How do Pasmo cards work?

How to use PASMO. Simply touch your PASMO to the reader on the ticket gate to ride the train. Simply touch your PASMO to the reader inside the bus to pay the fare. PASMO can be used for easy electronic payments so there is no need to count out coins.



A Pasmo card is a rechargeable "IC" (Integrated Circuit) card used for contactless payment across Japan's vast transit network. In 2026, you simply "tap" the card at the ticket gate of a train station or on a bus farebox, and the correct fare is automatically deducted. The card uses NFC technology to communicate with the reader in milliseconds. Beyond trains and buses, Pasmo is widely accepted at vending machines, convenience stores, and many restaurants. You can top up the balance at any station ticket machine using cash. A major feature for 2026 travelers is the digital Pasmo, which can be added to an iPhone or Android wallet, allowing you to tap your phone instead of carrying a physical card. Because it is interoperable with the "Suica" card, a Pasmo works in almost every major city in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, etc.), making it the ultimate "all-in-one" tool for navigating the country smoothly.

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How to use PASMO. Simply touch your PASMO to the reader on the ticket gate to ride the train. Simply touch your PASMO to the reader inside the bus to pay the fare. PASMO can be used for easy electronic payments so there is no need to count out coins.

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a PASMO PASSPORT. This is a special IC card with privileges only available to overseas travelers who are visiting Japan. It can be used for train and bus travel in the Kanto area and all across the country where IC cards are accepted, and for electronic payments when shopping.

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A PASMO shall expire if it is not replaced, used or topped up for a period of 10 years beginning from the day following the last such transaction.

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The only difference between PASMO and SUICA is who sells them. SUICA is from JR East, and PASMO is from Tokyo-area non-JR rail operators, including Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Wherever you can use SUICA, you can use PASMO, and vice versa. Same with charging with new amounts.

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Where can I use PASMO PASSPORT? PASMO PASSPORT can be used for trains and buses in the Kanto area and across all of Japan. What should I do if I have an insufficient balance? Let the train staff or bus driver know when entering the ticket gate or when getting on or off the bus.

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Each person needs one. Pasmo/Suica is read when touching the IC card reader upon entering and exiting a gate, and the correct fare is deducted from the card. The same card cannot be read entering twice at the same station.

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PASMO is an IC card that can be used on transportation in Japan. Adding it to your iPhone or Apple Watch Wallet app makes using PASMO easier, more convenient, and smarter. This symbol indicates a transportation IC card that can be used across the entire country.

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You can also use the Pasmo and Suica cards to pay for certain services such as lockers, parking and taxis.

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PASMO PASSPORT can be used for trains and buses in the Tokyo metropolitan area and across all of Japan. What should I do if I have an insufficient balance? Let the train staff or bus driver know when entering the ticket gate or when getting on or off the bus.

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In addition to using your charged PASMO card to ride the subway or buses, you can use it to pay for items purchased at stores and vending machines. It can also be used for member shops of railways and buses nationwide where interoperability is offered.

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If you are planning to travel out of Tokyo even a day trip to Nikko or a little further to Kyoto, then JR pass is the way to go and select the JR line . Pasmo/Suica card is doable within Tokyo and is similar to tap and go card. You can load up whenever you need them (cash only for loading) .

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The Suica card initially costs ¥ 1 ( US$ 0), of which 500 is credit and the other 500 goes as a deposit. This deposit is returned when you return the card to the Japan Rail (Suica). The Pasmo card costs ¥ 500 ( US$ 3.30), which is non-refundable, as well as the money you want to charge it with.

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Like a normal Pasmo card, the Pasmo Passport offers users access to the Kanto area's subways, trains and so on but unlike a normal Pasmo, it also gives users special access to discounts for some attractions, restaurants, shops and accomodation options.

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Smart cards like Icoca, Suica and Pasmo are valid across Japan, so don't worry about which one you buy. You can use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica for all trains, subways and buses in Kyoto. You can also use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica at many shops, especially convenience stores.

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CAN I KEEP MY CARD FOR MY NEXT TRIP TO JAPAN? Yes, you can. Pasmo and Suica cards do not expire for 10 years.

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The stations are usually crowded and once you've found the right ticket machine (and there are many) and waited in line to buy the fare ticket you need you'll have probably missed your train. The Suica card is by far the easiest way to use public transportation.

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