be added to the balance.
It can be used in all transportation methods and terminals using national transportation IC cards in Japan.
You can also issue registered and anonymous cards.
Q. How do I charge it?
A. Charging using Apple Pay on the wallet app or using a credit card on the Suica app.
If you don't have a card, you can charge it by putting your card on top of your station, convenience store, ATM device in 7-Eleven, bus, etc.
View Card users can also charge automatically.
Q. Do you need an app exclusively for Suica?
A. It is not necessary, but various additional settings are possible.
Additional functions such as purchasing regular tickets, green tea, and reservation for Shinkansen Express are available.
I recommend it because you can charge it using a credit card that does not respond to Apple Pay.
Q. Can I charge it with a Korean credit card?
A. Most cards are impossible, but JCB or some Amex cards can be charged.
Q. Can I use the same Suica for Apple Watch or other iPhones?
A. It's impossible. One card can only be used in hardware.
In other words, the Suica used on the iPhone and the Suica used on the Apple Watch become different cards.
For example, assuming that there are Suica cards A, B, C, and D,
All A, B, C, D cards can be registered on iPhone only.
You can also register with the feeling of AB on the iPhone and C and D cards on the Apple Watch.
However, for example, A card cannot be registered on two or more devices in the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Q. Is it possible to apply or add/extend time tickets?
A. Yes, you can set up and purchase a regular ticket on the Suica app.
By the end of the regular ticket, it is easy to extend even on the iPhone's basic wallet app.
However, as it is a regular ticket for Suica, one of the departure or arrival stations of the ticket must be JR Station.
If the departure-arrival is a regular ticket for the "non-JR route-non-JR route," it is impossible to set up a regular ticket to Suicaro.
For example, regular tickets cannot be purchased if it is a four-season/bus route that only responds to departure and destination "All" Pasmo.
Q. Can I get a student discount on regular tickets?
A. Basically, you can use the Suica ticket you received after verifying your student status at the station counter by reading it on your iPhone.
Regarding the extension of the regular student pass, it is also possible on the Suica application within the same year, but if the year changes to a new semester (April)
You have to prove your student with your ID card at the station counter to extend it.
Q. Do I have to approve it with my face ID or touch ID first and pay for it when I use a Suica?
A. No, if you leave the express mode on in the setting, even if the screen is off, you can put it near the device to make the payment without any approval.
Q. Should the communication function be activated to use or charge the Suica?
A. Communication function is not required when paying and charging at ticket gates or stores/terminals.
In other words, it can be used without data/wifi connection, in airplane mode, or without U-SIM.
However, it is necessary to charge through Apple Pay or the like within the iPhone (wifi or data connection is required).
Q. Can I use a Suica without a battery on my iPhone?
A. Since 2018, iPhone models of the XS, XR, 11, 11 Pro, and SE (2nd generation) series can be used within up to 5 hours even if the battery runs out.
Suica doesn't appear on the screen, but payment is possible at the ticket gate or payment terminal.
However, you can't use Suica without a battery for Apple Watch.
Q. What do you do with the existing Suica when you change the device?
A. Since the information is stored in the iCloud,
Go into the wallet app from the old iPhone and delete it.
If you enter the wallet app from the new iPhone and add a Suica, you can select the deleted card (go to the balance as it is).
Q. I lost my iPhone, but the Suica Express mode is on. Can't someone use it?
A. Yes, it's available. But if you use PC or other cell phone/device to access the iCloud,
If you set the device in lost mode, it cannot be used. If you find it, you can use it again if you cancel the loss.
Q. I couldn't find my iPhone because it was lost or stolen.
Eventually, I'm going to add the existing Suica card to my new iPhone. Is it possible?
A. Yes, go to the iCloud site, choose a lost or stolen iPhone, and delete your card information.
If you go back to the basic wallet app on the new iPhone and add Suica, you can choose the old Suica.
Q. I used Android and came over to my iPhone. Can I use the old Suica?
A. Yes, I can. Go into the membership menu on the Suica app for Android, select the device change item （機種変更前サーバ退避), You can use it by entering the iPhone Suica app, logging in, and changing the device.
Q. Can't PASMO be added to the iPhone?
A. It is not possible as of September 2020, but Pasmo recently announced its response to Apple Pay from 10/6.
https://www.pasmo.co.jp/pressrelease/pdf/apple_PressRelease_October1_2020.pdf
I. Additional information.
- Apple Watch is also available from Series 2. However, like the iPhone 7, only the Japanese domestic version is available.
- Android terminals should use devices that are domestic models and support Osaifu Ketai (財布携お/おイケー)))).
- Android is only available for domestic models in Japan. Japanese models come out separately for phones like pixels. iPhone is the only one that becomes a global model.