Japan is set to launch its new Welcome Suica mobile app on March 6, 2025, designed to make traveling easier and more efficient for international visitors. The app offers a digital version of the Suica card, which can be used for electronic payments and provides discounts on tickets.
The Welcome Suica app is a digital alternative to the traditional Suica card, which is often used for public transportation. While the physical Suica card is valid for 28 days, the digital version will be valid for 180 days. It can be used for a wide range of services, including trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and even some restaurants.
The app will be available for iOS users and can be downloaded on both iPhones and Apple Watches. Previously, tourists needed to purchase the physical Suica cards at JR East’s Travel Service Centres or vending machines located at major airports like Narita and Haneda.
Here’s how the Welcome Suica app will improve the travel experience for visitors:
- Tourists can purchase and pre-register for the Welcome Suica card before their trip, ensuring a smooth and easy start to their travels as soon as they arrive in Japan.
- The app provides important travel updates, including train schedules, route planning, and notifications about any disruptions.
- Travelers can purchase Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets digitally through the app.
- The app is fully compatible with iOS devices, and users can easily recharge their digital cards using Apple Pay.
In addition, two types of non-personalized Suica and PASMO cards, which were temporarily unavailable in 2023 due to a global semiconductor shortage, will be back on sale by March 1, 2025. These cards are prepaid, rechargeable, and do not contain personal information, making them available for anyone to use. The PASMO card functions similarly to London’s Oyster Card.
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