Many destinations have some sort of reloadable transit card. They elegantly solve the problem for the bus or train driver of having to collect fares while expeditiously boarding and disembarking passengers, and of passengers needing to possess exact change, keep track of transfers, and understand fares. A win-win.
Japan is no different in this regard, but like in so many things, it takes things to a whole new level, and with a unique local spin. Let’s dive more into the world of the “IC” (‘eye-see’, integrated circuit) card.
IC card: What’s in a name?
Pasmo, Suica, (SOMETHING ELSE), you might be forgiven for thinking you need a different card for each city. But with the exception of BLAH, actually, they are fully interchangeable and valid nationwide. So I’ll just say Pasmo, since if you landed in Tokyo on your Japan journey, that is the local flavor of IC card for you.
These are typical credit-card sized pieces of plastic that scan with a tap, are reloadable, and are accepted for trains and buses as you’d expect. Treat your Pasmo like you would cash. You can get a card with a Y500 deposit when you arrive at a train station, or if you have an NFC (near-field communication) equipped phone, like a recent iPhone, you could also set up a virtual one in Apple Wallet or the Android equivalent.
So much more than Transit!
We definitely used our Pasmo cards lots when taking the metro, trains, and buses throughout the country. While your Japan Rail (link) pass gives you access to many convenient urban train lines in Tokyo and elsewhere, you’ll probably take lines with other companies for some connections or destinations, so being able to pay with a card in your wallet without having to fumble with a ticket kiosk is a big convenience.
Because Japan traditionally was, and to some extent still is, a very cash-centric culture, you will see a lot of other folks buying tickets or paying with coins to a conductor. But you get to sidestep that potential language barrier by tapping! (Aside: on buses, you’ll see some instances where you tap only when you board, and others where you tap both when you board and disembark or just when disembarking. Just follow what other folks are doing, or tap when boarding to be safe!)
Pasmo is also accepted in lots of other places
Are you buying a rice ball and a bottle of tea at a combini (convenience store)? You can pay with Pasmo. Are you going to an arcade in Akihabara? You can also pay for your games or photobooth with Pasmo. Are you stopping by a ramen restaurant with a vending machine to order? Much to our surprise, yes, you can also pay for your lunch with Pasmo!
This blend of paying for small purchases with a near-universal digital card feels unique to Japan. Since it’s cash-equivalent, you can recharge in lots of places, and spend in lots of places. And it’s almost certainly cheaper for the retailer than accepting a credit card, so you can feel good that your convenience is not a burden versus paying with cash. Suddenly the “minimum charge if paying by credit card” that is increasingly common in North America feels annoying and antiquated.
How to use Pasmo: Digital Wallet
If you jumped ahead, you might have missed all the great ways you can use Pasmo for paying for stuff in Japan, but know that you can use it almost anywhere you’d want for small and medium-sized purchases while traveling.
The one downside we noticed was that you generally have to buy your Pasmo card and load it with cash. Trying to get a card initially with an international credit card seemed like a non-starter. The best solution if you prefer a physical Pasmo card is to make a low- or no-fee ATM withdrawal, then purchase a new card upon arrival. You can then return the card when leaving for a refund on your deposit.
However, there is a better way if you’re tech savvy. If you have roaming data, or buy local mobile data, you can set up a new Pasmo account with your Apple Wallet. This has two big upsides.
One is the standard one, which is you don’t need to carry a separate card, and can immediately see your balance and keep a tally of what you’ve spent.
The other is that Apple lets you add balance using a credit card that is already in your wallet. Finding a bank account that will discount ATM fees or offer favorable foreign exchange rates is difficult or may require extra fees and qualifying conditions. It is much more common to find a credit card with no foreign transaction fees (link to credit card referrals); you might have one already.
Being able to recharge Pasmo with a credit card is a huge potential savings and convenience factor for the international traveler by avoiding bank fees and extra trips to ATMs or a currency exchange. If it works for you, this should be among the first things you do when you land!