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> - The landscape of transit cards is confusing, and while many of them are still accepted in various places, the existence of such a wide variety is mostly a l

> - The landscape of transit cards is confusing, and while many of them are still accepted in various places, the existence of such a wide variety is mostly a legacy thing as far as I could tell. I had a Suica card and it worked virtually everywhere I went in Japan, though I didn't venture off the beaten path. I think this is correct. I first went to Japan in 2008, and the cards you had actually mattered. I went again last year, and I used a Suica all over the country without problems -- it was a Suica I bought in 2008, and it still worked and had money on it after sitting in a drawer for 9 years. It seems like all of these cards equivalent now, at least for tourists -- for people who live there, I think there are some differences in the kinds of monthly passes you can get for each card.

mikekchar 8y ago
You can use Suica almost everywhere. The reverse is not true. For example, I live in the Tokai region and have a Toica. I can't use it outside of Tokai. I think eventually these things will even out, though. I was surprised that a Passmo card I got in Tokyo and accidentally used in Tokai worked. But the golden rule in Japan -- make sure to carry enough cash in case you get into trouble :-)
- rangibaby 8y ago
  Suica, Toica, etc. should work in each other’s areas now. There is a list here: http://jreast.okbiz.okwave.jp/sp/default/faq/question/show/10993 http://jreast.okbiz.okwave.jp/sp/default/faq/question/show/1...
zeeZ 8y ago
You got close there. Suica (and the Icoca I have, don't know about others) are valid for 10 years after last use. This seems like a ridiculously huge amount of time to me.