Can I Buy a New Suica Card in the Mt. Fuji / Kawaguchiko Area? Are Child Suica Cards Available?
“Can I buy a new Suica card at Kawaguchiko Station?”
“Can I also buy a Suica card for my child?”
We sometimes receive these questions from travelers visiting the Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchiko area.
Suica is a very convenient transportation IC card for travelers in Japan. When taking trains or local buses, you can simply tap the card on the ticket gate or card reader to pay your fare, without having to buy a ticket each time.
Suica cards are relatively easy to obtain in Tokyo, but can you also buy one at Kawaguchiko Station, one of the main gateways for sightseeing around Mt. Fuji?
To find out, we actually went to Kawaguchiko Station on August 20, 2026, and tried purchasing a new Suica card ourselves.
The answer is yes: we were able to buy a Suica card at Kawaguchiko Station.
However, when we checked, there were several restrictions on the types of Suica cards available.
We Were Able to Buy a Suica Card at Kawaguchiko Station
Here is what we confirmed at Kawaguchiko Station on August 20, 2026.
| Item | What We Confirmed on August 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Suica purchase | Available |
| Where to buy | Railway ticket gate at Kawaguchiko Station |
| Type available | Adult unregistered Suica only |
| Registered Suica (My Suica) | Not available when we visited |
| Child Suica | Not available when we visited |
| Purchase price | ¥2,000 |
| Usable balance | ¥1,500 |
| Deposit | ¥500 |
| Payment method | We were told cash only |
If you simply need a standard adult Suica card for traveling, we were able to purchase one at Kawaguchiko Station.
However, sales methods, stock availability, and the types of cards offered may change, so please check with station staff when you purchase your card.
First, We Asked at the Bus Ticket Counter at Kawaguchiko Station
When we arrived at Kawaguchiko Station, the first place we went was the bus ticket counter.
There were many international travelers using Kawaguchiko Station that day, and people were lined up at the counter to purchase highway bus and local bus tickets.
We asked a staff member, “Can I buy a Suica card here?”
The staff member told us, “Suica cards are sold at the railway ticket gate.”
So we left the bus ticket counter and headed to the railway ticket gate.
It was much less crowded there.
Where to Buy a Suica Card: The Railway Ticket Gate
We went to the railway ticket gate at Kawaguchiko Station and told the station staff,
“I would like to buy a new Suica card.”
We were told that the only type available for purchase was an “adult unregistered Suica card.”
We also asked about payment methods and were told that payment was accepted in cash only.
International travelers who are planning to purchase a Suica card with a credit card should therefore make sure to have some Japanese yen in cash, just in case.
We Bought a Suica Card for ¥2,000
We paid ¥2,000 in cash and successfully purchased a Suica card.
The amount was divided as follows:
- Amount paid: ¥2,000
- Usable balance on the Suica card: ¥1,500
- Deposit: ¥500
This means that immediately after purchasing the card, you can use the ¥1,500 balance to pay for trains, participating local buses, and other services that accept Suica.
The card we received was the standard Suica card featuring the familiar penguin design.
Can You Buy a Child Suica Card?
When purchasing the Suica card, we also asked, “Do you sell Suica cards for children?”
However, when we visited, child Suica cards were not being sold at the railway ticket gate at Kawaguchiko Station.
The only type available was an adult unregistered Suica card.
Families planning to obtain a transportation IC card for their child after arriving in Kawaguchiko should therefore be aware of this limitation.
JR East also states that child Suica cards are available only as registered “My Suica” cards, and that unregistered Suica cards for children are not sold.
Important Points When Buying a Suica Card at Kawaguchiko Station
Based on our actual experience purchasing a Suica card, here are the main points to remember.
Adult Suica cards were available for purchase at Kawaguchiko Station.
However, as of August 20, 2026, only adult unregistered Suica cards were available, and child Suica cards could not be purchased.
When we visited, we were also told that payment was accepted in cash only.
Kawaguchiko Station is extremely popular with international travelers, and the bus ticket counter can become crowded depending on the time of day. If you only want to buy a Suica card, it may be quicker to go directly to the railway ticket gate and ask a station staff member.
Q. Can I Buy a Suica Card at Kawaguchiko Station?
A. Yes. We personally visited Kawaguchiko Station on August 20, 2026, and were able to purchase a new adult unregistered Suica card.
The card was sold at the railway ticket gate.
Q. Can I Buy a Child Suica Card at Kawaguchiko Station?
A. When we checked, child Suica cards were not available for purchase at Kawaguchiko Station.
Only adult unregistered Suica cards were available.
If you need a transportation IC card for a child, you may want to ask at the bus ticket counter at Kawaguchiko Station about a child PASMO card.
Q. How Much Does a Suica Card Cost at Kawaguchiko Station?
The Suica card we purchased at Kawaguchiko Station cost ¥2,000.
Of this amount, ¥1,500 was available as usable stored value and ¥500 was the card deposit.
You can start using the ¥1,500 balance immediately after purchasing the card.
Q. Can I Buy a Suica Card with a Credit Card?
When we purchased our Suica card at Kawaguchiko Station, we were told that payment was accepted in cash only.
If you plan to buy a Suica card there, we recommend having some Japanese yen in cash ready.
Summary: Adult Suica Cards Were Available at Kawaguchiko Station
After visiting Kawaguchiko Station ourselves, we confirmed that it was possible to purchase a new Suica card.
However, as of August 20, 2026, the only type we were able to purchase was an adult unregistered Suica card.
The card cost ¥2,000, including ¥1,500 in usable balance and a ¥500 deposit. We were told that payment was accepted in cash only.
Child Suica cards, on the other hand, were not available for purchase at Kawaguchiko Station when we visited.
If you would like to buy a Suica card after arriving in the Mt. Fuji / Kawaguchiko area, ask a station staff member at the railway ticket gate at Kawaguchiko Station.
Please note that the sales location, types of Suica cards available, and accepted payment methods may change. We recommend checking the latest information at the station on the day of your visit.
Traveling from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko by Highway Bus
A direct highway bus is a convenient way to travel from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko without any transfers.
Buses can sell out during busy travel seasons, so if you already know your travel date and time, booking in advance is recommended.
For highway bus reservations from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, visit Highwaybus.com.