If you will be using public transportation multiple times on your trip to Japan, it is best to get a prepaid IC card, such as the PASMO card. It saves you the hassle of having to wait in line at ticket machines or ticket offices, and calculating how much the fares are. With it, you can get on and off trains and buses easily and conveniently.
What is the PASMO card?
The PASMO card is a kind of smart prepaid card that you can use not only for trains, subways, and buses, but also for buying goods and paying for transactions across Japan. It can be recharged or loaded with credits to cover your public transportation expenses, and purchases from many convenience stores, restaurants, and vending machines. It is one of the two IC cards that can be purchased in the Tokyo region (the other one being the Suica card), and is valid on various JR and non-JR train, metro, subway, and bus lines nationwide.
How do you buy a PASMO card?
You can buy your own PASMO card as soon as you land at Haneda Airport or Narita International Airport. Just look for a ticket vending machine that offers the option to buy a PASMO card. You can also purchase one at various JR and non-JR train stations in the Tokyo area.
To purchase a PASMO card using a ticket machine, follow the steps below:
- Many ticket vending machines have different language options available for non-Japanese speakers. Select “English” on the screen to proceed.
- Touch the button with the label “PASMO”.
- On the next screen, you are given two choices: a “Personal user PASMO”, if you want to have your name printed on your PASMO card (be prepared to input a number of personal details necessary for the issuance of a replacement card if you lose your original one); or a “General user PASMO”, if you are fine with a regular, nameless PASMO card.
- Select how much stored value you would like on your PASMO card. The options are 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 4,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen. All include a 500 yen deposit.
- Pay for your purchase by inserting bills or coins. Credit cards are not accepted.
- The next screen shows a summary of your transaction. You can touch the “Back” button if you made a mistake, or the “Receipt” button to create your card.
- Your PASMO card and your receipt should be ready in a few seconds.
How much does a PASMO card cost?
There are PASMO cards available for adults and children. They cost 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 4,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen, and include a 500 yen deposit. At the end of your trip, you can get a refund of the deposit and the remaining balance in your card by returning it to a non-JR train or subway station within the Tokyo area.
Adult PASMO cards are charged with adult rates, while child PASMO cards get charged with child rates. If you are travelling with a kid, you can purchase a child PASMO card for him or her by presenting the necessary documentation that proves his or her age.
How do you use the PASMO card to get around?
To get to the train platforms at train, subway, or metro stations, you just touch your PASMO card onto the sensors or readers at the ticket gates. And, once you arrive at your destination station, get off the train and head to the ticket gates where you touch your PASMO card once again onto the sensors or readers. The total fare for the journey is automatically deducted from your card.
To use your PASMO card on buses, touch it onto the sensor or card reader found next to doors or the bus driver once you board or alight. The exact bus fare should also be automatically deducted from your card.
How do you use the PASMO card for shopping?
The PASMO card can work as a wallet that you can use to pay for goods and services while you are travelling in Japan. It is very useful for the following situations:
- When purchasing foods and drinks from the train trolley services available on some long-distance railway journeys, you can pay using your PASMO instead of cash.
- If you want to buy soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, juice, and various food items from many vending machines across the country, you can touch it onto the sensor or reader and the total amount of your purchase is automatically deducted.
- When dining at some restaurants, you can pay for your meals with your PASMO card.
- A lot of convenience stores across Japan also accept PASMO cards as a mode of payment for purchases.
- If you need to store your luggage in one of those modern coin lockers at train or bus stations, you can use PASMO to pay for it.
Where can you use the PASMO card?
The PASMO card can be used on several JR train and non-JR/private train lines all over the country; many intercity express bus lines, overnight buses, airport shuttle buses, and city buses; and taxis around Japan. However, it does not work on Shinkansen lines and express train lines.
Some of the railway companies that utilize it are the Tokyo Railway, Toei Subway, Keisei Electric Railway, Keio Corporation, Keikyu, Enoshima Electric Railway, Hakone Tozan Railway, Seibu Railway, Tobu Railway, Izu Hakone Railway – Daiyuzan Line, Tokyu Corporation, Tsukuba Express, Odakyu Electric Railway, Yokohama Subway, and Saitama Railway.
It also valid on several bus lines, including the Fuji Kyuko, Keisei Bus, Hakone Tozan Bus, Odakyu City Bus, Kanto Bus, Tobu Bus, Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu, Seibu Bus, Keio Bus, Keihin Kyuko Bus, and Kawasaki City Bus; and a number of tram lines, such as the Toei Streetcar.
How do you recharge your PASMO card?
There are many railway stations from as far north as Hokkaido and as far south as Kyushu that have recharging machines for PASMO cards. You can top up or reload your PASMO at one found at a JR or non-JR station in denominations of 1,000 yen.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Insert your PASMO card into the card slot.
- Touch the “English” language option for ease and convenience.
- Select the “Charge” button on the screen.
- Choose the amount you would like to load into your card. Options are 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 4,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen. Notice that the screen also shows how much money you still have in your card.
- Insert bills or coins into the money slot to pay for the transaction.
- Take your newly recharged PASMO card.
You can also recharge your PASMO card on buses by asking the bus driver, or at several shops and stores by asking a staff member.
What is the PASMO card’s validity period?
The PASMO card has a validity period of 10 years. You can keep your own card after your last trip to Japan, and still be able to use it on your future trips, with the deposit and remaining balance intact, within the next 10 years. Visit the official PASMO website for more information.
