Originally Posted by
jib71
If you want a card that will not expire, it has been reported that you can get a TOICA card issued by JR Tokai - equivalent to SUICA - from JR Tokai's ticket office at Tokyo station, Shinagawa station, or Shin Yokohama station.
I can confirm that this is doable, as I just bought a child's TOICA for my youngest daughter (who turned 6 right after the IC shortage started).
If buying at Tokyo, you have to go to Counter #2 in the JR Central ticket office (orange sign) at the Yaesu North Exit. There is a large blue "TOICA" sign over the counter.
There was an English-speaking woman in front of me in line looking to buy "a Suica or Pasmo" who got pissed off and left when the guy at the counter said they only had TOICA. He tried to explain that they were the same, but she just wasn't getting it.