Electronic money cards come in various types, such as ICOCA, SUICA, PITAPA, and more (see images). While the specific cards available for purchase vary by region, they are all compatible across different regions. These cards are awesome, since they work in nearly all trains, trams, buses, or whatever, even vending machines when you want a drink!
As a guide, I have a number of electronic money cards. This allows me to accept payment from guests for their transportation. We don't have to waste ten minutes each time we need to switch train lines or transit types, which happens quite frequently during many of my tours. (But if guests prefer to use the machines each time, or bring their own IC cards, that's fine. It's their time.)
Everyone needs their own IC card (or app for iPhone ONLY), and you'll be using it over and over and over. (Make sure the kids don't spend all of theirs on drinks and snacks from vending machines, though!) Typically (and this is about our own local card, the ICOCA), you'll pay 2,000 yen for the card. That INCLUDES 1500 yen on the card, ready-to-use, so the card itself only cost you 500 yen.
If you can find the right machine at the end of your trip (or ask a JR train staff member to help you—other lines aren't as helpful), the card can be returned and almost all refunded. They only keep 180 yen per card, no matter how long it was in use, and they're valid 10 years past the LAST time it was used. Keep it for your next Japanese trip, if you like!
It is important to note that NOT all machines at the train stations issue these cards! Most any ticket machine can charge up the cards (even IC cards from somewhere else), but only a few are designated for issuing or refunding cards. Therefore, it is essential to locate the correct machine in order to buy or refund electronic money cards. I've found that the ones marked "ICOCA Cards" will sell/refund cards, while the ones saying "ICOCA Charge" won't.
Also, for kids' cards you may have to buy them directly from station staff (again, I recommend JR) since there have been some adults using them to pay half price!
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