Suica Card
Original 2003 Post
Cleaning, laundry and email day today. Unfortunately due to some issues with my trip yesterday, my train pass doesn’t work at the moment. I will have to speak to the good people at Japan Rail to get things good again. That could be fun…
2013 Update
Each month, NOVA employees were provided with a commuter train pass. The pass allows for unlimited travel between your home station and your work station for one month. Since my commute was all on JR lines, I was issued a Suica rechargeable train pass.
Using my Suica as a commuter pass, I could take free trips between Noborito and Kawasaki, or any points in between. Traveling beyond Kawasaki would require me only to pay the portion of my trip that was not covered by my commuter pass. This saved money on trips to Yokohama for sightseeing, language exchange, and failed date nights to see Kill Bill.
I could also add money to my Suica to use it as a rechargeable train pass. Instead of having to buy a ticket each time I rode the train, I could just scan my Suica when entering and exiting the train system and the trip cost would be deducted from my balance. My card worked on all JR lines, but not private lines or subway.
The Suica system has now expanded to most of Japan, and the cards can also be used at certain vending machines and convenience stores in or near train stations for making purchases.
If you are living in Japan and travel on JR lines regularly, get one of these cards. You will love it!
Drinking in Japan 
#1 by tokyo5 on July 22, 2014 - 6:32 pm
> My card worked on all JR lines, but not private lines or subway
Now, all IC commute cards (SUICA, Pasmo, Icoca, etc) can be used interchangeably…meaning they’re good at almost all train lines, subways, buses…as well as many convenience stores and vending machines (as you said).
#2 by Barniferous on July 22, 2014 - 11:15 pm
Sweet! That’s a big improvement!