The Pasmo card can be used to pay for journeys in Japan's main cities, from Tokyo to Osaka, on JR train lines, private train lines, in the Tokyo subway, as well as in any bus or taxi displaying the Pasmo logo. Please note that the Pasmo card does not work on express trains or Shinkansen bullet trains.

In 2026, the PASMO card works on nearly all major train, subway, and bus lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area and across the vast "nationwide mutual use" network in Japan. You can use it seamlessly on JR lines, Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and private railways like Odakyu or Keio. It also works in other major cities like Osaka (for the subway and JR West), Kyoto, and Fukuoka. However, it is not accepted on all lines nationwide. For example, it cannot be used on most Shinkansen (bullet trains) without a separate "SmartEX" link, nor is it accepted on some long-distance "Limited Express" trains that require a paper supplement. It also may not work on very small, rural local bus lines or private mountain railways in remote areas. A key restriction is that you cannot use it for "continuous travel" between different IC card regions; for example, you cannot tap in at a station in Tokyo and tap out at a station in Nagoya. If you cross these boundaries, you must pay the fare in cash or at a service window. For 95% of a typical tourist's travels in Japan, however, PASMO is the only card you will ever need.