Getting around Japan just became a little more difficult

There’s a problem in Japan. Previously, visitors could arrive in the country, approach the nearest train station and buy an IC card; a prepaid, reloadable transport card that ensures swift and easy access to trains, buses, ferries and more across Japan.

The IC transport card allowed easy access to trains, buses, ferries and more across Japan.Credit: iStock

These cards mean no more buying tickets at subway and train stations for each journey. Just swipe your IC card – usually branded Pasmo or Suica, though it could also be Kitaca, ICOCA or one of various others – and jump on board. Simple. Brilliant.

The trouble now, however, is that there is a critical global shortage of the materials required to produce these cards, and signs are now appearing at Japanese train stations stating that sales of all IC cards have been suspended indefinitely.

So, what can you do? There are options.

The first is to use your phone. For Apple users, go to Wallet, and for Android users, go with Google Pay, and simply add Pasmo or Suica to your payment options. This will allow you to load credit onto your phone, and then you scan that phone as you would a card when entering and leaving public transport.

If you prefer a physical card, there are still a few websites, such as klook.com, selling Pasmo and Suica cards. Though, the cost is marked up a fair way. For example, a card with JPY1500 loaded onto it, plus a JPY500 deposit (which is worth about $AU21 if you were to buy it from a Japanese train station), will cost you $32 online.

That might be worth it, however, particularly if you travel to Japan regularly and will get use out of the card on multiple occasions.

For travellers who might only be planning to visit once, there’s another option: you can still buy both “Pasmo Passport” and “Welcome Suica”, which are special IC cards only available for purchase by foreign tourists.

The hard-to-get IC card.Credit: iStock

Unlike standard IC cards, these special-issue cards expire after 28 days, and any amount of money loaded onto them is not refundable. They’re only available for purchase from a limited number of stations (including at Haneda and Narita airports), and you will need to show your passport to do so.

Another option for travellers is to forget about an IC card, and instead buy an unlimited travel card for the city you’re visiting. In Tokyo, for example, you can buy a five-day Greater Tokyo Pass, which allows unrestricted travel on most train and tram lines, all Tokyo Metro lines, and all bus lines, for ¥7200 ($76) for an adult.

If you’re planning to move around the city a lot, that will be great value, and cheaper than a Pasmo or Suica. Most major cities in Japan offer similar products, also available as one- or two-day passes, which can be purchased at train and metro stations.

Or, of course, you can just buy a single ticket for each ride you take, though the cost of that can quickly blow out.

All of this comes at an unfortunate time for foreign visitors to Japan, given the recent increase in price for the very popular Japan Rail Pass. As of October 1, the cost for this all-encompassing train pass has jumped almost 70 per cent, which may mean it no longer makes financial sense for those only planning to visit a few destinations during their time in Japan.

It also means that, with the unavailability of IC cards, the old rules in Japan no longer apply, and travellers will need to put a little more thought into getting the best deals.