Here’s a full rundown of how to get an IC card like Suica or Pasmo to pay for almost everything in Japan in 2024.
This is the Welcome Suica card
We always recommend that travellers buy an IC card like PASMO or Suica in Japan, as having one makes getting around in Japan a breeze. In addition to paying for local transport like subways and buses, you can pay for nearly everything with an IC card.
During 2023, there was a semiconductor shortage and Suica and Pasmo card sales were suspended.
In 2024, IC cards specifically intended for tourists were issued. These are the Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport cards.
- If you have an iPhone 8 and above, you can buy Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport directly on your iPhone and add it to your Apple Wallet.
- You can buy a Welcome Suica card online and have it sent to your home before you leave for Japan.
- You can get a Welcome Suica on Pasmo Passport on arrival at Narita Airport or Haneda Airport - be prepared for queues. Full details below.
This is the PASMO Passport card
What Are These Tourist-Only Travel Cards?
The special tourist-only IC cards are called PASMO Passport and the Welcome Suica, which are issued by different companies. Functionally, they are identical and fully interchangeable, but we’ve outlined the key differences below:
PASMO Passport
- Valid for 28 days, after which it expires. No refunds available, so make sure you use all the cash balance before you depart.
- You must show your passport to the sales staff to prove that you’re a non-resident visiting Japan.
- It currently costs ¥1,500. This is the amount you’ll have loaded onto your card, as they’ve waived the ¥500 issuing fee. No word on how long that will last.
- You can buy one on arrival at Haneda and Narita Airports. You can also buy them at a few train or subways stations in Tokyo itself (but check the following link below carefully for the present sales locations as these change all the time). This link takes you to a list of sales counters.
Signs displayed at station counters suggesting that visitors purchase a PASMO Passport
Welcome Suica
- Valid for 28 days, after which it expires. No refunds available, so make sure you use all the cash balance before you depart.
- You can purchase one from the vending machine at Haneda Airport or the JR East Travel Service Centers at Narita Airport.
- If you’re purchasing one on behalf of a child aged 6 to 11 years old, you’ll need to show their passport (at the JR ticket office at the airport).
- You can load it with cash in thousand-yen increments to start with.
- You can only buy it at Narita or Haneda Airport.
Which One Should I Get?
Functionally, it doesn’t matter which one you buy. For example, you might decide you want the cute Hello Kitty-themed PASMO card as a souvenir instead of the sakura-themed Welcome Suica card and base your decision on that. If you’re in a hurry to get out of the airport, you may also decide to just buy the PASMO Passport in the city.
The very nondescript-looking sales counter in Tokyo Metro Ginza Station, located near exit B6
For this reason, we’d recommend purchasing the Welcome Suica on arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport. It’s likely that you’ll have to wait in line, but it’s well worth the time spent here for hassle-free train travel afterwards. Plus, you don’t have to show your ID!
The queue for purchasing the Welcome Suica at Haneda Airport can be quite long
Here’s how you get a Welcome Suica card
Where To Buy It
As of 10 August 2023, you can only purchase the Welcome Suica card at the following locations:
- JR-EAST Travel Service Center at Narita Airport Terminal Stations 1 and 2/3
- The Welcome Suica vending machine on the Arrivals floor at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station, Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Line
Don’t forget to buy it on arriving at the airport in Tokyo!
If your flight lands at Narita Airport, head to the nearest JR-EAST Travel Service Center in Narita. There are two such centers in Narita: one in Airport Terminal 1 Station and one in Terminal 2/3 Station.
For the purposes of this article, we’ll show you how to do this at the vending machine on the Arrivals floor at Terminal 3 of Haneda Airport. This is where all international flights land at Haneda and it’s the most straightforward way to get one — just keep in mind that you’ll need to queue and the line can be long during busy seasons.
A well-signposted vending machine
First, find the vending machine at Haneda Airport
After customs, you’ll be on the Arrivals floor. Follow the signs to the Tokyo Monorail. The vending machine is to the left of the ticket barriers. You can’t miss it. Have cash ready and get in line. Note: We’ve been hearing rumors that sales at the vending machine will be discontinued. If this is the case, PASMO Passport cards will be available from the Keikyu Line service counter, which is roughly opposite the Tokyo Monorail entrance.
You can choose from four languages
Follow the instructions on the screen
1. Choose your language (we selected English).
This shows one screen in the purchasing process
2. Hit “Accept” for the Adult Card.
– If you are purchasing a Child Card, the attendant nearby will likely ask to see a passport.
You can charge the card in thousand-yen increments or up to ¥10,000 to start with
3. Insert the amount of money you’d like to put on the card.
The card and accompanying reference paper
4. Voila! A card. Make sure you keep the slip of paper that comes with it. This reference paper contains information about the validity period of your Welcome Suica, but you’ll also need to show it if the staff ask to see it.
Other Options
The Kansai version of Suica/PASMO is called ICOCA and it’s available at large JR Stations in Kansai, as well as at Kansai International Airport. So, if you’re starting your trip in Kansai, pick one up and you can use it everywhere in Japan, just like Suica/PASMO.
Also, if you have a relatively new iPhone model and have Apple Pay, you can get a Suica or PASMO card on your phone. Just note that you can only top it up with a MasterCard or American Express card, or using cash at train and subway stations in Japan.
Finally, you can buy a Welcome Suica card online and have it sent to your home before you leave for Japan.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
