Top up JPY ¥3000 on Suica with Apple Pay, Get JPY ¥200 Cashback, 5 Uses @ Mastercard Travel Rewards (Activation Required)

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Top up JPY ¥3000 on Suica with Apple Pay, Get JPY ¥200 Cashback, 5 Uses @ Mastercard Travel Rewards (Activation Required)
Go to Deal
Windthunder on 01/04/2024 - 14:24 mtr.mastercardservices.com (722 clicks)
Last edited 01/04/2024 - 14:24

The previous posting of this deal was well-received so thanks Mastercard for offering this again for the next 3 months.

Handy if you are currently in Japan for the cherry blossoms or school holidays, or for whatever upcoming trip that may take your fancy.

You do need a Mastercard that comes with the Mastercard Travel Rewards perk. You need to sign up for the program and activate prior to spending for the cashback. The cards below provide access to the program and do not charge any international transaction fee:

For Commbank Ultimate Rewards credit card, use:
https://mtr.mastercardservices.com/en/i/1527/offers/20dbf083…

Latitude's 28 degrees Mastercard Mastercard Travel Rewards page now appears to be working (whoever complained to them about it last time, good job!), use:
https://mtr.mastercardservices.com/en/i/6430/offers/20dbf083…

Westpac/St. George/Bank of Melbourne/BankSA Travel Money Card can activate this deal but can't add the cards to Apple Pay so complain to your bank regarding Apple Pay functionality:
https://mtr.mastercardservices.com/en/i/20657/offers/20dbf08…

Test your Mastercard to see if it supports the Mastercard Travel Rewards program here:
https://mtr.mastercardservices.com/en

Spend JPY 3,000 with East Japan Railway Company by topping up to Suica via Apple Pay, get JPY 200 cash back.

The Suica is a prepaid e-money card for moving around and shopping. There is no more need to buy a ticket from a vending machine. Just touch your Suica to the ticket gate and the fare is automatically deducted from your Suica. The Suica can be used not only for JR East trains. The Suica can also be used to pay for things with e-money. For traveling in Japan, the Suica makes a more pleasant trip.

How to access this offer

This offer is available only after you have clicked add to card.

Terms of use

Qualifying transactions are limited to those processed by Mastercard and can only be made with an eligible Mastercard card issued outside the country of transaction. Offer is valid for qualifying transactions made in a single transaction.

This offer is only valid when topped up with Apple Pay. Mobile Suica, other payment services, and charging at station ticket vending machines are not eligible. Please check how to use Apple Pay for Suica at the following link : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207154. Eligible Mastercard card registration and offer activation is required prior to purchase by going to mtr.mastercardservices.com or www.priceless.com/travelrewards, registering card, and activating offer. Offer is limited to five redemptions per cardholder during the promotion period. Valid for purchases made in JPY only. If Mastercard does not receive information that identifies your transaction as qualifying for the offer, you will not receive a statement credit. Statement credit may be reversed if qualifying purchase is returned/cancelled.

Travel Apple Pay Cashback Japan Railways Group Payment System

Related Stores

MasterCard AU
MasterCard AU
Marketplace
Apple
Apple
East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company

Comments

  • yht on 01/04/2024 - 14:31

    Good conversion rate ? Will Wise be better rate ?

    • Windthunder on 01/04/2024 - 14:34

      It will be at Mastercard's conversion rate so definitely better than Wise. Wise is not a participant of the Mastercard Travel Rewards anyway.

      • theg00s3 on 02/04/2024 - 04:56

        I think Wise uses the real FX rate don’t they?

        • Windthunder on 02/04/2024 - 09:41
          +1

          No such thing as real foreign exchange rate. There is an official market rate.

          Wise will be better than cards that charge an international transaction fee but will be worse than cards that don't.

  • bargrin on 01/04/2024 - 14:32
    +2

    Deal aside, I assume the suica card on your apple pay is better option than a suica physical card which expires and can only be topped up with cash?

    The apple pay version doesnt expire and can be topped up with a credit card?

    • clang823 on 01/04/2024 - 14:36

      Suica on the phone works really well. Just has some issues when topping up with international visa sometimes. Mastercard and Amex works wonders.

    • Daabido on 01/04/2024 - 14:37
      +2

      Yes, it is brilliant and works well anywhere a physical card would normally be used. Instant top up, good exchange rate from what I remember and is used extensively throughout Japan. I guess the only downside would be if you physically damaged your phone or ran out of battery.

      Here's a bonus tip for those visiting Japan and finding themselves with a fistful of coins. Pour them all into the machine at the counter in 7-11s when you buy something and it will spit back you change in notes and coins.

    • Windthunder on 01/04/2024 - 14:38
      +1

      Better depends on one's parameters for being better.

      The apple pay version doesnt expire and can be topped up with a credit card?

      They don't expire but becomes deactivated 6 months after the last activity. But it can be reactivate by going by a JR East station staff or just topping up the card again:
      https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/comments/16zbwp3/su…
      https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254634014?sortBy=best

    • Clear on 01/04/2024 - 14:56

      Physical Suica expires after 10 years.

      • wangasm on 01/04/2024 - 15:07
        +1

        After 10 years of non-use. Gets reset when you use it (I've used mine for over 10 years now)

        • dangerdanger on 01/04/2024 - 15:55

          I agree. If it errors after not being used for a few months, the helpful station attendants just reactivate it.

  • humbleplaya69 on 01/04/2024 - 14:47

    isn't it difficult to get a physical Suica?

    • Clear on 01/04/2024 - 14:56
      +1

      Depends where you are. A couple of days ago it was reported to be available at Narita airport.

      • dangerdanger on 01/04/2024 - 15:47

        Yes difficult to get a physical card now. The tourist suica card is not the same, And expires early, non refundable.

        I have one a few years old (all good), my wife has to use the iPhone suica card (which was fine)

        Kids can get physical suica card at certain major JR stations

  • Wiadro on 01/04/2024 - 15:19

    DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    i just got back from japan

    • DevlicK on 02/04/2024 - 14:47

      Personally, I don't think you're missing out on much 200 yen = ~$2AUD

  • hellwolf on 01/04/2024 - 15:35

    The only Mastercard I had that worked for this offer was my Citi debit card, but that has been moved over to NAB Visa now. :(

    My Coles Mastercard and 28 Degrees Mastercard don't work.

  • excite on 01/04/2024 - 16:07

    When will it be available in Google Pay?

    • D3m3ntia on 01/04/2024 - 16:52
      +2

      It won't. Not possible for phones outside Japan

      • vangoh on 01/04/2024 - 18:15

        going to japan in 2 weeks with my wife, so does that mean we cant use our iphone we purchased here? … if thats the case how are everyone else here doing it? do they all have japanese phones if so shouldnt that be stated in the description?

        • Windthunder on 01/04/2024 - 18:32
          +2

          No, you just cannot add mobile Suica to Android phones (Google Wallet) purchased outside of Japan.

          That is why the promo is only available to users of Apple Pay.

  • pongoes on 01/04/2024 - 17:39

    Thank you! Going next week!

    Travelling with wife and two kids (11 & 8). I assume I can't have multiple tickets on apple pay? Likely I'll need physical tickets for the kids?

    • Windthunder on 01/04/2024 - 18:36

      I assume I can't have multiple tickets on apple pay?

      You can only have one Suica per Apple pay device:
      https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT207155#:~:text=You%20can%2….

      Likely I'll need physical tickets for the kids?

      All mobile Suica are adult fare cards. You will need to go though an age verification process to get physical children Suica.

      • vangoh on 01/04/2024 - 19:21

        awesome, thanks for the clarification

  • sunnyc on 01/04/2024 - 18:20

    Get rid of wise in Japan, ended up just using Amex for everything. And bring a physical card.

    • beerbudget on 01/04/2024 - 19:37

      You don't recommend Wise for Japan? Why is that, I've just got one and going in 3 weeks time.

      • D3m3ntia on 01/04/2024 - 23:37
        +1

        Noting wrong with wise. Worked in every single place I paid for. You need a physical card because it's amazing how many places needed card insert and not tap.

    • Maxxjet on 01/04/2024 - 20:45
      +3

      that's a lot of FX fees there by using Amex I guess?

      • D3m3ntia on 01/04/2024 - 21:30

        Flex how rich you are by paying amex for everything and being charged amex exchange rate + international fee.

        • sunnyc on 01/04/2024 - 22:49

          No choice, don’t see an international fee yet but if there is one I’d be dreading it

          • Aced21 on 01/04/2024 - 23:38

            @sunnyc: On the website, I believe it mentions the charge you get on your transaction history includes the fees

      • sunnyc on 01/04/2024 - 22:49

        Yeah I heard the fx fees are bad but having a useless card with a couple grand on it is worse, can’t charge Suica with wise. I’m only here for 5 days so it wouldn’t matter too much.

        • DevlicK on 02/04/2024 - 14:49

          You could always use your wise to withdraw cash?

  • Bobioso on 02/04/2024 - 10:47
    +1

    Would 28 Degrees consider Suica top up as a Cash Advance with a $4 fee + 29.99% interest rate on these transactions? https://www.28degreescard.com.au/
    I'm considering 28 Degrees vs. using HSBC Every Global Account, without such fees and cashbacks, but ~3% worse FX rate (3000 Yen was charged as AUD31.29) than the Mastercard's.

    • roofyapple on 03/04/2024 - 10:21
      +1

      Why would it be cash advance? Topping up your opal card here is like a purchase, would it be any different?

  • roofyapple on 03/04/2024 - 10:19

    It expires in June. I'm going in July. Will i be able to load this up in June and use it in July?

    Can i use this in osaka as well?

    • Windthunder on 03/04/2024 - 15:55
      +1

      Will i be able to load this up in June and use it in July?

      Yes you can load up in advance. There is also a good chance a new iteration of this promo will be made available for the July-Sep period so you can essentially double up by reloading in June and then in July as well.

      Can i use this in osaka as well?

      Yes, you can use it in Osaka and in any areas of Japan covered under the 10 IC card schemes that have joined together to make their systems interoperable: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html

      Look for this sign in shops and stations which means you can use Suica and the other 9 IC cards at the place: https://onb-cdn.b-cdn.net/images-stn-japan/3-IC-card-logo.jp…

      • roofyapple on 07/04/2024 - 19:09

        Thanks for that. Any disadvantages of using suica in Osaka instead of getting the local icoca version?

        • Windthunder on 07/04/2024 - 19:49
          +1

          The only practical difference is that if you have issues with your Suica, you won't be able to obtain support from the company that issues it, JR East.

          JR West is the JR company that operates in the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto). JR East does not have any offices in this region.

  • hellwolf on 03/04/2024 - 13:58

    I'm going in June/July and did a few topups in January and February before the Citi debit card got move to NAB Visa. Planning to do a couple on my 28 Degrees card before we go. Suica can be used pretty much across all of Japan, Osaka will be fine.

  • z0s0 on 08/04/2024 - 10:08

    This is pretty annoying. Worked once and now I just get "payment not completed". First fail was 28 degrees blocking it, but I confirmed the transaction to unblock it and now it seems there's something failing on the apple pay/suica side of things.

    • hellwolf on 09/04/2024 - 12:20

      I've run into the same issue with 28 Degrees.

      • alcadive on 10/04/2024 - 20:29

        28 degrees here as well. When is the cash back supposed to happen? I activated the offer and successfully purchased the credit about 5 days ago

        • hellwolf on 10/04/2024 - 20:31
          +1

          When I used my Citi Debit card earlier in the year it was a minimum of 8 or 9 days before the credit appeared in my account.

  • z0s0 on 20/04/2024 - 09:08

    Two weeks now, still no sign of any cashback

    • hellwolf on 20/04/2024 - 09:20

      When I did it with my Citi debit MasterCard earlier in the year the cashback was paid with 8-9 days. I did a transaction on 10/04 with my 28 Degrees Mastercard and nothing yet on 20/04. Hopefully it will come through. We're not going until end of June.

    • Windthunder on 20/04/2024 - 09:29
      +1

      Please see this blurb from Latitude on their site:
      https://latitudefs.zendesk.com/hc/en-au/articles/51585095727…

      The cashback offer will appear as a credit on your monthly statement and can take up to 30 days to be processed for those offers classified as “always on” spend-instore or spend-online. Cashback for offers specified as “unlock additional online offers” may take up to 120 days.

      If you can’t see the cashback on your next monthly statement, then fill out our promotion enquiry form and we’ll investigate. You’ll need your Latitude 28⁰ Global Platinum Mastercard® account details, the retailer you made the purchase with and the details of the offer.

      With that said, it usually takes me within 5 business days after the transaction has finalised (no longer pending) for me to receive the cashback with a Commbank card. The cashback is however dated 1 business day after when the original transaction was performed.

  • Kabal on 23/04/2024 - 12:33

    Lol I'm in Japan right now and didn't realise they would take so long to give you the cash back, prob won't get it until I leave.

    Oh well using Suica via Apple Pay is mad convenient anyway cos credit cards can be hit or miss here (though it's better than its ever been), or require inserting/signing still which is annoying.

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