Suica and transport IC cards in Japan

Different regions of Japan have their own transport IC cards, and most can now be used across regions nationwide. This page covers officially published rules only. Prices and sales methods change frequently, so check the official websites before departure. For transport in Fukuoka, see the Fukuoka travel guide.

Key points

• In Fukuoka, you can use the Fukuoka City Subway’s Hayakaken card, as well as nationwide interoperable IC cards such as Suica.
• Welcome Suica (a physical card for visitors to Japan): No deposit, valid for 28 days from the purchase date, and remaining balances cannot be refunded.
• Hayakaken: The purchase price includes a 500 yen deposit. When no longer needed, return the card at a subway station counter to recover the deposit and the remaining balance after fees.
• Welcome Suica Mobile is an iOS app, valid for 180 days from issuance, with no refunds of remaining balances.
• Services such as reissuance, refunds and commuter passes usually have to be handled in the issuing region.

Nationwide interoperability

The official Fukuoka City Subway website states that Hayakaken can be used interchangeably with these regional IC cards: SUGOCA, nimoca, Kitaca, Suica, PASMO, TOICA, manaca, ICOCA and PiTaPa.

Interoperable services include passing ticket gates, taking buses, adding value with cash, checking travel records, purchasing train tickets at ticket machines and electronic-money payments (except PiTaPa).

Services not covered by interoperability: Registering for reissuance or obtaining a replacement, refunds, adding value using points and purchasing commuter passes.

Common cards for visitors to Japan

Card	Issuer	Price/deposit	Validity	Refund
Welcome Suica (physical card)	JR East	No deposit; denominations of 1,000/2,000/3,000/4,000/5,000/10,000 yen	28 days from purchase (the GOOD THRU marking on the card is not its validity period)	Remaining balance not refundable
Welcome Suica Mobile (iOS app)	JR East	Issuance fee not listed on the official introductory page	180 days from issuance	Remaining balance not refundable; card becomes invalid at expiry
Hayakaken	Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau	Denominations from 1,000 to 10,000 yen, including a 500 yen deposit	No expiry period listed on the official page	At a subway station counter or commuter pass sales office: remaining balance minus a 220 yen fee, plus the 500 yen deposit; if the balance is less than 220 yen, only the 500 yen deposit is returned

Welcome Suica (physical card)

• In principle, only one card is sold per person.
• From 27 March 2025, cards can be purchased at JR EAST Travel Service Centers, dedicated ticket machines at Narita Airport Station, Airport Terminal 2 Station and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station, and at stations including Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yokohama and Sendai.
• Maximum stored value is 20,000 yen. Top-ups are possible only with yen cash, not credit cards; you can add value at ticket machines, fare adjustment machines or Seven Bank ATMs in 7-11 stores.
• When purchasing a child’s card, show proof of the child’s identity, such as a passport.
• At purchase you receive a “reference paper” showing the validity period. It is not displayed on the card; keep the paper safe.

Note: Welcome Suica sales locations are concentrated in the Kanto region and at Narita and Haneda airports; Fukuoka is not among the listed sales points. If you already have Suica, Fukuoka City Subway’s official page confirms that it is a nationally interoperable card.

Hayakaken

• Buy the card at ticket machines marked “Hayakaken” at Fukuoka City Subway stations (the official page says these are installed at every station, including Fukuoka Airport Station), or at commuter pass sales offices such as those at Hakata and Tenjin.
• Unregistered card: No personal information is required, and it is available only for adults. Lost cards cannot be reissued. It can later be registered by providing personal details, but a registered card cannot be converted back into an unregistered one.
• Registered card: Requires your name, gender, date of birth and phone number at purchase; only the named person may use it. Lost cards can be reissued (520 yen handling fee plus a 500 yen deposit for a new card, totalling 1,020 yen).
• Select a purchase amount of 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen. This includes the 500 yen deposit, which cannot be used for fares.
• Official identification, such as a passport, is required to buy a child’s card.
• Returning a card: At a subway station counter or commuter pass sales office, receive the remaining balance minus a 220 yen fee plus the 500 yen deposit. If the balance is below 220 yen, only the 500 yen deposit is returned. Refunds must be handled by Fukuoka City Subway and cannot be obtained in other interoperable regions.
• The card can be used in interoperable regions nationwide.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the GOOD THRU marking is the expiry date: Welcome Suica is valid for 28 days from purchase; check the reference paper issued at purchase.
• Assuming the balance is refundable: Welcome Suica balances cannot be refunded.
• Adding value to a physical card with a credit card: Physical cards can be topped up only with yen cash.
• Requesting a refund for a card from another region: Refunds and replacements must be handled in the issuing region.

Official links

• JR East Welcome Suica
• Welcome Suica Mobile
• Fukuoka City Subway Hayakaken