Yes, you can. IC cards become invalid if they are not used for 10 years, which is not the case for your card.

It depends on the country your driver's license is from. It is explaind here: www.japan-guide.com/e/e2024.html

Half of the video was shot in Kumamoto.

Yes, like we mention in the video, the IC Cards shown on the map at 0:33 can all be used interchangeably nationwide (within the IC areas).

​@@japanguideah! I didn't get it haha thanks for clarifying! Question though, does it mean I can't use my ICOCA if I'm gonna do Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto route?

No, transportation around Takayama and along the Alpine Route cannot be paid with IC cards. This video sequence shows a rough coverage area of IC cards: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hJN8rZtpvLWse2w.htmlsi=zzfqv7m2-I4Jsw9E&t=59

@@japanguide thanks! ❤️

You’re welcome! And have a nice trip! :)

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Kansai One Pass!

コメントありがとうございます！

The problem with foreign credit cards similarly affects SmartEX and unfortunatelly many other payment systems in Japan. We purposely omitted it from the video because the situation could potentially (and hopefully) change in the near future, but KZfaq does not allow videos to be modified.

Having it on the phone definitely makes it more convenient!

It is pretty convenient indeed!

did you even watch the video? your question is answered... you must be a bot.

Correct, you can use Smart EX to purchase the reserved seats and designate an IC Card to be used at the gate. We actually mention it that service in the video as the "Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen Online Reservation Service" which is the name of the website. SmartEX is the name of their smartphone app (which is only available to some countries).

@@japanguide yes I cannot currently get the app in my country (New Zealand) however once I land in Japan does that mean id be able to get it then or not? if not how else would I be able to get on the Shinkansen ? thanks for the video very helpful :)

No almost all around the country as long as the IC logo is available, you can use that. But, it is better to say the local name of the IC brand in those areas, such as ICOCA in Kansai, Suica in Kanto. The one mentioned in the video that you cannot use is the cross area, such as from Tokyo (Suica), you get off in Shizuoka (Toica) you must go to the station master at the gate to process the cross border data transfer (just tapping in the special machine).

Did you actually watch the video? That question is answered!

You're welcome! ☺️

"every other developed nation" yeah right. Come to Germany and go to different cities/regioons. Try buying poblic transport tickets in each. Find out there is no single card, that you can use in all of the regions. Try paying with your precious credit card in a bus outside of any major city (hint: wont work - either cash or mayyyybe an EC card, but 99% of the time no credit card). The whole of Germany does not have a prepaid card that you can use a) nationwide, regardless where you bought it b) use with vending machines (need to one here first) c) use in a lot of shops d) use in a lot of restaurants. Come to Berlin, where you can buy public transport tickets at vending machines or employee operated counters, which you have to stamp manually at the platform or when entering the bus. But buy your ticket directly in the bus and you don't need to stamp it, as it's stamped at printing. Find out, that Berlin has three different fare zones and you MUST know BEFORE you travel, which zones you will need. No tapping a oh-so-shitty IC card against a gate to scan in and then scan out anywhere you leave to have the exact fare deducted automatically. Yeah, totally bad system. Sheesh...

I find IC cards super convenient and easy to use across Japan. And the digital IC cards can be recharged with credit card. On our recent trip to the Mt. Fuji area, many of the buses accepted credit card as a form of payment, in addition to IC card or cash. As far as "merchants" many of them do accept credit cards, paying by IC card is just another option. 🌸Heidi

👍 Yes, Suica iPhone app worked perfectly on my Tokyo trip in April, I had it linked to my Apple card. Worked everywhere I expected it would. Super convenient - highly recommend! 😎

Good point about the cash! As for Pasmo Passport, it will be discontinued this summer, so we intentionally omitted it.

sorry, I'm afraid i get the "recharge" meaning wrongly.. does it mean you only can top up your IC card with cash only once? if yes, then for the second until next, how do you top up the card? or do you mean refundable to cash?

@@keikezia11 It can be recharged as often as you like, but only with cash

@@SandroMathys oh i see. noted! thank you for the advice!

They cost 2000 yen, and only 500 is for the card. 1500 of that is preloaded on the card.

It doesn't omit either of those things. It mentions that they are nonrefundable and that you must be an international tourist to buy it. Also, the Suica one is either 1,000 or 2,000, not 1,500.

@@kevlarcardhouse252 Why are you being so defensive for them? Did they include the information that I mentioned? You don't think they knew? I paid 1500 yen for my Pasmo card. Just a month ago. If you are going to rebut know what you are talking about and come back with accurate info. I was only trying to provide info for new travelers to Japan. You're just being an A hole.

@@boxerblake1 For the tourist Pasmo, it's 1500 yen. Plus what ever you want to add. 500 yen is for the people living in Japan. That card is refundable but you cannot obtain one due to chip shortage.

If by tourist Pasmo card you are referring to the Pasmo Passport card, we do not mention it in the video because the card will be discontinued in a few months. The Welcome Suica does not require a purchase fee, you pay for the amount of initial balance of the card, either 1,000 or 2,000 yen.