Oh I have an Android, a US Samsung phone, and cannot get a digital IC card. I am flying into hanada spending the night at the airport and flying out to Hiroshima. I read that I have to activate the card for the first time by using it on a train in Tokyo. Is this true? I'm not leaving the airport. Any suggestions? Thank you
Contributor 
77,041 posts
64 reviews 
142 helpful votes Welcome Suica can be purchased at Haneda Airport. https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html
Contributor
43,860 posts
313 reviews
426 helpful votes You can use your Welcome Suica in Hiroshima for the first time. You don't “activate” your IC cards. They are ready to go no matter where you're in Japan.
Contributor
16,015 posts
192 reviews
99 helpful votes Indeed, if you want to test it buy groceries in convenience stores/shops in HND.
Most IC cards do not require activation.
The only one I've heard of that does is the Welcome Suica (with IC Special Pass). You can activate it by charging (augmenting value to the Welcome Suica) the card using a machine that supports charging, which you should be able to do outside of Tokyo.
However, I've never used the Welcome Suica (with IC Special Pass), so I can't say for sure.
In any case, I think this is a red herring.
At Haneda Airport, you can get a Welcome Suica or PASMO PASSPORT (subject to availability). And in Hiroshima, you can get an ICOCA.
