Do you want to commute & do shopping in quicker way, even save your time and money?

If you are working in Japan, you might have been paid for the trains.
What about the travelers and the people who study in Japan? You have to pay for the travel by yourselves.. As you may know, it’s not so cheap to take the trains if it is everyday or very often.

There is a commuter pass with technology introduced. It is called “SUICA” and its catch phrase by JR East is “Touch and Go” which means you don’t have to insert the card but just touch the small black window at the ticket checking machine without taking out it out from the pass case.
Even more, now you can use this card for shopping too.

What is SUICA?
According to JR East website, SUICA is an abbreviation for “Super Urban Intelligent Card” Also, “IC card which you can go SUI SUI”
(SUI SUI means “lightly/smoothly/easily”)
SUICA is not only a commuter pass, but also a prepaid card and electric money.

Did you know you can buy/eat with SUICA???
SUICA contains the function of “electric money”. Now you can buy/eat at the designated shops inside or outside of the station, if you have your SUICA charged enough. You don’t have to take your wallet and coins, but just one card.
Which shops can I use SUICA for shopping? (the trademark of SUICA is a lovely penguin)

Convenience store: NEWDAYS, NEW DAYS MINI
Book Store: BOOK GARDEN
Fast Food: Sandiinu EXPRESS, BECKERS
Stationery: MUJIRUSHI RYOHIN com KIOSK, RANKIN RANKIN
Coffee Shop: BECK’S
Souvenir: GIFT GARDEN, MEIHINKAN
Obento(lunch box): OBENTO BAITEN
Restaurants: BURABOO, GOOD TIMES
BEER HALL: AMEPOTE TOKYO, LONDON PUB, IRISH PUB STASIUN,
UDON NOODLE: SANUKI UDON NRE & MERIKEN-YA
SUSHI: UZUSHIO

Info by JR EAST Suica leaflet published on Jul.4.2004
The numbers of the shops which suica is available is growing. Latest info (Japanese only)

What are other functions of Suica?
1. You can go throw the ticket checker machine with “Touch and Go”
2. “Charging money in advance” If enough money charged on Suica,, you can use it even you take/get off the train out of the section of your pass.
3. The ticket checker machine will do the fare adjustment automatically. You don’t have to wait the long line at the fare adjustment machine.

SUICA information on JR EAST (Japanese only)

Trains and subways are one of the most useful ways to move around Japan.
There are trains and subways which are linked with each other, and it’s like a complicated spider’s web. People use trains and subways not only for traveling but also for commuting.. Great numbers of people commute in the morning and in the evening.
This time we focus on the trains.

Map of trains:
East Japan train map
West Japan train map

When you arrive in the station, buy ticket at the ticket machine, and go through the ticket checking machine. Once you are in the station, colored signs and electric time schedule boards written both in Japanese and in English will lead you to the right place.

For further train information:
JR East
JR West