ICOCA is a transportation IC card issued by JR West in Japan, similar to the Suica card used in the western region of Japan. The name “ICOCA” stands for “IC Operating CArd,” and it also sounds like the Kansai dialect phrase “行こか！(Ikoka!)” meaning “Let’s go!” The card design features a light blue color scheme with a platypus character named “カモノハシのイコちゃん (Kamonohashi no Iko-chan)” instead of Suica’s penguin.

Like Suica, ICOCA can be used to pay fares for trains and subways, as well as for shopping at stores that accept transportation IC cards. When the card’s balance is low, it can be recharged at recharge machines available at stations.

If you’re starting your trip in Japan from Osaka, you can buy an ICOCA card there and use it in Tokyo.

Can I use ICOCA in Tokyo?

Yes, you can smoothly use ICOCA in Tokyo!

Just as Suica is used for transportation in cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe in the Kansai region, ICOCA can be used for trains and subways in Tokyo, Yokohama, and other cities in the Kanto region. Thanks to Japan’s “Kōtsūkei IC Kādo Zenkoku Sōgo Riyo Sābisu” (Nationwide Interoperability of Transportation IC Cards), ICOCA can also be used for transportation in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido.

As of June 2023, Suica card sales were temporarily suspended due to chip shortages, but there is no such suspension for ICOCA cards in the Kansai region.

You may also want to read:

Must-Read for Travel in Osaka: Where to Get and Top-Up ICOCA Cards?

Using Suica in Osaka and the Kansai Area: What You Need to Know

Railways in Tokyo Area Where ICOCA Card Can Be Used

• JR East (except for some stations on the Kururi Line and Karasuyama Line)
• JR Tokai (limited to the Gotemba Line)

*However, if you board the train using ICOCA at JR East stations and exit at JR Tokai stations, you will need to purchase a separate ticket.

• Major Private Railway Companies (e.g., Tobu Line, Seibu Line, Keio Line, Odakyu Line, Tokyu Line, Keikyu Line, Keisei Electric Railway, Sotetsu Line)
• Tokyo Metro
• Toei Subway
• Toden Arakawa Line
• Nippori-Toneri Liner
• Tokyo Monorail
• Rinkai Line
• Yurikamome
• Tama Monorail
• Yokohama Municipal Subway
• Minatomirai Line
• Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden)
• Shonan Monorail
• Hakone Tozan Railway
• Izu Hakone Railway (limited to the Daiyūzan-sen Line)
• Tsukuba Express
• Saitama High-Speed Railway
• Kitasō Railway
• Disney Resort Line
• Chichibu Railway

And many more.

ICOCA Usage Tips in Tokyo

However, there are some important things to note when using ICOCA in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region.

Note: ICOCA cannot be used for Cross-Region travel.

If you plan on using an IC card for transportation when visiting cities in both the Kansai region of Japan, such as Osaka and Kyoto, and the Kanto region such as Tokyo and Yokohama, there is an important point to keep in mind. You cannot use your IC card for cross-region travel. This means that you cannot use Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, or any other IC card for travel between different regions.

Regional Coverage of Japan’s IC Cards

Image source: JR Central TOICA Official Website

First, let’s explain what “cross-region travel” means in the context of Japan’s transportation IC cards. There are many different IC card brands across Japan, and each one is tied to a specific geographic region.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the major IC cards and their corresponding service areas:

• Suica / PASMO: Tokyo and the Kanto region
• ICOCA / PiTaPa: Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
• TOICA / manaca: Nagoya and the Chubu region
• SUGOCA / nimoca / Hayakaken: Kyushu (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, etc.)
• Kitaca: Hokkaido
• IruCa: Shikoku

Although a nationwide IC card interoperability system was introduced in 2013—allowing you to use Suica in the ICOCA area and vice versa—full cross-region fare integration still hasn’t been realized.

What Happens with Cross-Region Travel?

If your journey spans multiple IC card service areas, unfortunately, your IC card won’t cover the full route. In such cases, you’ll need to either purchase a paper ticket in advance or settle the fare difference before exiting.

For example, the boundary between the Suica and TOICA service areas is Atami Station in Shizuoka Prefecture. If you board at Tokyo Station and use an IC card to ride past Atami, getting off at Numazu Station, you won’t be able to tap out—you’ll need to pay the fare difference at the station.

Additional examples:

• If you take the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo, your trip crosses ICOCA, TOICA, and Suica zones. That means you cannot use ICOCA for this journey.
• Taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sendai or Aomori may seem like it’s all within the Suica area. However, JR East subdivides the Suica region into smaller internal zones (Tokyo metropolitan, Sendai, Niigata, Aomori, Morioka, Akita, etc.), so if your trip crosses those internal divisions, you still can’t use ICOCA directly.

In general, long-distance cross-region train rides require a paper ticket. IC cards simply aren’t designed to support these extended rides. That said, when purchasing your ticket from machines or staffed counters that accept IC card payment, you can use your IC card to pay for the paper ticket.

In short, when riding long-distance across multiple IC card regions, you can’t just tap and go like you would on local trains. Whether it’s a conventional JR line or the Shinkansen, you’ll almost always need to make a reservation or buy a ticket in advance.

ICOCA can NOT be purchased in Tokyo

If you want to get an ICOCA card, you must visit the Kansai region.

ICOCA is primarily a transportation card for the western region of Japan, such as Osaka and Kyoto, issued by JR West. Therefore, it is not possible to purchase ICOCA at JR East stations in the Suica area or PASMO area.

Similarly, Suica or PASMO cards are not available for purchase at JR West stations in the ICOCA area.

ICOCA can be recharged in Tokyo

If you already have an ICOCA card, you can easily recharge it in the Tokyo area. Recharge locations include JR East stations, certain subway stations, and convenience stores. Recharge machines are usually located near ticket counters and have user interfaces in multiple languages. Follow the instructions on the screen, place your ICOCA card on the designated area, select the recharge amount, and proceed with payment.

The recharge amount options are flexible, allowing you to adjust according to your needs, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand yen.

Not Available for purchasing Green Car tickets in Tokyo

ICOCA can be used for riding subways, buses, and regular train cars in Tokyo and its surrounding areas. However, it cannot be used to purchase Green Car tickets on JR East trains.

Green Car refers to the premium class cars offered by JR East, providing passengers with a more comfortable and high-quality travel experience. These tickets must be purchased through specific methods, and ICOCA is not included. To experience the Green Car service, buy special tickets at JR stations in Tokyo.

Not Available for creating commuter passes in Tokyo and the surrounding areas

ICOCA commuter passes can only be created in the ICOCA area, such as JR West. They cannot be created in the Suica or PASMO areas of JR East. This is because ICOCA and Suica/PASMO belong to different transportation card systems, and commuter passes for different regions are distinct.

ICOCA can NOT be used on certain trains in Tokyo and the surrounding areas

When planning your travel in Tokyo and its surrounding areas, be aware that certain trains do not accept ICOCA as a payment method. One example is the Chiba Monorail.

The Chiba Monorail is a light rail transit system in Chiba Prefecture, connecting various areas within Chiba City and providing convenient transportation options for local residents and visitors. However, ICOCA cannot be used as a payment method when riding the Chiba Monorail. Please be prepared with cash or use other applicable transportation cards.

ICOCA can NOT be used on Shinkansen trains

ICOCA cannot be used for Shinkansen travel, including JR East Shinkansen trains, the Tokaido Shinkansen in the JR Tokai region, and the Sanyo Shinkansen within the JR West region. For Shinkansen travel, consider services like JR East’s “Touch and Go! Shinkansen,” “Shinkansen e-Ticket,” or the “SmartEX Service” by JR Tokai, JR West, and JR Kyushu.

All the pictures are from：ICOCA：JRおでかけネット