Although Tokyo's trains, subways and buses are operated by more than ten different companies with different fare systems, the Suica and PASMO prepaid cards can be used on all of them.
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Suica is the rechargeable prepaid IC card of JR East, valid on virtually all trains, subways and buses in the Greater Tokyo, Sendai and Niigata regions. In addition, Suica can be used on JR trains in the Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima, Nagoya, Shizuoka and Sapporo regions.
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PASMO is the rechargeable IC card of Tokyo's railway and subway companies other than JR, but it is also valid on JR trains. PASMO's predecessor, the non-rechargeable Passnet, was retired on March 15, 2008. Remaining Passnet balances can be refunded or transfered to PASMO.
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Validity
Which trains can be used?
Suica/PASMO can be used to pay the fare for virtually all trains in the Greater Tokyo region, including JR trains, subways and monorails, but excluding shinkansen. For trains, which require a supplement fee, e.g. limited express trains, the supplement has to be purchased separately. The area of validity includes places as far as Hakone, Nikko, Narita Airport and Kamakura.
Which buses can be used?
Suica/PASMO can also be used on many buses in the greater Tokyo region.
Can Suica/PASMO be used outside of Tokyo?
Suica can also be used in place of Icoca on JR trains in the Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima regions, in place of Toica on JR trains in the Nagoya and Shizuoka regions, and in place of Kitaca on JR trains in the Sapporo region. PASMO, however, is limited to the Greater Tokyo area.
Basic Use
How to use Suica/PASMO?
When passing the ticket gates, hold the card close to the card reader (rather than inserting it into the ticket slot). The applicable fare will be automatically deducted when you exit through the ticket gate at your destination station. A card cannot be shared by multiple travelers at the same time. (How to use trains in Japan)
| Ticket gate with Suica card reader |
Is there a discount over regular tickets?
Suica/PASMO does not provide any discounts over regular tickets on train travel. However, if you use the cards on buses, you automatically collect "bus points" which are converted into credit to be used on bus fares.
Where to get Suica/PASMO?
Suica/PASMO cards can be purchased at vending machines and ticket counters in railway stations of Japan Railways (Suica) and other railway companies (PASMO) in the Greater Tokyo region. The initial cost consists of a refundable deposit of 500 Yen plus an initial amount to be charged onto the card. The initial amount is 1500 Yen in case of Suica and between 500 and 9500 Yen in case of PASMO.
Vending machine
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How to recharge Suica/PASMO?
Suica/PASMO cards can be recharged at vending machines in railway stations of Japan Railways and other railway companies in the Greater Tokyo region. The maximum amount to be charged onto a card is 20,000 Yen.
How to check the current balance?
The current credit balance is shown on a small display whenever you pass a ticket gate. Furthermore, it can be checked at vending machines together with a usage history.
How to get back the 500 Yen refundable deposit?
Bring your card to the ticket counter of a JR (Suica) or non-JR (PASMO) railway station in the Greater Tokyo area in order to get back your 500 Yen deposit. Unused credit can also be refunded (210 Yen handling fee applies).
Is there an expiry date?
Cards become invalid if they are not used for ten years.
Card types
Besides regular cards, there are personalized cards which can be replaced if lost (500 Yen handling fee applies), commuter pass cards which also serve as a commuter pass, and cards for children.
Other Use
Shopping with Suica/PASMO
At an increasing number of shops (more than 10,000), such as convenience stores, kiosks and restaurants in and around railway stations, Suica/PASMO cards can be used instead of cash. Simply hold your card close to the card reader and you won't have to deal with change.
Suica/PASMO credit cards
There are various credit cards that double serve as Suica respectively PASMO cards. Some of them come with an option to automatically recharge Suica/PASMO when the remaining amount gets low. These credit cards are only available to residents of Japan.
Mobile Suica
Selected mobile phone models can be set up to serve as a Suica card. However, since mobile phone contracts require Japanese residency, Mobile Suica is not available to foreign tourists.
Mobile Suica
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Sign indicating that the shop
accepts payment by Suica
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Narita Express and Suica
The Suica & NEX package for 3500 Yen (5000 Yen for the green car version) consist of 1) a one way trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo (or Yokohama) by Narita Express and 2) a Suica card worth 2000 Yen (500 Yen refundable deposit plus 1500 Yen worth of train fares), a great deal, considering that the regular one way fare of the Narita Express alone is around 3000 Yen or more!
The Suica & NEX package can be purchased at Narita Airport only by travelers who hold a non-Japanese passport. There is a limit of one purchase per person.
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