Why you should have an iPhone when traveling to japan

There's a reason iPhone is more popular than Android phones in Japan. Aside from user interface design elegance on iOS, iPhones work better with Suica, one of many mobile payment systems in Japan.

Suica can be used for transportation (trains, buses, taxis), at convenience stores and retail, as well as at vending machines, and for parking. If you don't understand why support for convenience stores and vending machines is important, you obviously have not been to Japan yet.

So why can't I use Android in Japan and use Suica? Surely, there's an app right? For most travelers, the short answer is still no. Unlike the iPhone, which works with Suica worldwide, adding a Suica to Google Wallet (Google Pay) is restricted by both your hardware and your account region.

If you bought your Android phone outside of Japan, you will likely find that the Suica option is missing from the "Add to Wallet" menu.

Let's dive deeper into why

1. The "FeliCa" Hardware Barrier

Japan uses a specific contactless technology called FeliCa (NFC-F).

• On iPhone: Apple includes the FeliCa chip in every iPhone (8 and newer) sold globally.
• On Android: Most manufacturers (Samsung, Google, Sony) only include or enable the FeliCa chip and the necessary Osaifu-Keitai (Mobile Wallet) software in devices sold physically in Japan.

The Exception: Some newer Google Pixel phones (Pixel 4 and later) actually have the hardware, but Google keeps it software-locked to the Japanese region. Unlocking it usually requires "rooting" the phone, which I do not recommended for security reasons.

2. The Google Play Region Barrier

Even if you have a compatible Japanese phone, Suica typically only appears in Google Wallet if your Google Play Store region is set to Japan. Changing your region is a headache because:

• You can only change it once every 90 days. Some regions have longer waiting periods.
• It takes up to 48 hour to take effect.
• It requires a Japanese payment method or address.
• You may lose access to apps or credits from your home country.

3. Top-up Issues for Android

This has been getting better in recent years. The Mobile Suica app on Android has been known to be notorious for rejecting non-Japanese credit cards (especially Visa). Apple does not have this problem. You can add a Suica card via Apple Wallet and easily top-off the Suica with any other card you already have in your Apple Wallet.

What should you do instead?

If you are an Android user visiting Japan, don't waste hours trying to "hack" Google Wallet. Instead:

• Get a Physical "Welcome Suica" card: These are special IC cards for tourists that don't require the 500-yen deposit for the physical card. You can get them at major airports in Japan.
• Pretend you can tap to pay: Buy a Suica card and sandwich the physical card between your phone and phone case. Now you can tap and pay.

Do I still need cash?

Yes, absolutely. As a tourist, you'll find some tourist attractions such as temples/shrines that do not accept Apple Pay or even regular physical credit cards. Street food vendors or merchants in smaller cities may also prefer cash. Even in major cities, some places likely prefer cash for tax avoidance purposes.