Complete Guide to Welcome Suica and PASMO Passport

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The Suica card and PASMO card (aka IC cards) are essential for an easy and smooth experience while traveling on the Tokyo municipal transportation system. With up to 30 different transportation companies operating lines that overlap and crisscross each other like a tangle of spider webs, it can be confusing and frustrating trying to navigate Tokyo transport on your own. That is where these cards come in. They enable you to skip buying tickets and proceed directly to the ticketing gate. This video explains what an IC card is, where to buy it, how to use it, where else it is accepted, how to recharge it, the difference between a regular card and one specifically designed for tourists (Welcome Suica, PASMO Passport), and lastly how to use up the balance. Enjoy!

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27 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 144

@RunawayOrange 8 месяцев назад

I like the approach you did to make this video so precise and straight to the point. Thank you

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Appreciate your kind words. Thanks!

@outtolunchbye 9 месяцев назад

Excellent 👍 Day two in Japan 🗾 this video was of great help :⁠-⁠)

@travistravels8818 9 месяцев назад

Excellent! Have a great time!

@AsEiVaMpZ 8 месяцев назад

Thank you for all these tips! I'm sure they'll prove to be most useful of my trip to Japan next year 💯

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching. Have a fantastic trip!

@AsEiVaMpZ 8 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@gijsbersbart 6 месяцев назад

Thank you! This is a very usefull video. After endless amounts of websites i got really confused and this video helped me a lot.

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

I’m glad to hear it. Thanks for watching!

@Leanleviste 8 месяцев назад

Learning about everything I will use for next month! thank you

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

That’s great! Enjoy your trip!

@theextravaganttraveler 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for taking the time to make this video we appreciate it very much! 🙏

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Very glad to hear it. Thank you!

@libbyrose8541 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for the explanation. Very easy to understand. :)

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@thailaoder 6 месяцев назад

Nice explanation and thanks again Very helpful 🙏🙏

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Thanks. Very welcome!

@samroot 7 месяцев назад

Great up-to-date information. Will be there soon. Thanks!

@travistravels8818 7 месяцев назад

Thanks so much. Have a great trip!

@lillygirl7238 8 месяцев назад

Arigato. Traveling to Tokyo soon only for 7 days so will buy the Pasmo card to get around.

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Have a good trip!

@jsaran50 4 месяца назад

Very helpfull Tips for first time tourist arriving in Japan!

@travistravels8818 4 месяца назад

Thank you!

@darndarndarn 9 месяцев назад

VERY useful video, thanks!

@travistravels8818 9 месяцев назад

Glad to hear it!

@travistravels8818 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching!

@americaninthailand8760 7 месяцев назад

That really helps! Thanks!

@mtwhatley3253 7 месяцев назад

I love the accent….so very British. Cheerio.

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Cheers mate!

@user-hl9wp5nq8c 8 месяцев назад

Thank you so much 🙏🏻

@amy_w_ 9 месяцев назад

Easy to follow 👍👍

@travistravels8818 9 месяцев назад

Glad to hear that!

@matteopisanello7787 6 месяцев назад

Very interesting, i hope so bad i manage to visit Japan one day

@martyjwalker 8 месяцев назад

Get a Pasmo Passport at the airport if you can. I had to burrow down into the bowels of Shinjuku Station to get ours. I don't know why they make it a PITA to top up either. Cash is a nuisance.

@fildzahmujaddidah1105 6 месяцев назад

Hey, I will like to visit japan this month and use Nonbiri Suica Holiday Pass. How to purchase it? Should I take welcome suica pass or IC suica card?

@RJ-kg5fe 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for the tip though my question is why not just get rid of the tourist cards? If they kept the suica cards visitors can keep them and re use them if they ever decide to visit Japan again right? Also they could lend it to friends and family if they decide to visit as well. And it just sounds like a waste if it’s only usable for 28 days.

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Good point!

@arare5678 8 месяцев назад

Thanks for the video. How do I find out the balance left in my card?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

You can find the balance by using ticketing machines at any station. Check out 5:50 in the video where I film myself using one of these machines. Hope that helps!

@apodacaduron 8 месяцев назад

Great video thank you, just had a question, i'm going with my wife should each get an ic card or can we use 1 card for both of us?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Thank you. You each need to get an IC card. Enjoy your trip!

@nuuruliqkranulaslan3124 8 месяцев назад

What about children?@@travistravels8818

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Hi! Generally speaking, infants and toddlers ride for free. 6-11yo children get half off and need their own IC cards. You can buy Kid Welcome Suica cards for your children. Have a good trip!

@farrukhsafdar1970 3 месяца назад

thanks for great info. I have been multiple times to tokyo but this time going to osaka and IC tourist cards or passmo passports are not found at kansai airport? you have any idea?

@travistravels8818 3 месяца назад

Kansai airport only has ICOCA cards which are identical to Suica Welcome or Pasmo Passport in use and function. Only difference is that it requires a 500 yen deposit

@ninjafoodirecipes 8 месяцев назад

I heard you can get discounts at certain places if you have the Pasmo, is this true? The website isn't very clear on where you get the discounts :)

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

I saw that advertised on the official PASMO website as well, but when I searched for discounts nothing came up. So probably nothing worthwhile

@futurecanadian 9 месяцев назад

when you recharge a Pasmo Passport, is it cash only (I think it is but I figure you will know!)

@travistravels8818 9 месяцев назад

Recharge is cash only

@Nately22 4 месяца назад

Hi Travis Travel, great info! I'm heading to Tokyo next month. Am I right in thinking that the top up of Welcome Suica is cash only? You can use credit card?

@travistravels8818 4 месяца назад

Hi there! That’s correct, top up is cash only for both Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport cards

@Nately22 4 месяца назад

Great thanks! @@travistravels8818

@gd7948 Месяц назад

Thank you for the video. We don't get in until almost 10pm and probably closer to 11pm by the time we clear customs. Do you know if we can still buy the pasmo passport at that hour? Also, I'm just curious...if you have to show your passport to buy the tourist cards, how do you buy the Suica from the kiosk? Do you just scan your passport? Thanks

@travistravels8818 Месяц назад

Hi there! At that hour, you will have to use the vending machine which requires passport info. I’m not sure if you scan or key in passport info by hand. It should be pretty self explanatory so don’t worry. Which machine or card is available will depend on the airport or terminal. Good luck!

@gd7948 Месяц назад

@@travistravels8818 Thank you so much!

@NANICU 8 месяцев назад

There is a shortage of IC chips, but Suica and Pasmo choose to waste them on tourist cards which have a lifespan of only 28 days. What a way to generate e-waste!

@1492kishan 5 месяцев назад

It’s not a waste. Tourists generate a lot of revenue

@XQuietRoninX 8 месяцев назад

Great video I would like to know which one can be used for the bullet train?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Hi there. The short answer is neither. The only way is to first register your IC card with special JR programs like Touch de Go or Smart Ex, but they seem too complicated to be worth the time to figure out. So I recommend just buying a paper ticket for the bullet train

@XQuietRoninX 8 месяцев назад

@@travistravels8818 ok thank you so much 👍🏽 1 more thing does it make sense for us to use the luggage shipping service at all and should we register for it before we go or when we land.

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

If you have a lot of luggage, especially big luggage that doesn’t fit in the overhead racks then service like Yamato Transport is recommended. I don’t think purchasing ahead is necessary but maybe a good idea if they offer a big discount for advance booking

@nieznanyx 6 месяцев назад

Hi - I have an existing Passmo card from my trip to japan in 2023 -- i am returning in march end 2024 with my parents who are 1st timers - I have a balance on my passmo left over - can i still use it if passmo is discontinued production? -- can i refill my old passmo card or do i need to get one of the newer replacements? question 2 -- is there a difference between getting suica / welcome suica / passmo passport? if so, which is preferred? -- we do not have iphones so we cannot do the mobile suica

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Hi there! If you have the regular PASMO card then you can still use and refill it. Welcome Suica and PASMO Passport cards are designed for tourists and expire after 28 days. Regular Suica or PASMO cards don’t expire unless left unused for 10 years. There is no significant difference between Suica and PASMO. Hope that answers your questions

@nicksardelli890 8 месяцев назад

Should I just get a Icoca card instead of a Pasmo? Icoca can apparently work in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka - all of which I will be traveling to. Whereas Pasmo seems to only work in Tokyo?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

As far as I know they are interchangeable and all work across Japan. However i haven’t used Pasmo in Kansai so I can’t say for sure. In any event, if you arrive in Narita or Haneda airports then your choices may be limited to Pasmo or Suica as Icoca is not sold in Tokyo airports

@nicksardelli890 8 месяцев назад

@@travistravels8818I will be using my Apple Wallet to get the cards so I can choose from any :) Thanks

@BlackMambo5 8 месяцев назад

Hello, firstly, thank you for your video! Are they still issuing these cards? I travel to Japan in March 2024. Wondering if I'll have to carry a cash bag for the change if they are not issuing the card! 🤣

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

My pleasure! Yes, welcome suica and pasmo passport are still available as of November

@BlackMambo5 8 месяцев назад

@@travistravels8818 -- Thank you for the confirmation! Hoping this card is available when I land in March! Additionally, if you don't mind -- I had another question. If I'm travelling with my partner, and we decide to buy only 1 card, how do we get around using/sharing it? Like I have to tap the card twice at the ticketing gate, or I use the card and move ahead and then hand over the card to my partner and they tap it again and come back. Sorry if it sounds like a silly question!

@wolbos3623 8 месяцев назад

@@BlackMambo5as far as I know, each person needs a card. You can’t share.

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Unfortunately you can’t share IC cards. One card per person per trip. This is bc fare is based on distance traveled between two consecutive taps

@Pucchu31 8 месяцев назад

Great and informative video. I wanted to ask that can I use the IC card in Kyoto and Osaka as well?

@RG....... 5 месяцев назад

Hi, so this card can also be used across all bus and trains (except Shinkansen) all over Japan?

@travistravels8818 5 месяцев назад

Hi there. Not all. Only buses and intercity trains in major cities

@lshiowc 4 месяца назад

If I only stay in Tokyo for less than 4 days, will (Skyliner+Tokyo Subway 72H) ticket be a better option in terms of cost?

@travistravels8818 4 месяца назад

It’s not better or worse in terms of cost bc you spend same amount of money whether you use Suica welcome card or buy each transportation ticket individually. The only advantage of Suica is time saving.

@johnorbegozo685 6 месяцев назад

so I have a question I would use my passmo for example to tap in correct , but lets say I use the Shinkansen I tap in then for example I get off in Osaka I tap out ?? and ll have also a separate ticket for the Shinkansen so ill tap for base fair and use my ticket for Shinkansen ???

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Hi there. Good question. PASMO is really designed for inter-city travel on buses or subways. It gets tricky when you use it for long distance trains. If you use pasmo to pay for base fare and then upgrade, you will likely get two paper tickets that you will need to insert at same time into turnstile. l would avoid it altogether and just buy one Shinkansen ticket because honestly it’s confusing.

@johnorbegozo685 6 месяцев назад

thank you so much !!!@@travistravels8818

@user-bl8ew2no6o 8 месяцев назад

I heard you can just download the card in your phone.

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

You heard correctly! There’s a Suica card for iPhone Wallet app. But i haven’t used it bc I’m paranoid about running out of battery, no signal, losing phone, or all of above! Lol

@andrewhansen6067 6 месяцев назад

I plan to go to osaka, kyoto, tokyo Do icoca work in all that 3 area? Can i recharge the card in osaka, kyoto, tokyo too?

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Yes icoca will work in all 3 areas. You can recharge using ticketing machines at most train stations. Have a great trip!

@Cliffdog01 8 месяцев назад

Why don't they just accept debit/credit pay wave cards, especially if they aren't going to make their own anymore?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

That’s true. I suspect in the future they will upgrade the turnstiles to accept contactless credit cards just like the London Underground

@isharagangadin1918 5 месяцев назад

I stay near shinjuku station, where can I purchase a pasmo passport?

@travistravels8818 5 месяцев назад

According to the website, it’s available at the Shinjuku-nishiguchi Toei subway station tourist info center

@Peaceful13 7 месяцев назад

Is there an option to add a welcome card to Android and update balance there?

@travistravels8818 7 месяцев назад

Unfortunately to date Suica has only developed an app for iOS not for Android

@michellec8643 2 месяца назад

I'm arriving at Haneda at 5AM is it possible to get the passmo passport if the tourist information center is not open?

@travistravels8818 2 месяца назад

Hi there! It depends on the terminal. In terminal 3, where most international flights arrive, i don’t believe there’s a passmo passport vending machine. However there is a Suica welcome vending machine that’s open 24/7 just after customs. The two cards are interchangeable (although passmo passport is way more colorful imho). Good luck!

@fransera 8 месяцев назад

We can only buy Suica/Pasmo cards and make top-ups with cash only? Can we use cards?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Correct. Unfortunately, you can’t use credit cards to tap turnstiles. However there is a way to add suica to iPhone Wallet app and use iPhone or Apple Watch to tap in and out of turnstiles. I haven’t used such a feature though

@joe_peth2538 4 месяца назад

I have a pasmo card and its not expired. Can i still use it right now?

@travistravels8818 4 месяца назад

Yes! A regular PASMO card doesn’t expire as long as you use it at least once every 10 years

@redangel2301 8 месяцев назад

So which card recommended for tourist passmo or suica ?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

They are essentially the same. Both expire in 28 days, both have no deposit, both are accepted in the same places. However if you arrive in Haneda, I would recommend Pasmo because they have a counter with English speaking representatives to answer questions

@petergianakopoulos4926 8 месяцев назад

Can you use credit card to buy it at the machine ?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Ticketing machine for IC card only accepts cash. Only way to use credit card is if you buy the app version of Suica card using Wallet App on the iPhone. Hope that helps

@bizcochodulce 3 месяца назад

Does the Passmo passport card have to have a minimum amount of credit to be able to start making a trip? The other day, I wanted to use it and it told me the balance was low. You know exactly what the limit is so that it does not warn you that you have to put money

@travistravels8818 3 месяца назад

The initial deposit is 1500 yen then you can use card until balance goes to zero. I never got a low balance alert. Did your purchase amount exceed your balance? That may have caused the low balance alert

@ianbarton9359 21 день назад

I just want to confirm something. I kept our Pasmo cards from our last trip to Japan and if I understand what you said I won't be able to recharge them when I return again. Is that correct? It sounds like I just need to throw them in the bin!!!

@travistravels8818 21 день назад

Hi there! If you have regular Pasmo cards, then you can reuse them next time. If you have Pasmo Passport cards, then you cannot reuse them because they are only valid for 28 days after day of first use. The type of card is printed on the card itself. Hope that helps

@zgtc1015 8 месяцев назад

Is there a discount for children for the Welcome Suica card?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Hi! Generally speaking, you won’t get any discounts with Welcome Suica that you can’t otherwise get by paying cash. It’s simply a cash substitute

@Richard-ck5zk 4 месяца назад

Why is the paper receipt so important? Just for the expiration date?

@travistravels8818 4 месяца назад

In case you lose your card and it still has a balance on it, having the receipt Might allow you to reclaim the balance amount. I’m not sure, never tried it. Otherwise receipt has no practical use

@Twinkle_Cutlass 7 месяцев назад

Hi, Can you use a handover welcome suica where you just reload it or no? Thanks

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Hi JD. Welcome Suica card automatically expires after 28 days from date of purchase. You can always purchase a new one. There is no fee or deposit.

@Twinkle_Cutlass 6 месяцев назад

@@travistravels8818 thanks , this is very helpful for my travel

@spencersgb612 9 месяцев назад

Did you only use your ic card in Tokyo?

@travistravels8818 9 месяцев назад

Yes I only used it in Tokyo

@melonnnbread 6 месяцев назад

Hello can i ask if i van topup my pasmo passport with a card?

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Unfortunately no. You can only top up your pasmo passport card with cash

@erwinmalimban2197 7 месяцев назад

Is it available in KIX kansai Airport?

@travistravels8818 7 месяцев назад

Yes! But it has a different name: ICOCA card. Works exactly the same as Suica or PASMO

@hayleeandanderson 8 месяцев назад

Can you purchase items more than the value of the card and pay the balance at the convenience stores?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

That’s not possible. It works like a debit card not credit card. You can only charge an amount to it up to the balance of the card

@hayleeandanderson 8 месяцев назад

I guess that’s the hard part. You have look for things in the store close enough to the balance on the card. Otherwise, they won’t let you pay the remaining cost with another payment method.

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

@@hayleeandanderson cashier may have discretion. the one that served me allowed me to use up the balance on the card and then supplement rest with cash. this was at the Narita T1 airside 7-11

@hayleeandanderson 8 месяцев назад

Thank you.

@Arman-kz1yp 8 месяцев назад

Hello, Can i use those Cards to Narita Express or Bullet Train, Thanks

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

Hi Arman, technically yes. For Narita Express, you buy the base fare ticket with IC card and then a super limited express ticket. For bullet train, you’ll need to register separately with a program. TBH it’s confusing. So you’re better off just buying those tickets separately. IC card is mainly for inner city transit like subway, bus, local train

@Arman-kz1yp 8 месяцев назад

@@travistravels8818 Thanks a lot 💕

@YogaPinay 6 месяцев назад

Can you recharge the card using US dollars as cash??

@travistravels8818 5 месяцев назад

Unfortunately you can only recharge the physical card with Japanese yen

@YogaPinay 5 месяцев назад

@@travistravels8818 I see. Thanks for the info!!

@olivilla6960 8 месяцев назад

Hi Travis... We are going to Osaka, Hiroshima and Tokyo... do i need 3 different cards for my travels?

@travistravels8818 8 месяцев назад

You only need one IC card per person for all of Japan! Enjoy your trip! Sounds amazing!

@msgeen 3 месяца назад

I don't get it. Their solution to IC shortage is to use more IC chips. 😐

@dianegutierrez2566 6 месяцев назад

can you buy a welcome suica card at oaska airport?

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

Osaka airport has a different ic card called icoca which is equivalent to suica in every way except name

@travistravels8818 6 месяцев назад

To be clear, icoca is equivalent to suica. I don’t think icoca has a tourist edition equivalent to suica welcome card

@luxuryFean 7 месяцев назад

Can i reload with a credit card?

@travistravels8818 7 месяцев назад

The physical IC card only takes cash. But you may be able to use cc to reload the iPhone suica app

@katelycho 5 месяцев назад

Any charges or fees to get an IC card?

@travistravels8818 5 месяцев назад

None for the tourist cards like Welcome Suica or Passport Pasmo. There’s a refundable deposit of 500yen for non-tourist IC cards

@katelycho 5 месяцев назад

Thank you

@Ac-bp2in 7 месяцев назад

While the rest of the world is moving or has already moved toward a cashless society, our beloved japan still hangs tightly on to cash😢😢😢how backwardly sad

@travistravels8818 7 месяцев назад

One theory is that most technological advancement went into making toilet seats smarter lol

@tanakayoshitake655 5 месяцев назад

【急募】日本人がハローキティSuicaを手に入れる方法

@Travelers4Good 7 месяцев назад

So it sounds like there is no physical difference between the resident and tourist version of these cards. Seems like the chip shortage claim is just an excuse to create a tourist revenue generating scheme forcing them to abandon unused funds every month. Almost like a tourist tax.

@Ac-bp2in 7 месяцев назад

Japan has a way to make everything unnecessarily complicated, hate it