I decided to do a second post, a travel guide about Suica (IC Card) once again, but not for traveling (if you want to see my travel guides for Suica in regards to traveling, please click here), but purchasing from stores, restaurants, entertainment areas and vending machines in Tokyo.
Yes, your Suica (and sometimes Pasmo card) can be used to purchase from stores and vending machines and also at restaurants and entertainment centers.
*NOTE: Suica and Pasmo are IC Cards sold in Tokyo. Other prefectures have their own IC cards. While IC Cards can be used for travel at stations that take IC cards in Japan, in terms of using it at stores/restaurants outside of Tokyo, you may need to ask.
As many use their Suica (or an IC Card) to deposit money to ride the trains and buses, I find my card to be very useful for many things.
I. Purchasing drinks, foods or goods at a station
For example, vending machines at a station. Let’s say that you are very thirsty but don’t have any yen on you, well, if you look at the vending machine, it may take Suica (look for a green Suica logo) or Pasmo cards (look for a pink logo) like the one in the photo below.
As you can see, there is an OC card reader. Just flash your card to the front and purchase. It’s that easy!
For the most part, many of the vending machines and stores at a stations in Tokyo take Suica or Pasmo cards to pay for goods.
II. Convenience Stores
Let’s say you don’t want to use funds from your credit card but you have a lot of money in your Suica or Pasmo Card. No problem! Many convenience stores take them.
III. Fast Food Restaurants
You’ll notice on the front door or wall, of payments taken at fast food restaurants and will see the Suica or Pasmo card logo on the window.
ADVICE…
So, as you can see, many places do take an IC card for payment.
But with that being said, I’m going to emphasize this… DO NOT LOOK AT YOUR IC CARD AS A PRIMARY SOURCE TO PAY FOR GOODS!
You will still want to have a credit card or debit card (with VISA or Mastercard) with you, not just to pay for things but also to withdraw money from an ATM (at 7-Eleven). Many restaurants, especially those where you must purchase a ticket, only takes yen. Many major shopping complexes take major credit cards.
If anything, look at the SUICA/PASMO IC Card as a third option to pay for things. If you see the Suica or Pasmo logo on the window or when you pay at the cashier, then you know you can look to your IC Card to pay for it.
I went karaoke with a friend and I was about to pay via yen, but saw that the place took Suica, so I paid via Suica.
While my Suica Card is primarily for traveling on the train and bus, it’s cool to know that restaurants, stores and vending machines offer that convenience for people to pay via Suica.
And remember, if you want to add more money (the word is “Charge”) to your Suica, look for the green Suica machines (or pink for Pasmo), quite often you can use any IC card to charge on these machines. And if you want to purchase a Suica, look for the black machine right next to the green machines.
