Japan’s IC card system, such as Suica, ICOCA, and PASMO, offers great convenience for local travel. However, when it comes to long-distance travel, things get a bit tricky due to Japan’s unique IC card area restrictions. If you’re wondering whether you can use Suica to travel from Osaka to Nagoya or between other major cities, this guide will help you understand the limitations and alternative options.

How Does Japan’s IC Card System Work?

IC cards like Suica, ICOCA, and SUGOCA are rechargeable smart cards used for public transportation and electronic payments. Each IC card is tied to a specific region:

• Suica: Greater Tokyo and surrounding areas
• ICOCA: Kansai region (including Osaka and Kyoto)
• TOICA: Nagoya and central Japan
• SUGOCA: Kyushu region (including Fukuoka)
• Kitaca: Hokkaido region (Sapporo and surrounding areas)
• IruCa: Shikoku region (Takamatsu and nearby areas)

In 2013, the Nationwide IC Card Compatibility Service was launched, allowing IC cards like Suica, ICOCA, PASMO, TOICA, manaca, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca, and Hayakaken to be used interchangeably for local transportation across Japan.

However, while these cards can be used interchangeably across Japan for local transportation, they cannot be used for travel across different IC card areas when passing through ticket gates.

Therefore, when traveling long distances in Japan, it’s crucial to check whether your starting point and destination belong to different IC card areas. If they do, you won’t be able to simply tap your IC card at the gate. Instead, you’ll need to purchase a paper ticket or pay the fare adjustment when exiting the station.

Japan IC card area map

This picture is from Central Japan Railway Company Official Website

To help you understand the IC card boundaries, here’s a quick breakdown of the major IC card areas:

• Suica / PASMO: Tokyo and surrounding Kanto region
• ICOCA / PiTaPa: Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
• TOICA / manaca: Nagoya and central Japan
• SUGOCA / nimoca / はやかけん(hayakaken): Kyushu region (Fukuoka, Kumamoto)
• Kitaca: Hokkaido region
• IruCa: Shikoku region

Can Suica Be Used for Long-Distance Travel?

The short answer is yes, but with limitations. Suica, or the other IC cards, can only be used for journeys within the same IC card area. For example, traveling within the Tokyo metropolitan area or between nearby cities like Yokohama and Chiba is possible with Suica.

However, traveling from Osaka (ICOCA area) to Nagoya (TOICA area) is not allowed with Suica or any other IC card. Crossing into a different IC card region requires purchasing a regular train ticket or using the Shinkansen.

Why can’t IC cards cross different areas?

Although the IC card system is interoperable across Japan, each IC card area operates independently. Therefore, IC cards cannot be used to cross between different areas when passing through ticket gates. For instance, if you enter a station in the Suica area (like Tokyo Station) and attempt to exit at a station in the TOICA area (like Numazu Station in Shizuoka), the gate will not open.

The reason behind this limitation lies in the cost and complexity of integrating fare calculation systems across different railway companies. For example, when PASMO was introduced, about 1.23 billion fare patterns were tested, and over 400,000 tests were conducted over 16 months to ensure compatibility with Suica.

What do Japanese locals say about this?

Many Japanese travelers have shared their experiences online. For instance:

Best Travel Tips for Visitors

If you’re planning to travel across multiple regions, here’s what we recommend:

• Use an IC card for local transportation within each city or region
• Purchase a standard ticket or use the Shinkansen for inter-city travel
• Consider getting a JR Pass if you’re planning multiple long-distance journeys

While Suica and other IC cards are incredibly convenient for local travel, their usage is restricted to specific areas when it comes to long-distance travel. For journeys between different IC card zones, such as from Osaka to Nagoya, purchasing a regular ticket or using the Shinkansen is the best option.

By understanding these IC card area restrictions, you can make your journey across Japan smoother and avoid unnecessary confusion.