Welcome Suica App Enables Ticketless Shinkansen Reservations for Tourists

A new way for visitors to ride bullet trains with only an iPhone

JR East has tied its Welcome Suica Mobile app to the company’s reservation system, giving international visitors a simple path to reserve and ride many JR East Shinkansen and limited express trains without paper tickets. Travelers can now book seats in the app and use an iPhone or Apple Watch to pass ticket gates, then take their reserved seats on several bullet train lines in eastern and northern Japan. The move turns Welcome Suica from a handy transit and shopping wallet into a practical tool for long distance rail travel.

Welcome Suica began in 2019 as a time limited IC transit card made for visitors. It works on most trains and buses in eastern Japan and is accepted as e money at millions of stores nationwide where Suica is supported. In March 2025, JR East released Welcome Suica Mobile for iPhone and Apple Watch. The digital version can be issued and topped up in the app and, after an update rolling out in October 2025, it now links ticketless Shinkansen and limited express services managed by JR East.

This update matters for anyone planning trips beyond Tokyo. The app connects to JR East’s online reservation platform, so you can secure seats on key long distance routes in advance, then tap your device at the gate and board. It removes the need to queue at a machine or ticket office for printed vouchers, which can save time at busy hubs like Tokyo, Ueno, or Omiya.

There are limits to keep in mind. The Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka is not covered. Android support is not offered for overseas devices. The mobile Welcome Suica stays valid for 180 days from issuance, and any remaining balance expires and cannot be refunded. Depending on laws in your home country, you might need to wait until arriving in Japan to set up or add value in the app. Even with those caveats, the convenience for JR East routes is substantial.

What changed with the latest Welcome Suica update

The October 2025 update integrates Welcome Suica Mobile with JR East’s reservation service, the system long known to travelers as Eki net. That connection unlocks ticketless bookings for a slate of limited express trains and for designated seat reservations on several JR East Shinkansen lines. Once a reservation is confirmed, your device becomes your ticket. You enter the station and pass through the gate with your iPhone or Apple Watch, then sit in the seat shown on your booking.

Coverage spans major services that visitors regularly use. Limited express trains include Narita Express from the airport to central Tokyo and Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi, a gateway for Mount Fuji views and the Fuji Five Lakes area. The Shinkansen portion includes the northern network that connects Tokyo with Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, and the Hokuriku corridor.

JR East describes the concept in simple terms. Officials frame the app as a one stop companion that handles rides, reservations, and cashless purchases during a stay in Japan.

JR East’s development team summarized the aim in a core statement.

JR East says the service concept is “Travel Japan with a single app.”

Lines and services you can book

With the update, Welcome Suica Mobile links to ticketless reservations for:

• Shinkansen lines: Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku
• Limited express trains in the JR East area, such as Narita Express and Fuji Excursion

These routes cover the bullet train spine from Tokyo north to Shin Aomori and Shin Hakodate Hokuto, the branches to Akita and Yamagata, the Joetsu corridor to Niigata, and the Hokuriku line along the Sea of Japan side.

What is not covered

The Tokaido Shinkansen that runs Tokyo to Shin Osaka is outside JR East’s system. If your plans include Kyoto, Osaka, or Hiroshima, you will need a different booking channel. The Smart EX service run by JR Central is the common choice for the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, or you can buy at station machines and ticket counters. Welcome Suica still works for local transit and shopping in those regions, but it does not handle ticketless entry on those bullet trains.

How ticketless Shinkansen travel works

The process is straightforward once your mobile Welcome Suica is active. The app combines the stored value wallet that pays local fares with the reservation link that proves you have a Shinkansen seat. Your iPhone or Apple Watch serves as the token for both gate entry and seat entitlement.

Booking in the app

Open Welcome Suica Mobile and follow the link to JR East’s reservation service. Choose your origin, destination, date, and train. Pick the train class, then select seats. Pay with an Apple Pay card registered on your device. The reservation is tied to your Welcome Suica, which is what the gate will check when you travel. You will see your train details in the reservation view. If plans change, use the same path to modify or cancel within the rules shown at purchase.

At the station and onboard

On the day of travel, hold your iPhone or Apple Watch to the ticket reader at the gate. Apple Pay supports a feature commonly called Express Transit, which lets you pass the gate without unlocking the device. The gate checks two things. It verifies your valid Welcome Suica and it confirms your linked Shinkansen reservation. The screen shows the gate opening and may display the train you are about to board. Keep your device handy for ticket checks onboard. Some crews may perform seat inspections between stops. Your reservation details in the app are your proof of purchase.

Seat policies vary by train. Many Tohoku and Hokkaido services are fully reserved. Others offer non reserved cars. The reservation flow will show the choices that apply for your train, including Green Car seats where offered. If you plan to sit together as a group, select adjacent seats during booking.

Devices, eligibility and setup

Welcome Suica Mobile works on iPhone and Apple Watch. Users must be at least 13 years old. The app is available in English. JR East notes that laws in some countries restrict setting up or adding value before you arrive in Japan, so plan to complete the setup on arrival if the app will not issue or top up in your home country. Location services must be enabled for functions that determine whether value can be added.

Validity and money management are different from a standard Suica. The mobile Welcome Suica expires 180 days after issuance. When it expires, any remaining balance expires with it and cannot be refunded. That time window fits many itineraries, especially long visits, but it is smart to add only the amount you expect to spend. By contrast, the physical Welcome Suica card expires 28 days after first use, while the regular green Suica for residents lasts for years.

Topping up is simple. Add value in the app using a card set up in Apple Pay. If your bank card will not work, you can still add value with cash at JR ticket machines that accept Suica top ups, or at some convenience store counters. Many travelers keep a small balance for local rides and store purchases, then rely on the separate Shinkansen reservation payment when they book long distance trains.

Suica uses the FeliCa standard for fast contactless transactions. Modern iPhones support this out of the box. Android phones sold outside Japan often do not include this chip, which is why JR East built the tourist app for iPhone and Apple Watch. For details on compatibility, features, and limitations, JR East maintains an English information page for Welcome Suica Mobile. You can review the latest notes and device requirements at the official site here.

Coverage, gaps and how to plan

Think of Welcome Suica Mobile plus JR East reservations as your toolkit for eastern and northern Japan. It covers:

• Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin Aomori, with through services to Hokkaido
• Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin Aomori and Shin Hakodate Hokuto
• Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen branches
• Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata
• Hokuriku Shinkansen on the JR East section
• Key limited express services including Narita Express and Fuji Excursion

It does not cover Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto and Osaka, nor JR West’s Sanyo Shinkansen to Hiroshima and beyond. For those corridors, use the Smart EX platform or buy tickets at stations. If you are holding a Japan Rail Pass, you can still use Welcome Suica for local rides and shopping, then use the pass to reserve seats at JR counters or machines for the lines the pass covers.

Alternatives when Welcome Suica is not an option

If you cannot use the app, or you need tickets before arriving, several official paths work well. JR East’s online reservation site handles the same train network in English. For the Tokyo to Osaka corridor, Smart EX offers simple online booking in English for Tokaido Shinkansen. Station ticket machines across Japan also support seat reservations with multilingual prompts. Travel agencies and hotel concierges can assist if you prefer in person help.

Why this change matters for visitors

Time and simplicity are the biggest wins. Many visitors land at Narita and head directly to central Tokyo or transfer to bullet trains. With Welcome Suica Mobile, you can pay for the airport train, grab food with the same wallet, then ride a reserved Shinkansen without lining up for paper tickets. It lowers friction at the exact moments travel is most stressful, such as weekends and holidays when stations are crowded.

The app also makes day trips and side trips easier. Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko is a popular outing. Reserving in the app helps secure seats during peak autumn foliage or spring cherry blossom seasons. The same applies for winter trips to Niigata or Akita for snow and hot springs. Once tickets are booked, your phone handles the gate and your seat is guaranteed.

For the wider Suica platform, this update fits a long term shift that JR East has set in motion. The company has outlined a plan to expand Suica beyond transport into a broader payment and access service, including experiments with walk through ticketing and future features that reduce gate friction. Linking tourist reservations to a mobile Suica is a step on that path.

Practical tips for a smooth first ride

Set yourself up for success by following simple best practices drawn from how Suica and Shinkansen systems operate.

• Install the Welcome Suica Mobile app on your iPhone before flying if your country allows it. If not, install on arrival and issue the card at the airport.
• Enable Apple Pay and add a payment card that works in Japan. If your card is declined for top ups, plan to add value with cash at a station machine.
• Turn on Express Transit for your Suica in Apple Wallet so you can pass gates without unlocking your phone.
• Book long distance trains ahead during busy times. Seat availability can tighten on weekends, holidays, and during Obon, New Year, and Golden Week.
• Check seat types in the app. Some trains offer only reserved seating. Green Car is the first class option with more space.
• Keep a small Suica balance for local rides and store payments. Your Shinkansen reservation handles the long distance fare.
• Each traveler needs their own Suica. Children under 13 cannot use the mobile app, so families may need physical cards for kids.
• Watch the 180 day timer. Do not overcharge the wallet since remaining balance expires and cannot be refunded.

Official stance and what is next

JR East calls Welcome Suica Mobile a single companion for transit and shopping during a visit. The company has said it will keep adding features. In the near term, it plans to expand ticketless options connected to its reservation platform and to widen seat choices that can be purchased in the app. The company also indicated a future addition for purchasing Green Car seats on certain local trains.

In separate modernization efforts, JR groups across Japan continue to expand IC card acceptance and automate stations. The move to integrate reservations with mobile Suica aligns with that broader trend and reflects the expectation that visitors will rely on phones for travel and payment across the country.

What to Know

• Welcome Suica Mobile now links to JR East reservations for ticketless Shinkansen and limited express travel
• Supported bullet train lines include Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku
• Narita Express and Fuji Excursion can be booked in the app
• Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka is not covered
• App works on iPhone and Apple Watch, users must be 13 or older
• Mobile Welcome Suica expires after 180 days, remaining balance is not refundable
• Some countries restrict issuing or topping up before arrival in Japan
• Top up with Apple Pay in the app or add value with cash at station machines
• Each traveler needs their own Suica for gates and seat checks
• For non JR East bullet trains, use Smart EX or buy at stations