Pasmo & Suica Card - Prepaid card for public transportation Info & Prices + My Experience

If you're in Tokyo, you'll find that there's not one big transit company for the whole city. Instead, individual railway companies share the business. Some examples are Japan Railway East (JR East), the Metro, and the Tokyu Corporation. If you don't want to constantly buy tickets, I recommend buying an IC card. The most well-known providers in the Greater Tokyo area are Pasmo and Suica. You usually have to pay a deposit for a new IC card. Suica and Pasmo are charged like prepaid cards, and if you use them on the train, your fare is even reduced by a few yen.

Where can I use the Pasmo or Suica Card?

If you run out of cash, you can use your IC card as an alternative payment method at certain locations. In addition to buses, trains, and subways, many convenience stores (Konbini) and beverage and snack vending machines, as well as some restaurants, accept the IC card as a means of payment. And the good thing about it is that you can use these IC cards all over the country, not just where you bought the card.

Where don't Pasmo and Suica Card work?

Unfortunately, there are also areas where IC cards reach their limits. But don't worry, this is usually only in the countryside or in very small towns. The public transportation systems in the big cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka are definitely part of the usage area. Just remember one thing: your journey can be paid for with the IC card as long as the starting and ending points are within the IC usage area.

Where can I top up my card?

You can top up your IC card at any train station at the ticket machine. In big cities, you can also often do this directly on the bus with the driver. Credit cards are rarely accepted, so always have enough cash with you!

How do I use the card for a train ride?

Before you can reach the platform, you first have to go through the automated gates. There you have to hold your IC card against the illuminated surface where "IC" is written. Your card will be scanned and a small screen will show you how much credit you currently have. It is sufficient if the amount is enough for a ride to the next station. However, if you have too little money on your card, the gate will close in front of you. You then either have to buy a ticket or top up your IC card at the nearest machine. When you reach your destination, you have to go through the gates a second time to leave the station. Just scan your card like the first time. Now two amounts will appear on the small screen. One is how much the journey cost, the other is how much credit is left. If you are traveling by bus, it works according to the same principle. Scan once when you get on and off. Never forget to scan here, otherwise the highest possible amount will be debited from your account, as the card thinks you have traveled to the final destination.

Benefits of the Pasmo and Suica Card

• Time-saving: If you have enough money on your card, you can always travel anywhere immediately without having to buy a ticket
• Saves money: With Pasmo or Suica, each journey costs you a little less than with a ticket
• You are more flexible: You can get on and off at will without having to buy a fixed ticket
• Practical for small purchases: Instead of taking out your wallet, you can simply use your IC card to pay small amounts in convenience stores or at vending machines. This is especially useful because credit card payments are not as popular in Japan as they are abroad. The IC card can be a good compromise there.
• If you would like to know more about the topic of "Paying in Japan", you can check out this article from us:

Suica vs. Pasmo

If you're traveling in Tokyo, you have two options for IC cards: Pasmo and Suica. These two are very similar and are also used outside of Tokyo in the following cities:

• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hiroshima (however, not on buses here)
• Nara
• Himeji
• Fukuoka
• Sapporo
• Sendai
• Yokohama
• Kamakura
• Hakone
• Nikko
• Nagoya
• Kumamoto
• Beppu

One point where the two cards differ is the initial purchase amount. While Suica requires a top-up of 1500¥ the first time, you can start with Pasmo with just 500¥.

Suica

You can get Suica from JR. If you are only traveling for a limited time, e.g., 2 weeks, you can first get the tourist version. You don't have to pay a deposit for this either and it is loaded with a fixed amount when you buy it. The validity of the tourist Suica is 28 days. Both versions are available at the following stations:

• JR East Travel Service Center at Narita Airport
• Haneda Airport at the International Terminal Station
• Tokyo Station
• Shinjuku Station
• Ikebukuro Station
• Ueno Station
• Hamamatsucho Station

Pasmo

Pasmo is distributed by Tokyo Metro and Tokyu Corporation. Here, too, there is a tourist version called Pasmo Passport which is also valid for 28 days. However, if you still have money left on your card after these 28 days, you won't get it back. You can get the tourist version, as well as the normal Pasmo, at the following stations:

• Toei Subway Station
• various Tokyo Metro stations
• Haneda Airport
• Narita Airport

Returning Pasmo & Suica

If you want to return your normal Pasmo or Suica, you will have no problem getting back the unused money as well as the initial deposit. However, make sure you only return cards at stations of the respective railway company.

Other Posts Related to This Post