What is a PASMO or Suica card?

A rechargeable PASMO or Suica smart card is a more universal version of the all-purpose-for-campus student card you may have from your home university. These cards can be used for transportation and also for other purchases. More and more vendors are accepting them. You can add extra cash on your card up to ¥20,000, for other purchases.  You can add cash at ticket machines or fare adjustment machines in any station. Money on the card is valid for 10 years from the last recharge. When using the card at a ticket gate, you don’t need to take the car out of its pass case; you can simply touch it to the wicket.

PASMO says, “PASMO is a smart card that can be used in place of a train ticket or cash, helping to make your travel experience smoother and more convenient. In addition to using the same PASMO card on trains and buses, you can also use PASMO to purchase goods and services from stores that accept electronic money payments.”  PASMO is sponsored by Tokyo Metro.

Suica says, “The Suica is a prepaid e-money card for moving around and shopping. There is no more need to buy a ticket from a vending machine. Just touch your Suica to the ticket gate and the fare is automatically deducted from your Suica. The Suica can be used not only for JR East trains, but subways and buses as well. The Suica can also be used to pay for things with e-money. Buy soft drinks and coffee from vending machines and on the train. Even buy a newspaper at the station kiosk without fiddling for coins.” Suica is sponsored by JR East.

We suggest you research the rechargeable PASMO and Suica, choose the card that is best for you, and use it to manage your spending. You can move your KCP daily transportation allowance onto it, as well as using it for purchases and other travel. Normally, when you obtain the card you pay a $5 fee that is refundable if you return the card at the end of your stay.  If you get a PASMO/Suica card, you will save a significant amount of time by not having to purchase tickets at train and subway stations.

A clarification: where in the U.S. we would say “recharge your card” when you add money to it, in Japan they describe this action as “charge your card.”