SuicaEng

SuicaEng is a trimmed down version of the full Suica app, converted to an English interface. This lite version has only one function, to create a virtual Suica card in your iPhone wallet. It won’t let you manage your physical Suica card, for that you need the full Japanese only Suica app. With this virtual Suica card you can tap on tap off on all trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area. You can also use Suica to pay for purchases in most convenience stores like Lawson, Family Mart, 7-Eleven. You can also use it at many small restaurants which makes it a convenient alternative to cash. You can top up the virtual Suica directly from other debit or credit cards in your iPhone wallet. I’ve been using this virtual Suica for the past two years in japan and it’s an essential app in my iPhone. It even still works if your phone has gone into extreme low power mode (when your screen is black with an outline of a battery with a thin red vertical line showing). The one problem with SuicaEng is that there is no way to get the full ID number of the virtual Suica card, I had to install the Japanese version Suica app to get it. This number is required if you use the Smart EX app to buy Shinkansen tickets and want to register your Suica card so that you can just use your phone to board the Shinkansen instead of using paper tickets. Overall a very useful app, recommended for traveler to japan.

I see that a couple of people are having issues with the app. Now let me explain something, Apple announced suica card compatibility with the iPhone 7 and Watch 2 if bought in Japan (due to chip manufacturing I guess). iPhone 8 and higher, and Watch 3 and higher users can use the app, regardless of product purchase origin. Also to use the transfer feature you must have required the device(s) mentioned above and have the device region set to Japan. Developers please add a disclaimer in the app description and in the app so people can know if their device is compatible with this feature cause saying that this device is not compatible confuses people who do not know this stuff.

If you are going to Japan with a device that supports it, using this app to give yourself a Mobile Suica makes your life so much easier that you just have to get it. You can reload with a credit card and tap and go at train stations, convenience stores, taxis, restaurants and more. This app does one thing - create a virtual Suica card - but you need to get it if you’re going to Japan. It makes tourist life so much easier.

Make life easy in Japan, and earn travel bonus points on your credit card too! This app creates an anonymous cash value Suica that you can use throughout Japan to pay for anything. Reload using Apple Pay and never worry about cash again in Japan. Should earn travel bonus for Chase Sapphire cards too. This only works for iPhone 8, X, Xs models.

I’ve been using the Japanese version for some time now. I was happy to see an English version appear. However, I’m not able to transfer my current Suica balance to the English app, so I can not use it. My colleague however, is using the English version. It does not have all of the features that the full Japanese version does, such as buying Green Car seats. It can only be used as a basic payment card. With the Olympics less then a year away, I would have thought they’d have a proper full version in English by now.