What is Suica or Pasmo? Your 7 Options in 2026
If you’re visiting Tokyo, the first thing locals will tell you to get is an IC card—either Suica or Pasmo. These are rechargeable prepaid cards (or phone apps) that let you tap through train and subway gates, pay for buses, and buy things at convenience stores and vending machines. No fumbling for cash, no figuring out ticket prices for each ride. Just tap and go.
Suica is operated by JR East, the company that runs most overground trains in Tokyo. Pasmo is run by Tokyo’s private railway and subway operators. The names sound different, but practically speaking, they work identically. You can use either card on any train, subway, or bus in Tokyo—and across most of Japan. Locals don’t really care which one they have. Pick whichever you can get first.
Here’s the catch in 2026: there are actually seven different ways to get an IC card, and the right choice depends on your phone, your trip length, and whether you want a souvenir.
Physical cards (4 options):
– Standard Suica or Pasmo — the green or silver cards locals use. Came back in March 2025 after a global chip shortage. Requires a ¥500 deposit.
– Welcome Suica — JR East’s tourist version with a cherry blossom design. No deposit. 28-day validity.
– Pasmo Passport — Pasmo’s tourist version featuring Sanrio characters (Hello Kitty, etc.) posing in front of Tokyo landmarks like Mt. Fuji and Skytree. No deposit. 28-day validity.
– Tourist Pasmo — NEW in May 2026. Stylish design built around the kanji “旅” (travel), featuring Japanese characters scattered across the card face. Designed to be taken home as a souvenir. No deposit. 28-day validity.
Digital options (3 options):
– Welcome Suica Mobile — iPhone app launched March 2025. 180-day validity (six times longer than physical Welcome Suica), no deposit, works with foreign credit cards, no Japanese Apple ID needed. Currently iPhone only.
– Standard Mobile Suica via Apple Wallet — only works smoothly with iPhones bought in Japan. Foreign iPhones have limitations.
– Standard Mobile Pasmo — same restrictions as Mobile Suica.
The short version: if you have an iPhone, get the Welcome Suica Mobile app before you fly. If you don’t, the new Tourist Pasmo (from May 2026) gives you the best combination of zero deposit, no return hassle, and a card worth keeping.
Where and How to Get Your Card
Your buying options depend on which of the seven cards you’ve chosen. Here’s the practical breakdown.
If you want Welcome Suica Mobile (iPhone users)
This is the easiest option, and you don’t even have to wait until you land.
1. Before your flight: Download “Welcome Suica Mobile” from the App Store.
2. Open the app and set a simple secret keyword (no membership registration needed).
3. Add a credit card and load any amount from ¥1,000.
4. The moment you land at Narita or Haneda, you can tap your phone at the ticket gate.
No queues. No counters. No 28-day countdown — the digital version is valid for 180 days.
If you want a physical card
You have four options, and where you get them differs.
Standard Suica or Pasmo (the local versions)
– Available at most JR East stations (Suica) and Tokyo Metro / private railway stations (Pasmo)
– Use the green ticket machines — most have an English mode
– Minimum purchase ¥1,000, plus a ¥500 refundable deposit
– These don’t expire for 10 years, so they’re the best choice if you visit Japan often
Welcome Suica (cherry blossom design, no deposit)
– Sold only at JR East Travel Service Centers at Narita and Haneda airports, Takanawa Gateway Travel Service Center, and Japan Rail Café Tokyo
– Expect a queue at the airport, especially Haneda
– Cash and major credit cards accepted
Pasmo Passport (Sanrio character design)
– Sold at airport counters and a few Tokyo Metro stations including Shinjuku, Ginza, Ueno, and Meiji-Jingumae
– Look for the dedicated counter, not the regular ticket machine
Tourist Pasmo (NEW from May 2026, kanji design)
– Narita Airport: fixed price ¥2,000, including ¥2,000 of credit
– Haneda Airport: choose from ¥1,000 / ¥2,000 / ¥3,000 / ¥4,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥10,000 — the full amount loads onto the card
– Sold at airport counters and ticket machines
– No deposit, no service fee
Honest tip from someone who lives in Tokyo
If you’re arriving tired after a long flight and the Welcome Suica counter has a 30-minute line, just skip it. Get a regular Suica or Pasmo from a ticket machine in two minutes — you can always buy a Welcome Suica or Tourist Pasmo later in the city if you want one as a souvenir. The ¥500 deposit is refundable.
How to Charge and Use Your Card
Charging (Topping Up)
You can add money to any IC card at:
– Ticket machines in any station (cash only at most machines, some accept cards)
– Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) — just hand the cashier cash and your card
– Mobile apps: charge directly through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet using any credit card
Charging amounts: ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000, or ¥10,000 are standard options at most machines.
Maximum balance: ¥20,000. Once you hit this, you can’t add more until you spend some.
Using the Card
For trains and subways:
1. Tap your card (or phone) on the round sensor at the ticket gate when entering.
2. Walk through.
3. Tap again on the round sensor when exiting. The fare is automatically deducted.
That’s it. No tickets, no thinking about transfer routes, no fare calculation.
For buses:
Most Tokyo buses are flat-fare. Tap when boarding (at the front door), and you’re done.
For shopping:
At convenience stores, vending machines, and many restaurants, tell the cashier “Suica” or “IC card” and tap when prompted. The amount is deducted instantly.
Things you might not expect to be able to pay for with an IC card:
– Vending machine drinks at most stations and many street corners
– Coin lockers at major stations (huge time saver — no fumbling for ¥100 coins)
– Some taxis (look for the IC card sticker on the back window)
– Tickets at museums and tourist attractions
– The Shinkansen (bullet train) — actually no, IC cards alone don’t cover Shinkansen. You need a separate ticket.
What to Do at the End of Your Trip
This depends on which card you have.
Standard Suica or Pasmo
– Keep it. The card stays valid for 10 years between uses, so if there’s any chance you’ll return to Japan, hold on to it. Your remaining balance stays untouched.
– If you want a refund: go to a JR East counter (for Suica) or a Pasmo counter. They’ll return your ¥500 deposit minus a ¥220 handling fee, plus your remaining balance. Honestly, not worth the time for most travelers.
Welcome Suica (physical)
– Expires 28 days after purchase. After that, the card is useless.
– No refund possible. Any remaining balance is lost.
– Best practice: spend the balance down to near-zero on your last day. Use it for convenience store purchases or your final train ride.
– Keep the card as a souvenir — the cherry blossom design makes it a nice memento.
Pasmo Passport / Tourist Pasmo
– Same as Welcome Suica: 28-day expiry, no refunds, take it home as a souvenir.
Welcome Suica Mobile (the app)
– Valid for 180 days. If you’re coming back within six months, you don’t need to do anything — your card and balance are still there.
– After 180 days, the digital card expires. You can create a new one for your next trip.
– No refund on remaining balance.
The honest move: on your last day, use up most of your balance on souvenirs, last-minute snacks, or the train ride to the airport. Leaving ¥3,000 on a card you’ll never use again is a waste.
Tips Locals Know (That Most Guides Don’t Tell You)
After living in Tokyo for years, here are the things that take time to figure out on your own.
Your card works almost everywhere in Japan, not just Tokyo.
Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA (Kansai), SUGOCA (Kyushu), and most other regional IC cards are mutually compatible. The Suica you buy in Tokyo works on Osaka subways, Fukuoka buses, and Sapporo trains. You don’t need a different card for each region.
Vending machines and lockers are the killer feature.
Tokyo has over 5 million vending machines, and most station-area ones accept IC cards. Same for coin lockers at major stations — you tap to lock, tap again to retrieve. No coins needed, no language barrier.
Don’t bother with the Suica counter if you’re tired.
Airport counters can have 30-45 minute queues during busy seasons. If your only goal is “I need a card right now,” a regular Suica or Pasmo from a ticket machine takes 2 minutes. You can buy a souvenir Welcome Suica or Tourist Pasmo from any major station later.
The “balance running out at a gate” panic.
If you tap to exit and your balance is too low, the gate closes and a red light flashes. Don’t panic. There’s a “Fare Adjustment” (精算) machine right next to the gates, usually marked in English. Insert the card, add cash, done. Takes 30 seconds.
Apple Wallet users: enable Express Mode.
If you’re using Welcome Suica Mobile or Mobile Suica via Apple Wallet, enable “Express Mode” in your wallet settings. This lets you tap through gates without unlocking your phone or using Face ID. Locals do this without thinking — it’s significantly faster.
Souvenir collectors: limited designs exist.
Beyond the standard tourist designs, JR East occasionally releases special edition Suica cards (Hello Kitty crossovers, anime tie-ins, regional designs). These usually sell out within hours and become collector items. If you’re into this, check JR East’s news page before your trip.
One last thing: kids’ cards exist.
Children aged 6-11 can get a half-price IC card. Adults need to register this for them at a counter (with passport). Saves a noticeable amount over a week of train rides.
Final Thoughts
For most travelers in 2026, the choice boils down to:
– iPhone user, first or repeat visit: Welcome Suica Mobile app. Set it up before your flight.
– Android user, or want a physical card: Tourist Pasmo (May 2026 onwards) for the cleanest experience — no deposit, no refund hassle, take it home as a souvenir.
– Frequent Japan visitor or collector: Standard Suica or Pasmo. The ¥500 deposit is refundable, and the card lasts 10 years between uses.
Whichever you choose, you’ll wonder how you ever traveled Japan without one by day two.
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