Apple Pay Now Live in Japan

[dontwalkhand]

My UK contactess card worked in Japan so would Apple pay also?
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I have a Suica card and it seems very similar to London''s Oyster card...but I assume from reading here that it uses different technology. Apple Pay works in London on the tube and buses the same way as Oyster cards.

Oyster uses what's called Open Payments, by Cubic Transportation Systems. Same technology behind: Chicago VentraCard, Pensylvania SEPTA KEY, DC METRO SmartTrip, Los Angels Metro TAP, Northern California ClipperCard, and the list goes on and on and on.

This technology uses either MiFare cards, or some variation thereof which the iPhone supports sending a signal to. It is also the same compatible radio signal to regular PayPass/payWave cards.

Suica if I understand is an entirely different signal. Their turnstiles, faregates, etc are not made by CTS like in the US/UK.

Japan's homegrown, and doesn't have the same licensed technology like the CTS systems does. They don't have the same signal as CTS systems do....thereby needing a custom iPhone to send the signal.

Theoretically you can scan an Oyster Card on US systems, it'll still try to read it but throw an invalid card message....tried that here in Phoenix

 

[VonTokkerths]

Still no word for Puerto Rico banks.. Left in the cold as always.

 

[uwdude]

So this requires at least one of the devices (either iPhone or watch) to be the Japanese model?

 

[Ty3009]

So this requires at least one of the devices (either iPhone or watch) to be the Japanese model?

Yes, can someone clarify if you need the Japanese version of the Watch 2? It doesn't specify in this article.

 

[Corrode]

You can still get a suica/ pasmo card. It costs 2000 yen and comes loaded with 1500 yen,
Once you're done with it, return it for a 500 yen refund.
You can buy a card for like 900 yen that blocks the interference from the iPhone and the suica card so you can slip it in your phone case. It's basically the same thing, and I have been doing it for 2 years now.

I am going to go with a US iP7+ and Japanese AW2. I HATE how the Japanese iPhones make a shutter sound that can't be turned off, unlike every other iPhone in the world.

Good advice. Already have my Pasmo card for my trip.

Also, I totally forgot about the shutter sound, although I understand they're trying to protect people's privacy by letting them know a photo of them is possibly being taken.

 

[Sincci]

So this requires at least one of the devices (either iPhone or watch) to be the Japanese model?

I'm pretty sure you'll also need a Japanese credit/debit card.

 

[Juiceboy]

So i am going to Japan next year. If i use Australian Bank with Apple pay with my australian phone, will it work or not?

 

[dontwalkhand]

So i am going to Japan next year. If i use Australian Bank with Apple pay with my australian phone, will it work or not?

No. As stated above they have to be different from the rest of the world and not use PayPass/payWave technology.

 

[Appurushido]

My wife and I go to Japan frequently and we happened to be there for the AW2 launch so we picked up the Japanese models (although our iPhone 7es are American models) in the hope that we'll be able to use them as pasmo devices when we visit. My assumption is that we will have to have a Japanese apple id in order to leverage it but I'm not sure yet. Her apple id is already tied to Japan and she has been able to use apple pay here in the US, so we'll see what happens.

Do I need a Japanese address or credit card to create a Japan apple id? Also, do you know if it's possible to just use one passmo and add it to two different devices (iphone and apple watch)? My soon to be Japanese wife is in the apple ecco system, so when I visit Japan for business, I could probably just use her passmo on my device (watch) as well hers (phone) for convenience, than having to create a new one for myself. Thanks in advance.
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Yes, can someone clarify if you need the Japanese version of the Watch 2? It doesn't specify in this article.

I would assume so. If only Japanese iphones work with Felica/Passmo/Suica, I assume the watch as well. That's just my guess.

 

[naeS1Sean]

I want a happy penguin on my debit card…
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2030 will be iPhone 14 (I have this on good authority.)

iPhone 20 will be 2042.

Hope for sooner!

Probably be Apple Phone by then, no?

 

[Tofupunch]

Suica only works if you have a Japanese model iPhone/Apple Watch. What I'm wondering is, can you still use Apple pay on your phone, in Japan, regardless of country the iPhone was purchased.

Also, I travel to Japan for work. Does anyone know if I can buy an Apple Watch Series 2 (Japan Version) and use the Suica feature, while having a US iPhone? Or do I need both the combination being Japanese versions, phone and watch? I'd hate to have to buy another iPhone just for that feature.

This i would like to know as well. Or conversely if an iPhone purchased there would work here. But i guess apple care would be an issue...

 

[grr74]

PASMO does not work.

 

[Rkuda]

Do I need a Japanese address or credit card to create a Japan apple id?

I don't think there is a separate Japanese Apple ID they should all be the same. The main issue for setting up Apple Pay on the phone is whether your card supports Apple Pay.

Japanese iPhones work fine with US cards in America, so you should be able to add a Japanese cc to a non-Japanese iPhone. It's just the use case will be less since you can't use that iPhone at the terminals in Japan.

Also, do you know if it's possible to just use one passmo and add it to two different devices (iphone and apple watch)? My soon to be Japanese wife is in the apple ecco system, so when I visit Japan for business, I could probably just use her passmo on my device (watch) as well hers (phone) for convenience, than having to create a new one for myself. Thanks in advance.
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I don't believe this is possible. The setup screen for adding Suica to the wallet app says the card becomes invalid after being added - and does so by using FeliCa. So I think it's one and done.

AFAIK you need both a Japanese Apple Watch AND Japanese iPhone to use Suica on the watch in Japan.

The Japanese AW2 has the FeliCa compatible NFC and would also need to sync the Suica data from a Japanese iPhone.

 

[Junior117]

You can still get a suica/ pasmo card. It costs 2000 yen and comes loaded with 1500 yen,
Once you're done with it, return it for a 500 yen refund.
You can buy a card for like 900 yen that blocks the interference from the iPhone and the suica card so you can slip it in your phone case. It's basically the same thing, and I have been doing it for 2 years now.

I am going to go with a US iP7+ and Japanese AW2. I HATE how the Japanese iPhones make a shutter sound that can't be turned off, unlike every other iPhone in the world.

Isn't there a law in Japan that forces Apple do to that? Because if that's not the reason, then yeah: that's a really weird thing that Apple has done.

 

[thisMRguy]

So at least my new watch will work, but another small problem people will face when wearing your watch on your left hand all the touch panels at station entrances are on the right. Suppose I'll do a 180, moon walkthrough the gates each time.

 

[esanker]

Apple Pay Japan FAQ

https://atadistance.net/2016/10/24/apple-pay-japan-intro-qa/

 

[Roniniku]

You then barely need to obtain any local Yen currency!

Still very much a need for hard currency. Suica/Pasmo etc (FeliCa) is only accepted for transport and shops licensed for its use. Those shops are mostly only ones who are renting space from JR and their partners (Aeon). Go any distance from a station and the likelihood of a business taking it is very slim.
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I'm curious if US iPhone 7's will support Mobile Suica or if it's limited to the Japanese market A1779/A1785 models.

Nope. Proprietary code only licensed for the Japanese market.

 

[penpal1278]

My wife and I go to Japan frequently and we happened to be there for the AW2 launch so we picked up the Japanese models (although our iPhone 7es are American models) in the hope that we'll be able to use them as pasmo devices when we visit. My assumption is that we will have to have a Japanese apple id in order to leverage it but I'm not sure yet. Her apple id is already tied to Japan and she has been able to use apple pay here in the US, so we'll see what happens.

I can confirm that a Japanese Apple ID is not needed to use Suica. You'll be able to download the dedicated Suica app through the App Store where you'll be able to register for a new card. The app seems to only be offered in Japanese for now.
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I'm curious if US iPhone 7's will support Mobile Suica or if it's limited to the Japanese market A1779/A1785 models.

It's limited to iPhone 7/7+ and AW2 sold in Japan unfortunately...
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Isn't there a law in Japan that forces Apple do to that? Because if that's not the reason, then yeah: that's a really weird thing that Apple has done.

It's not a law, but the government strongly suggests manufactures and carriers for the shutter sound to be enabled. They follow the government's suggestions to prevent mandatory regulations.
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So i am going to Japan next year. If i use Australian Bank with Apple pay with my australian phone, will it work or not?

Only at very limited (almost none) terminals that support NFC Type A/B... most only support FeLiCa in Japan. The only place I've seen a Type A/B terminal is at IKEA, confirmed that it works with my US based Apple Pay card!

 

[mavis]

I have a Japanese iPhone 7 Plus, with several American credit cards already added to Apple Pay. I'm not seeing any option to add my Suica to the Wallet app - it doesn't register at all when trying to add the card ... ? Running 10.1 (14B72c) ... Does it not work if you have already added non-Japanese cards?

 

[penpal1278]

I have a Japanese iPhone 7 Plus, with several American credit cards already added to Apple Pay. I'm not seeing any option to add my Suica to the Wallet app - it doesn't register at all when trying to add the card ... ? Running 10.1 (14B72c) ... Does it not work if you have already added non-Japanese cards?

I have both US cards and Japanese cards registered to my iPhone 7 right now... Make sure you change your region settings to Japan before you attempt to add your Suica to the Wallet app.

 

[mavis]

I have both US cards and Japanese cards registered to my iPhone 7 right now... Make sure you change your region settings to Japan before you attempt to add your Suica to the Wallet app.

Thank you! It's working now, except that it can't detect the card - I guess I need to get a newer one first. Can you switch back to US region afterward and retain the Suica functionality?

 

[Roniniku]

Has anyone in Japan had success with adding their Suica? Nobody in my office (20+ people) can add it atm. Getting messages that adding a suica is not available at this time. Also not allowing credit cards to be added on anyone's phones. Score another one for "high tech" Japan it seems. Hopefully just overload for a while.

 

[mavis]

Has anyone in Japan had success with adding their Suica? Nobody in my office (20+ people) can add it atm. Getting messages that adding a suica is not available at this time. Also not allowing credit cards to be added on anyone's phones. Score another one for "high tech" Japan it seems. Hopefully just overload for a while.

I'm getting the same message.

 

[doublep]

Like you, I am getting exactly the same message. I hope they will resolve the issue soon!

Has anyone in Japan had success with adding their Suica? Nobody in my office (20+ people) can add it atm. Getting messages that adding a suica is not available at this time. Also not allowing credit cards to be added on anyone's phones. Score another one for "high tech" Japan it seems. Hopefully just overload for a while.

 

[purplefuku]

I'm getting the same message.

I was able to add a virtual Suica card using the Suica app that launched today. My J card isn't supported by Pay yet but I was able to charge it using a Bank of America card.

(So hypothetically, you should be able to get a J Apple Watch and use it & Suica with a non-J phone/card...? I got my iPhone 7 Plus here, though...)