ICoca Card vs Suica: A Comparison of Japan's IC Cards

You can purchase an IC card at any major train station, including Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station. The IC card is a prepaid card that can be used to pay for fares on trains, buses, and subways.

IC cards can be purchased with a deposit of 2,000 yen, which is refundable when you return the card. Suica and ICOCA cards are two popular IC card options in Japan.

Suica cards are issued by JR East, while ICOCA cards are issued by JR West. Both cards can be used on JR trains, but Suica cards can also be used on Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.

ICoca Card and Suica are both prepaid IC cards designed for easy travel in Japan. They can be used to pay for public transportation, including trains, buses, and subways.

Both ICoca Card and Suica offer convenient and efficient payment methods. ICoca Card, for example, can be used to pay for train fares on the JR East network.

Using the app for your ICoca Card or Suica can be super convenient. You can download the Suica or PASMO app to use it for additional services on your card.

You can create a new Suica or PASMO card through the app, which is great for replacing a lost card or getting a new one.

To buy a Shinkansen or Green Car ticket, you'll need to use the app. You can purchase tickets for Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Hokkaido, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansens, as well as Green Car tickets for JR East trains only.

The app also allows you to set up auto-reload using a View Card only, which is a great feature if you want to avoid running out of money on your card.

Here are some additional features you can access through the app:

ICoca Card and Suica are both prepaid IC cards that can be used for transportation on various train lines in Japan.

You can use ICoca Card and Suica at over 1,000 train stations in Japan, making it a convenient option for tourists and locals alike.

Each IC card has a unique serial number and a balance that can be checked at any time.

Suica cards have a 10,000 yen deposit fee, which is refundable when you return the card.

ICoca Card and Suica cards can be purchased at most train stations in Japan.

The IC cards can be recharged at IC card recharge machines or at ticket vending machines.

Using ICoca Card and Suica, you'll likely encounter other Japanese IC cards. These include Kitaca in Hokkaido, Manaca in the Nagoya area, and Sugoca in southern Japan (Kyushu).

You can also use a Suica card in these areas, but some exceptions apply. If you're mainly traveling around Japan by subways, trains, or buses, IC cards are the easiest way to go.

The machines of various railway companies may vary slightly, but most of them work similarly.

The ICoca card and Suica card are both popular IC cards in Japan, but they have some key differences.

The ICoca card is a joint card of JR East and other private railways, while Suica is a card of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) alone.

Suica has a wider acceptance area, including JR East lines and some private railways, whereas ICoca has a more limited acceptance area, mostly limited to JR East lines.

One advantage of ICoca is that it can be used for more types of transactions, such as at some convenience stores and vending machines, in addition to train travel.

Suica, on the other hand, has a more user-friendly interface and can be easily refilled at any JR East station.

ICoca, however, has a more extensive network of partner merchants, including some major department stores and restaurants.

Ultimately, the choice between ICoca and Suica depends on your specific needs and preferences.