Use Suica or PASMO cards on iPhone or Apple Watch in Japan

In Japan, you can use Suica and PASMO cards in the Wallet app to ride transit and make purchases in stores using Apple Pay on your iPhone or Apple Watch.

To use a Suica or PASMO card with Apple Pay, you need:

  • An iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus or later, or an Apple Watch Series 3 or later with the latest version of iOS or watchOS.
  • You can also use a Suica card on an iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or Apple Watch Series 2 that was purchased in Japan.
  • Your Suica or PASMO card added to the Wallet app.*

When you add your first Suica or PASMO card to the Wallet app, Express Mode is turned on for that card by default. Express Mode allows you to use your card without waking or unlocking your device, or authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

If you add additional Suica or PASMO cards, you can change which card you set to Express Mode.

Learn more about Express Mode.

*To add a PASMO card in the Wallet app, you need to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID.

Ride transit with your Suica or PASMO card

You can use Suica or PASMO with Apple Pay to ride transit anywhere that you can use a physical Suica or PASMO card, or where interoperable Integrated Circuit (IC), or prepaid, cards are accepted.

Pay for transit with Suica or PASMO

How to ride transit with your Suica or PASMO card

With your Suica or PASMO card set to Express Mode, you can quickly pay for rides with just a tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch.

  1. Make sure that your device is turned on. It doesn't need to be connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
  2. Hold the top of your iPhone or your Apple Watch display near the ticket gate scanner when you enter and exit.
  3. You'll see Done and a checkmark on the screen. If you're using your Apple Watch, you'll also feel a gentle tap and hear a beep.

Depending on your iPhone model, you might be able to use your Express Mode card when your iPhone needs to be charged.

If you want to use a card that isn't set to Express Mode:

  • On your iPhone: Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
  • On your Apple Watch: Double-click the side button to access your cards, swipe down to select your Suica or PASMO card, and authenticate with your passcode.

Put your Suica card in Service Mode

If you need to have a station agent service your Suica card, put your device in Service Mode before you hand it to the station agent.

How to put your Suica card in Service Mode on your iPhone

  1. Open the Wallet app.
  2. Select your Suica card.
  3. Tap the More button.
  4. Open Service Mode.

How to put your Suica Card in Service Mode on your Apple Watch

  1. Remove the Apple Watch from your wrist.
  2. Enter the passcode to unlock it.
  3. Double-click the side button.
  4. Scroll down to select your card.
  5. Use the Digital Crown to scroll down, and tap Turn on Service Mode.
  6. Ask the station agent to hold your watch with the display facing down.

Use your Suica or PASMO card in stores

You can use your Suica or PASMO card where you see these symbols:

Suica payment markPASMO payment symbol

You might need to select the Suica or PASMO option on the terminal when you pay, or let the sales clerk know which card you are paying with.

When your Suica or PASMO card is set to Express Mode, you can pay using Apple Pay without waking or unlocking your device, authenticating, or opening an app. You might even be able to make purchases when your iPhone needs to be charged.

  1. Hold the top of your iPhone or the display of your Apple Watch near the contactless reader.
  2. When the transaction is complete, you'll see Done and a checkmark on the screen. If you're using your Apple Watch, you'll also feel a gentle tap and hear a beep.

If your Suica or PASMO card isn't set to Express Mode, learn how to make a purchase using Apple Pay.

How to check your PASMO card balance

Check the balance on your Suica or PASMO card

Check the balance on your Suica or PASMO card on your iPhone or Apple Watch.

On your iPhone

  1. Open the Wallet app.
  2. Tap your Suica or PASMO card to see your current balance.

On your Apple Watch

  1. Open the Wallet app.
  2. Tap your Suica or PASMO card.
  3. Use the Digital Crown to scroll down to see your current balance.

If your Suica or PASMO card balance doesn't update

  1. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
  2. Tap your Suica or PASMO card.
  3. Tap the More button .
  4. Turn on Service Mode, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

To turn off Service Mode, tap on the card. Learn what to do if your balance still doesn't update.

Top up your Suica or PASMO card

To add money to your Suica or PASMO card, you need a supported credit or prepaid card in the Wallet app.

How to top up your Suica or PASMO card on your iPhone

  1. In the Wallet app, tap your Suica or PASMO card.
  2. Tap the More button.
  3. Tap Add Money.
  4. Choose the amount that you want to add and tap Add.
  5. Select the credit or prepaid card that you want to use to pay and confirm the transaction with Face ID or Touch ID.

How to top up your Suica or PASMO card on your Apple Watch

  1. In the Wallet app, tap your Suica or PASMO card.
  2. Tap Add Money.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Get a refund for purchases made with your Suica or PASMO card using Apple Pay

Use the Suica or PASMO app

When you download the Suica app or PASMO app, you can use it for additional services on your card. For example, you can:

  • Create a new Suica or PASMO card
  • Create or change your commute plan
  • Buy a Shinkansen or Green Car ticket**
  • Set up auto-reload (using a View Card only)
  • Set or change the notifications that you get from JR East

** You can buy Shinkansen tickets for Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Hokkaido, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansens. You can buy Green Car tickets for JR East trains only.

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