The Suica penguin is the popular mascot behind JR East’s IC card, but why a penguin, and where did he come from? Find out here.
Intro
If you’ve spent any time in Japan—especially the Greater Tokyo area—I’m almost certain you’ve seen this guy before. He’s the mascot behind JR East’s IC card, and this penguin is everywhere—from ticket gates and signs to vending machines and unique merchandise. But for a character so popular, few people stop to ask the obvious: why a penguin, and where did he come from? In our latest post from the expert team here at JR Pass, we'll tell you all this and more.
Alongside this, there’s also some pretty big news about the Suica penguin. On November 11, JR East announced that the character will “graduate” and be replaced by a new mascot at the end of the 2026 fiscal year. As of yet, no details have been released about the Suica penguin’s eventual successor, but this does mean time is ticking for fans to get limited edition penguin-themed items.
What is an IC card?
Before going any further, it’s worth explaining what an IC card actually is—because chances are, it’ll likely become an important part of your time in Japan.
An IC card is a type of rechargeable smart card used to pay fares on trains, subways, buses, and taxis. You can also use it at vending machines, shops, and even some restaurants. The “IC” stands for “integrated circuit,” referring to the small embedded microchip that stores data for payment, ticketing, and identification. In Japan, these cards communicate via Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows you to simply tap your card on a reader to pay.
Before IC cards, you had to purchase a physical ticket—an option that still exists in most stations today. There’s also digital versions of some IC cards you can set up directly on your smartphone.
Physical IC cards can be purchased at ticket vending machines in most JR East stations for 2,000 yen, which includes a 500 yen refundable deposit. To add more money to your card, just use a fare adjustment machine or recharge kiosk found near the ticket gate.
We highly recommend purchasing an IC card for travel around Tokyo (and within other major cities in Japan) alongside a tried and tested JR Pass for unlimited city to city travel and multi-city itineraries. 
Rise of the Suica Penguin
Looking to create a more efficient modern fare system, East Japan Railway Company (more commonly known as JR East), the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies that serves the eastern half of Honshu, Japan’s main island, began testing a “touch-and-go” system around 1998-1999 that would let passengers pass through fare gates by simply tapping a card. A few years later, in November 2001, it officially launched its very own IC card. The initial rollout covered 424 stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including the Keihin-Tohoku, Yamanote, and Chuo lines—the busiest commuter routes.
Known as Suica, the card’s name is short for “Super Urban Intelligent Card” and also plays off the Japanese ideophone sui-sui (スイスイ), a sound-symbolic word meaning “to move smoothly.” This also helped shape JR East’s choice of mascot. They ultimately chose a penguin because of how it smoothly glides through water.
Modeled after an Adelie penguin, the character we know today was designed by illustrator Chiharu Sakazaki, who had actually introduced a similar penguin in a picture book called “Penguin Gokoro.” She later created a slightly modified version for JR East. Known simply as the “Suica penguin,” the company purposely chose not to give the penguin a name, so it could represent a sort of personal companion for each cardholder.
And, with that, the Suica penguin made its debut in 2001 with the IC card’s launch, appearing not only on the card and other promotional material, but also in a live-action television commercial known as “Touch and Go.” Since then, merchandise featuring the penguin has become very popular in Japan and over 110 million Suica cards have been issued as of March 2025. It’s also not uncommon to see pop-up stores near major train stations where you can get your hands on anything and everything penguin-related.
Oh, and fun fact: according to JR East’s website, the Suica penguin is originally from Antarctica and his favorite food is fish sausage.
What’s more, in 2016, Suica Penguin Park opened just outside Shinjuku Station. Coinciding with the completion of Busta Shinjuku, a new express bus terminal expansion, the park features a bronze statue of the Suica penguin. During holiday and special events, you also can find more penguins as part of temporary installations throughout the park.
Other Japan Train Mascots
Two years after Suica’s debut in Tokyo, JR West, which serves the western portion of Honshu, launched its own IC card on November 1, 2003. Known as ICOCA, the name stands for “IC Operating Card,” but also is a pun of the regional Kansai phrase iko ika? (行こか？), meaning “Shall we go?”
To give the card a friendly face, JR West also introduced Ico-chan, a blue platypus mascot. The character’s quirky design struck a chord with Kansai’s playful, light-hearted spirit, and Ico-chan quickly became a familiar sight. The company also later introduced smaller platypus companions, Icota and Icomi, for children’s versions of the card. JR Central then launched its TOICA card in 2006, followed by JR Hokkaido in 2008, whose card features an Ezo momonga (a type of flying squirrel), and JR Kyushu in 2009.
JR’s success with Suica and ICOCA didn’t go unnoticed. Tokyo’s Pasmo joined the scene in 2007, while Fukuoka’s Hayakaken and nimoca soon followed in Kyushu. Pasmo doesn’t feature an animal mascot like Suica’s penguin or ICOCA’s Ico-chan, but the card is known for a pair of robot characters known as the Pasmo Robots. Hayakaken features a cheerful prairie dog mascot known as Chikamaru, whose name fuses the words chikatetsu (subway) and maru (circle or friendliness), while nimoca has a ferret mascot.
Where to Find Suica Penguin Merchandise
In March 2024, JR East opened a second Pensta branch in Lumine EST Shinjuku, bringing exclusive Shinjuku-themed Suica penguin merchandise to the capital’s busiest station. Meanwhile, at TRAINIART Tokyo (in Tokyo Station’s Gransta basement), you’ll find a wider selection of railway-themed goods—including Suica Penguin items, model trains, and other collectibles.
A bit further out, but, in Saitama Prefecture, The Railway Museum’s TRAINIART store also carries Suica penguin merchandise. Omiya Station, meanwhile, has the newest Pensta branch, which opened in October 2024.
Bonus Recommendations
For more on visiting Greater Tokyo and getting around by train, check out the further reading below:
- For more on IC cards, check out our Top 30 Tips for Using Japan’s Metros for advice and guidance on using the city’s subway network.
- Tokyo makes a great base for day trips to other destinations in Japan using the Japan Rail Pass thanks to its incredible transport connections. Find out more in our guide to The Best Day Trips from Tokyo.
- For more on IC cards, check out our Top 30 Tips for Using Japan’s Metros for advice and guidance on using the city’s subway network.
- Tokyo is BIG!! As such, it’s a smart idea to invest in PocketWifi to stay connected and avoid any unwanted data charges if you happen to need directions or language advice while you’re on the move.
- Need a helping hand on arrival? Our dedicated Meet and Greet Service is like having a personal assistant for your holiday who happens to be an expert on Japan. We’ll take care of you from the moment you arrive in Japan.
- If you’re exploring a huge city like Tokyo during your first time in Japan, it could feel a little daunting. That’s why we’ve put together our Top Ten Tips for First Time Visitors in Japan.
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