Suica Card Sales to Be Discontinued in Japan

The Suica card is a popular prepaid card used for travel on Japan's railways and subways, but it's about to become a thing of the past. Suica card sales to be discontinued in Japan.

The discontinuation of Suica card sales is not a surprise, given the rise of mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which have become increasingly popular among tourists and locals alike. These digital payment methods are convenient and can be used on many of Japan's transportation systems.

Suica cards will still be usable for travel, but new purchases will no longer be available. This change is likely to affect tourists and visitors who rely on Suica cards for easy travel in Japan.

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Sales of Suica cards have been suspended indefinitely due to the current global semiconductor shortage. Both JR East and Pasmo Co have announced that they have stopped selling Suica cards as of August 2.

The suspension applies to both unregistered and registered Suica cards, where purchasers must provide details such as name and phone number at the point of purchase. Registered cards were previously still available for purchase, but this option is now also discontinued.

However, there are some exceptions to this suspension. Monthly commuter rail passes and the special IC cards for foreign tourists, Pasmo Passport and Welcome Suica, are still available for purchase. Additionally, mobile versions of Suica and Pasmo can be obtained on your phone.

The discontinuation of new Suica card sales is a result of the global shortage of semiconductor chips and raw materials. This shortage has led to a decrease in the demand for physical cards, as virtual payment systems become more popular.

The suspension of Suica card sales is not limited to Tokyo, but also affects other areas where Suica cards are sold. However, it's worth noting that cards will continue to be sold in the Aomori, Morioka, and Akita areas.

Here are some specific types of Suica cards that are still available for purchase:

Sales of Pasmo and Suica cards have been suspended indefinitely due to the global semiconductor shortage.

Both JR East and Pasmo Co have announced that they have stopped selling Pasmo and Suica cards as of August 2.

The sale of unregistered Suica and Pasmo cards were already suspended back in June, and now the sale of registered cards has also been halted.

You can still buy monthly commuter rail passes and special IC cards for foreign tourists, such as the Pasmo Passport and Welcome Suica.

Mobile versions of Suica and Pasmo are also available for download on your phone.

Cards for foreign visitors will be limited to one per person.

Prepaid cards like Suica and Pasmo are convenient, but they can be put on hold when parts are in short supply.

Additional reading: Where to Buy Pasmo or Suica Card