🇯🇵 Transit and Digital Payments Essential Transit Checklist for Japan

How to Set Up and Reload Digital Suica or Pasmo on iPhone

Adding digital Suica or Pasmo cards to Apple Wallet lets you pay for public transit and convenience store purchases across Japan without a physical card. You can reload your balance through Apple Pay or add cash at local convenience stores and ATMs if card payments fail.

As of 2026-08-25

This is the Transit and Digital Payments item for a trip to Japan. The 3 checkpoints below can only be settled properly before you leave — put them off and you queue at an airport desk or spend the first day on them instead. Work through them once and nothing has to be reopened.

Key checkpoints

Open the Apple Wallet app, tap the plus icon, add a Japanese Suica or Pasmo transit card, and set it as your Express Transit card.
Reload funds directly in the Wallet app using Mastercard, JCB, or American Express cards linked to Apple Pay, noting that some Visa cards may be restricted.
If your balance runs low or card transactions fail, place your device on the terminal at convenience store counters or Seven Bank ATMs to reload with cash.

What to do before departure, in order

Two rules decide the order. First, anything with a deadline — pre-registration, bookings, documents to be issued: miss the cut-off and there is no substitute. Then whatever also works locally, which costs little to postpone.

Most of the items above can only be done before you leave. After arrival, patchy connectivity and opening hours make them harder, so finish what you can while you are still at home.

What to pay attention to in Japan

Japan has digitised its entry procedure, so registering in advance cuts airport queueing time considerably. Cash is still dominant in parts of the country, though, so arriving with cards only can leave you stuck.

Mains voltage is 110V, so some appliances from home will not work directly — check your adapter.

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