Cash, IC cards and eSIM in Japan: what to buy before and after landing

Buy the card that matches your phone. With an iPhone, set up Welcome Suica Mobile before you fly: it is valid for 180 days and has no deposit. Without one, buy TOURIST PASMO at Narita or Haneda: it lasts 28 days, has no deposit and refunds nothing. For mobile data, KDDI sells the povo Japan SIM, a data-only eSIM, with 2025 prices from $2 (¥300) for 1 GB over 3 days. The 2026-27 prices are unclear right now.

Cash still matters: JNTO says small shops, cafes and rural areas may be cash only. Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.

Which tourist IC card suits you?

iPhone users take Welcome Suica Mobile, everyone else takes TOURIST PASMO, and Kansai arrivals can take Welcome ICOCA. Four tourist cards are on offer.

The Welcome ICOCA row comes from a West Japan Railway page that is several years old, so treat it as last known.

What is TOURIST PASMO?

TOURIST PASMO is the tourist card sold from May 2026 near international airports, and it replaces PASMO PASSPORT. It is valid for 28 days from purchase and has no deposit. The stored value is not refunded, even after the card expires.

At Haneda you choose the amount, so match it to the days you will ride, because nothing comes back. PASMO’s page says the card works at train gates, on buses and in shops across Japan.

You top up in cash at station machines, up to a balance of $130 (¥20,000), and at some convenience stores. On buses the page says to use $6 (¥1,000) bills only, with a balance limit of $65 (¥10,001).

Does Welcome Suica Mobile work on Android?

No. Welcome Suica Mobile is an app for iPhone and Apple Watch, launched on 6 Mar 2025. It is valid for 180 days from issue, has no deposit and the remaining balance is not refundable. The app is English only, and you can issue the card and top it up before you arrive, according to JR East’s page.

A Samsung Galaxy version is planned for the first half of 2027, per a JR East press release of 21 Apr 2026. No plan for other Android phones was found, so an Android user buys TOURIST PASMO at Narita or Haneda instead.

JR East’s comparison table also lists a physical Welcome Suica at 28 days with no deposit fee. Where it is sold was not confirmed.

Before you go With an iPhone, set up Welcome Suica Mobile and fund it before you fly. On Android, buy TOURIST PASMO at Narita or Haneda and top it up with cash.

Where do you buy Welcome ICOCA?

Welcome ICOCA is sold at the JR ticket office at Kansai Airport Station. It costs $13 (¥2,000), which includes the $3 (¥500) deposit, and there is a limit of one per person. You need a foreign passport and Temporary Visitor status.

To return it, go to a JR ticket office. You get the deposit back and the balance refunded minus a $1 (¥220) fee. Check West Japan Railway’s page for the validity period and service area before you buy.

What about regular Suica and PASMO cards?

Regular Suica and PASMO cards are the alternative to the tourist cards, but their deposit and sale rules are not found on an official page, so none is given here.

Do you still need cash?

Yes, at small shops, in rural areas, at temples and at clinics. JNTO’s cashless payments page says cards are usually accepted in urban restaurants, hotels and big stores, while small shops, cafes and rural areas may be cash only, so check beforehand and carry cash. Kyoto City Tourism Association says many temple admission fees are cash only. JNTO’s medical guide says clinics are usually cash only, and an insurer’s cashless service avoids that (Travel insurance for Japan).

A Seven Bank ATM in a 7-Eleven accepts foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, PLUS and Cirrus cards. Limits and fees are in Tipping and paying in Japan.

Which data eSIM can you buy?

KDDI’s povo sells the povo Japan SIM, a data-only eSIM for visitors. Online sales began on 28 Aug 2025. LAWSON stores have sold it since July 2025, about 14,600 shops, for cash and with a different lineup. KDDI says plans are subject to change, and the 2026-27 prices are unclear right now. The 2025 listing, tax included:

The only 30-day option is 20 GB, so a longer stay needs a second purchase. Plan fit for remote work is in Wi-Fi, SIMs and eSIMs for remote work.

povo says activation of its data-only eSIM needs no identification documents. Japan’s own rule on ID for SIMs and eSIMs was not found on an official page, so confirm it with the seller before you buy.

A current tourist eSIM offer from Docomo or SoftBank was not found: Docomo has only a 2017-18 release and SoftBank’s tourist prepaid page is out of date, so neither is listed.

Where next?

Other planning pages are in the Plan hub. The 2026 rule changes, from the JR Pass to tax-free shopping, are in What changed in 2026. For a long stay, Can you work remotely in Japan on a tourist visa? covers the visa side.