ICOCA for Visitors (2026): Card, iPhone or Suica for Osaka and Kyoto?

If you already have Suica or PASMO, you don't need ICOCA: they work on the same trains, subways and buses in Kansai. If you are starting in Osaka, get ICOCA. It is ¥2,000 at a station machine, including a ¥500 deposit, or with no deposit when added to an iPhone.

We checked prices, top-up limits and refund rules on JR West's official ICOCA pages on 6–7 November 2026.

Covering Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima in one go? A JR West rail pass can beat paying ICOCA fares for long trips. Compare them first.

Kansai Hiroshima Pass on Klook ↗

By How to Book Japan Editorial TeamLast checked Nov 7, 2026

Some links on this page are affiliate links. ICOCA itself is only sold by JR West, and we tell you where.

The short version

Price

¥2,000, including a ¥500 depositSome machines also sell ¥1,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 cards, deposit included.

On iPhone

ICOCA in Apple Wallet: no depositiPhone 8 or later with iOS 16 or later.

Visitors-only design

¥2,000 (¥500 deposit), one per personSold at the JR ticket office at Kansai Airport Station. Passport and Temporary Visitor status required.

Top up

¥1,000 to ¥10,000 at a time, up to ¥20,000 on the card

Refund

Deposit back, minus a ¥220 fee on the balanceApple Wallet ICOCA can't be refunded in Wallet.

Already have Suica?

Keep using it. It works in Kansai.

Do I need ICOCA if I have Suica?

No. ICOCA, Suica, PASMO and the other nationwide IC cards accept each other. A Suica from Tokyo pays for JR West trains, the Osaka Metro, private railways and Kyoto city buses.

One exception: JR West lists PiTaPa as excluded from the shared shopping service. That only matters if you hold a PiTaPa; for train and bus fares it works like the others.

Starting your trip in Tokyo? See Suica for visitors.

Which ICOCA should I get?

iPhone

ICOCA in Apple Wallet

Add it in Wallet and top up with Apple Pay. No deposit. Works on Apple Watch too.

Any phone, landing at Kansai Airport

Visitors' design ICOCA

A special design for short-term visitors. JR West's page shows the Wind and Thunder Gods and HARUKA 30th Anniversary designs. ¥2,000 including the deposit. The Hello Kitty version is sold out.

Any phone, any station

Regular ICOCA

¥2,000 at JR West ticket machines, including the ¥500 deposit. ¥1,500 of that is fare you can spend.

Android

Mobile ICOCA

An Android app that needs a WESTER ID and a credit card. Check JR West's list of supported phones before you rely on it; otherwise use a card or an iPhone.

How do I buy an ICOCA at the station?

Find a JR West ticket machine

At Kansai Airport Station, use a JR West machine, not a Nankai one.

Choose ICOCA and the amount

The standard card is ¥2,000. Some machines also offer ¥1,000 up to ¥10,000; each includes the ¥500 deposit.

Pay at the machine

Bring yen in cash and pay on the screen.

Tap in and go

Touch the card to the reader at the gate going in and coming out.

Want data for route apps from the moment you land?

Japan eSIM on Klook ↗

Going into the city from the airport? See Kansai Airport to Osaka and Kansai Airport to Kyoto. For the HARUKA airport express, JR West sells a visitors' Discounted One-way Ticket (prices for tickets sold from 1 November 2026): ¥1,900 to Osaka or Shin-Osaka, ¥2,700 to Kyoto. Buy it before you arrive; it isn't sold inside Japan.

How does ICOCA on iPhone work?

Devices

iPhone 8 or later with iOS 16.0 or later; Apple Watch Series 3 or later with watchOS 8.7.1 or later

Your card

Issued in a country or region that supports Apple Pay, and added to Wallet

Top-up cards

Visa, Mastercard, JCB or American Express logo on the cardJR West says some cards are not supported.

Express Transit

Set ICOCA as your Express Transit card and tap without unlocking

Refund

Not possible in Apple WalletLoad small amounts and use them up.

Can I get my money back before I fly home?

For a plastic ICOCA, yes. Return it at a JR West ticket office: you get the ¥500 deposit back, plus your balance minus a ¥220 fee. If the balance is no more than the fee, you get only the ¥500 deposit.

Simpler: spend the balance to zero at a convenience store, then hand the card back for the deposit. Or keep the card for your next trip: under JR West's IC card rules, a card can only be cancelled after 10 years with no use or top-up.

ICOCA or a pass?

For city days, ICOCA is enough. Passes win on long JR trips or heavy subway days.

Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima

Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass

JR West trains and Sanyo Shinkansen in the area for 5 days. Pays off with a Hiroshima round trip.

Kansai Hiroshima Pass on Klook ↗Is it worth it? →

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Osaka sightseeing

Osaka Amazing Pass

Osaka Metro and city buses plus free entry to many sights.

Osaka Amazing Pass on Klook ↗Is it worth it? →

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What if…?

…the gate won't open?

Check the balance. If it is too low for the fare, top up at a fare adjustment machine and tap again. If it still won't open, ask the staff at the staffed gate.

…I want to top up more than ¥20,000?

You can't: the card holds up to ¥20,000. Top up again as you spend.

…I'm riding the Shinkansen?

For Shinkansen trips, buy a ticket or book online. How to book the Shinkansen →

What we checked

Official pages checked on 6–7 November 2026

JR West ICOCA site (Japanese): card ¥2,000 including ¥500 deposit; some machines sell ¥1,000–¥10,000 cards; top-ups of ¥1,000–¥10,000, balance capped at ¥20,000; deposit returned on refund, or only the deposit if the balance is at or below the fee; Apple Pay and Mobile ICOCA cards have no deposit.

JR West visitors' ICOCA page (English): visitors' design ICOCA ¥2,000 (¥500 deposit), one per person, non-Japanese passport and Temporary Visitor status, sold at the Kansai Airport Station ticket office; Hello Kitty design sold out.

JR West ICOCA on Apple Pay page (English): device and card requirements, Visa/Mastercard/JCB/American Express top-ups, no refunds in Apple Wallet.

ICOCA area page: mutual use with Kitaca, PASMO, Suica, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, Hayakaken, nimoca and SUGOCA areas; PiTaPa excluded from shared e-money.

JR West IC card rules (revised 17 March 2026), article 14: a card may be cancelled after 10 years with no exchange, use, top-up or pass renewal.

Planning Osaka and Kyoto?

With ICOCA in your pocket, the subway and buses are simple. See what is worth booking ahead in each city.

Osaka: what to book →Kyoto: what to book →Kansai Hiroshima Pass on Klook ↗

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