Two IC cards are designed for tourists, and one regular IC card is designed for everyone. Here is the exact difference between all three and which one to actually buy.
International visitors arriving in Japan frequently encounter three IC transit card options: the regular Suica, the Welcome Suica, and the Pasmo Passport. All three work on essentially the same network of trains, subways, and buses. The differences are in deposit requirements, expiry dates, refund policy, and availability. This guide explains each one clearly.
Regular Suica – For Most Visitors
- Deposit: 500 yen (fully refundable on return)
- Expiry: No expiry for 10 years
- Refund: Full balance plus 500 yen deposit returned at any JR East machine on departure
- Where to buy: JR East counters and machines at Narita, Haneda, and all major Tokyo stations
- Best for: Most visitors who want to recover the unused balance on departure
Welcome Suica – For Short-Stay Tourists
- Deposit: None
- Expiry: 28 days from purchase, unused balance is forfeited
- Refund: No refund of the balance
- Where to buy: Airport vending machines at Narita and Haneda only
- Best for: Visitors staying 28 days or less who do not want to manage a deposit or refund
Pasmo Passport – Tourist Version of Pasmo
- Deposit: None
- Expiry: 28 days from first use
- Refund: No refund of the balance
- Where to buy: Tokyo Metro stations, airport vending machines are more widely available than Welcome Suica
- Best for: Visitors who could not get a Welcome Suica or regular Suica at the airport and need to buy at a station
Pasmo Passport functions identically to Welcome Suica across all modes of transport. The key practical difference is wider availability. Pasmo Passport machines are found at Tokyo Metro stations throughout the city, whereas Welcome Suica machines are only available at Narita and Haneda airports.
Which Should You Get?
Best overall: Regular Suica. Get it at the airport on arrival. The 500 yen deposit is small, the refund takes 2 minutes at the airport on departure, and you recover any unused balance.
If you forget at the airport, buy a Pasmo Passport at the nearest Tokyo Metro station. Works identically to Welcome Suica.
Digital option: Both Suica and Pasmo can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay as digital cards: no physical card, no deposit, no expiry concern. Set up via the Suica or Pasmo apps before leaving home. Increasingly, the preferred option for tech-comfortable visitors.
What All Three Cards Cover
All three cards work on JR trains in Tokyo (Yamanote, Chuo, Keihin-Tohoku), all Tokyo Metro lines, all Toei subway lines, most buses, Keikyu and Keio private railways, 7-Eleven and most convenience stores, and vending machines throughout Japan.
None of the three covers: N’EX Airport Express (separate ticket required), Keisei Skyliner (separate ticket required), or Shinkansen bullet trains (JR Pass or separate ticket required).
See the full Suica card guide and the Welcome Suica vs Suica comparison for more details.
