Subways, trains, and buses: IC cards are accepted on most trains and buses in Japan, including JR, private railways, and local lines. They're also accepted on subways in most major cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and more.
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PASMO is a convenient prepaid transportation card that contains an integrated-circuit (IC) chip, allowing the user to enter the subway by simply placing the card over a PASMO card reader located on the fare gates. The card is rechargeable and can be used over and over.
Train and Bus FaresAn IC card can be used for almost any public transportation in Japan. Both JR and private railway companies use IC cards, subways use IC cards, and most buses accept IC cards. There are some buses in more rural areas that do not offer this payment method, but in larger cities they are widely used.
The Suica card can be used in the majority of Japanese public transport: subways, buses and all local trains, as well as in buses and taxis displaying the Suica logo. Please note that the Suica card does not work on express trains, shinkansen, highway buses or airport shuttles.
The likelihood that credit cards are accepted decreases in small cities and towns, and thus it is advisable to keep cash at hand when visiting rural areas. Cash is often the only way to pay for small entrance fees at tourist sights, smaller restaurants and small shops. Many lockers also require coins.
IC cards are prepaid travel cards that you can use on trains, buses, ferries, cable cars, and more. They do not, however, include travel on bullet trains, long-distance trains, or airport transfers, like the Narita Express.
You can use Tokyo Monorail with transportation IC cards across the country including Suica and PASMO. *Kitaca is a registered trademark of JR HOKKAIDO. PASMO is a registered trademark of PASMO Co., ltd.. Suica is a registered trademark of JR EAST.
Suica is the prepaid IC card by JR East for JR trains in the Greater Tokyo, Niigata and Sendai regions. A special version of Suica, called Welcome Suica, is available to foreign tourists. The special cards are valid for only four weeks, come without a deposit fee, but do not allow for refunds.
The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.
In Tokyo, the suica card and pasmo card are among the most popular. What is this? In Kyoto and Osaka, the icoca card is the most common. For local travel in Hokkaido, you'll hear most about the kitaca card in reference to IC cards.
Yes, it can. Suica cards can be used anywhere the Suica IC card logo is displayed. It can also be used in convenience stores and vending machines outside of the Tokyo area. You cannot use the Suica to travel between Tokyo and Osaka, but you can use it to travel within cities such as Osaka and Kyoto.
Where to Buy and How to Top-Up the Suica Card? Travellers flying in from Narita or Haneda International Airport can purchase a Suica card easily at JR East Travel Service Centers. You can also buy a prepaid Suica card from ticketing machines at major JR East train stations and JR Ticket Offices (Midori-no-madoguchi).