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.

Using a PASMO card in 2026 is one of the most efficient ways to navigate Japan's complex transit systems. To use it for trains and subways, you simply tap the card (or your smartphone if using Mobile PASMO) against the blue illuminated reader at the ticket gates as you enter and again as you exit; the system automatically calculates the correct fare. For buses, you typically tap at the front or rear entrance depending on the local boarding rules. Beyond transportation, PASMO is a widely accepted form of electronic money. You can use it at convenience stores like 7-Eleven or Lawson, at vending machines, and in many restaurants and shops by saying "Pasmo de onegai shimasu" (PASMO, please) and tapping the reader at the register. Recharging is easy at any train station ticket machine using cash, or via your phone's wallet app. Note that as of 2026, physical PASMO cards are often restricted for short-term visitors (PASMO Passport), so many travelers now prefer the seamless digital version on Apple Pay or Google Pay.