Suica Available, How to Import to iPhone (Video), Planes vs Trains

The latest info just in time for your spring trip

Suica Available Again in Tokyo

I have just confirmed that Suica cards are once again available in Tokyo and at Haneda and Narita airports. You must show a passport with a temporary visitor visa and pay in cash (you can choose a Y1000 or Y2000 card, which include a Y500 deposit). There’s a limit of one card per person. The cards are sold by JR Travel Service Centers in places like Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station, as well as at the aforementioned airports. The situation with IC cards like Suica is constantly changing, so keep an eye on this space and on InsideKyoto to find out the latest details.

JR East Travel Service Center on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station

New Video: How to Import a Physical IC Card into Your iPhone

A physical IC card like Suica or Icoca is an incredibly convenient way to pay for things in Japan. But it’s even better if you can install a digital IC card on your iPhone and link it to your Apple Wallet because you can top it up via a credit card. We describe how to install a digital IC card here here. However, if your Apple Wallet isn’t linked to a MasterCard or American Express card, then you can’t install a digital IC. But there’s a great workaround for this: You can buy a physical IC card like Suica (available again in Tokyo; see above) or Icoca and import it into your iPhone. You can then charge it with Japanese cash. Sounds complicated, I know, but it’s very easy. My friend Mike Rogers, creator of the fantastic Slowsteading YouTube channel, made a video for me explaining how to do it.

Should You Fly or Take the Shinkansen in Japan?

Since the Japan Rail Pass jumped 70% in price last year, many people are wondering whether they should fly domestically instead of taking the shinkansen. The question is: How do you decide? I recently published a page called Plane or Train in Japan to answer this question.

In the article, I explain the general rule: if the journey is going to be longer than 450km (280 miles) or 3.5 hours, then you should consider flying. I also include two maps to show what this looks like when traveling from Tokyo or Kyoto/Osaka (take the train within the circle, fly beyond the circle):

Cherry Blossoms Starting to Pop in Kyoto

Here’s a shot I took recently of some early blooming cherry trees along the Kamo-gawa River in Kyoto. Looks like it’s going to be a historic cherry blossom season.