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Location | Usable nationwide Distributed in the Kantō region, Niigata area, and Tōhoku region |
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Launched | April 8 – July 8, 2001: Piloted at 57 stations November 18, 2001: Official launch at 424 stations |
Technology | |
Manager | JR East |
Currency | Japanese yen (¥20,000 maximum load) |
Stored-value | Pay as you go |
Credit expiry | Ten years after last use[1] |
Retailed |
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Variants |
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Website | www |
Suica (Japanese pronunciation: スイカ, Suika) is a prepaid rechargeable contactless smart card and electronic money system used as a fare card on train lines and other public transport systems in Japan, launched on November 18, 2001, by JR East. The card can be used across the nation as part of Japan's Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.[3][4] The card is also widely used as electronic money for purchases at stores and kiosks, especially at convenience stores and within train stations. In 2018, JR East reported that Suica was used for 6.6 million daily transactions.[5] As of October 2023, 95.64 million Suica (including Mobile Suica) have been issued, and 1.63 million stores accept payment via Suica's digital currency.[6]
Since Suica is completely interchangeable with PASMO (see Interoperation), it is supported on virtually any train, tramway, or bus system in Tokyo and the Greater Tokyo Area (excluding various limited and shinkansen trains, as well as some local buses).