Practical Travel

Suica and Pasmo IC Cards: Japan's Tap-and-Go Transit Cards

By JAPN Published · Updated

Suica and Pasmo IC Cards: Japan’s Tap-and-Go Transit Cards

How IC Cards Work

Suica (JR East) and Pasmo (Tokyo Metro consortium) are rechargeable contactless IC cards that work identically across all trains, buses, and many convenience stores and vending machines throughout Japan. Tap the card on the reader when entering and exiting stations, and the system deducts the correct fare automatically. Cards cost 500 yen deposit plus your chosen charge amount, purchasable from ticket machines at any JR or Metro station by selecting the English language option. The minimum charge is 1,000 yen.

Ten regional IC cards including ICOCA (Kansai), Kitaca (Hokkaido), TOICA (Nagoya), and manaca are all interoperable nationwide. A card purchased in Tokyo works in Osaka and vice versa. Apple Pay and Google Pay support adding Suica or Pasmo as a mobile wallet, eliminating the physical card entirely. Refunds for the 500 yen deposit are available at JR or Metro ticket counters when leaving Japan, minus a 220 yen processing fee.

Beyond Transit

IC cards work at convenience stores, vending machines, coin lockers, some restaurants, and taxi payment terminals. The tap-and-pay function means you rarely need to handle coins for small purchases. Maximum stored value is 20,000 yen, rechargeable at any station ticket machine. The card never expires as long as it retains a balance, and unused cards from previous trips work on return visits. Setting up auto-charge linked to a Japanese credit card is possible but unnecessary for tourists.

Using IC Cards Effectively

Load 3,000 to 5,000 yen initially, then top up as needed. Ticket machines display “charge” in English and accept 1,000 yen notes and coins. To check your balance, tap the card on any ticket machine screen without selecting any option. The card stores up to 20,000 yen. Children’s IC cards for ages 6 to 11 charge child fares automatically. When exiting a station where you entered by mistake (not riding any train), use the fare adjustment machine or ask the station attendant for a cancellation. If you lose your card, a registered Suica (created with personal details) can be reissued with the balance intact at a JR counter. Anonymous cards cannot be recovered. Buying a named Suica requires showing a passport at the JR ticket office.

Tourist IC Cards

The Welcome Suica, designed for tourists, comes without the 500 yen deposit but expires after 28 days, featuring a red cherry blossom design available at airport JR counters. The Pasmo Passport serves the same function for the Metro consortium. Both can be added to Apple Pay during setup. For longer stays, the standard Suica with its refundable deposit is better value. Load 3,000 to 5,000 yen initially, then top up as needed at any ticket machine. To check your balance, tap the card on any ticket machine screen without selecting an option. When a fare gate blocks you for insufficient balance, use the fare adjustment machine near the gates rather than tapping again elsewhere. Children’s IC cards for ages 6 to 11 charge child fares automatically. If you lose a registered Suica, it can be reissued with the balance intact at a JR counter with your passport.

At stations where you accidentally tap in but need to exit without riding, approach the station attendant window rather than tapping out at a gate, which would charge a minimum fare. The attendant can cancel the entry free of charge. When transferring between operators like JR and Metro within a station, the IC card calculates the combined fare automatically even when passing through intermediate gates.

This content is for informational purposes only and reflects independent research. Details may change — verify current information before making travel plans.