Suica vs Pasmo vs Welcome Suica: Which to Buy in Tokyo

Which Tokyo transport card should you go for out of Suica, Pasmo, Welcome Suica, and Tourist Pasmo? I've laid out the differences between the cards, their validity, deposits, and whether the balance is refundable, so you can pick the one that fits based on whether you use an iPhone and whether you plan to come back to Japan.

This post is the overall guide to deciding which transport card to pick for a Tokyo trip. For the terminal-by-terminal purchase locations, opening hours, and how to get there at Narita and Haneda, see the airport-specific guides.

👉 Narita Airport Suica and Pasmo: Where to Buy Them

👉 Haneda Airport Suica and Pasmo: Where to Buy Them

The Types of Tokyo Transport Cards at a Glance

The four main physical transport cards a Tokyo traveler can choose from are Suica, Welcome Suica, Pasmo, and Tourist Pasmo. On the JR East side there's the regular Suica and the traveler-oriented Welcome Suica; on the PASMO side there's the regular Pasmo and the traveler-oriented Tourist Pasmo.

All four work on the major JR, subway, private railway, and bus lines in Tokyo that carry the nationwide transport IC card mutual-use mark. You can also pay with them at convenience stores, restaurants, vending machines, and other places that accept transport IC card electronic money.

✅ The four Tokyo transport cards, key differences

⚠️ When you refund a regular Suica or Pasmo, up to 220 yen is taken out of the balance as a fee, and the 500 yen deposit comes back separately. Welcome Suica and Tourist Pasmo have no deposit, but in exchange you can't get the remaining balance back.

✅ Check this before buying a new transport card

① If you already have a card covered by the nationwide transport IC mutual-use scheme, such as ICOCA, SUGOCA, nimoca, or Hayakaken, you can use it in Tokyo too. There's no need to buy another Suica or Pasmo.

② iPhone users can issue a new Suica or Pasmo in the Apple Wallet app without a physical card at all.

Choosing the Tokyo Transport Card That Fits You

Once you know the types, pick the card that suits you based on your phone and whether you plan to visit Japan again.

It looks complicated, but two questions settle it.

Question 1. Do you use an iPhone?

⭕️ Yes, I use an iPhone.

If you don't specifically need a physical card, I'd go with Mobile Suica or Mobile Pasmo. Add the transport card to the Wallet app on your iPhone or Apple Watch and you can use it right away without buying a physical card at the airport or a station.

👉 iPhone Suica and Pasmo: Registration and Apple Pay Top-Up

❌ No, I use Android.

Go with a physical transport card: Suica, Pasmo, Welcome Suica, or Tourist Pasmo.

Question 2. Are you planning to visit Japan again?

⭕️ Yes, I'm planning to come back.

I'd go with a regular Suica or regular Pasmo. Both need a 500 yen deposit when you buy them, but you can use them again on your next trip to Japan as long as 10 years haven't passed since you last used the card.

❌ No, I'll only use it on this trip.

I'd go with Welcome Suica or Tourist Pasmo. Neither has a deposit, and both are good for 28 days from the day you buy them. The remaining balance isn't refunded, so rather than loading a lot at the start, it's better to top up in smaller amounts as you need them.

Where to Buy a Tokyo Transport Card: Airports and the City

You can buy Tokyo transport cards at major stations in the city as well as at Narita and Haneda. The traveler cards, Welcome Suica and Tourist Pasmo, are only sold at designated locations though.

1. Where to buy Welcome Suica

Welcome Suica is sold at the following places.

① Welcome Suica-only ticket machines at Narita and Haneda

② JR East Travel Service Centers

JR East Travel Service Centers operate at Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station, Narita Airport Terminal 2-3 Station, and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station, as well as at Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, and Yokohama stations.

③ JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ TOKYO and the Takanawa Gateway Travel Service Center

2. Where to buy Tourist Pasmo

Unlike the regular Pasmo, Tourist Pasmo isn't sold at subway stations in the city. Right now it's available at the designated Keisei Electric Railway counters at Narita and the Keikyu counters at Haneda.

① Narita Airport SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER

② Haneda Airport Keikyu traveler ticket machines and the Keikyu Tourist Information Center

3. Where to buy a regular Suica

Regular Suica is sold from the black multifunction ticket machines at major JR East stations such as Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ueno. Select Suica purchase on the machine's screen and pay the amount you want. The price includes the 500 yen deposit.

4. Where to buy a regular Pasmo

Regular Pasmo is sold from the ticket machines of PASMO participating operators, including Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and private railways.

How to Top Up Suica and Pasmo

All four physical cards compared here can be topped up with yen in cash at station ticket machines and charging machines, convenience stores, and so on. The balance cap for Suica, Pasmo, Welcome Suica, and Tourist Pasmo is 20,000 yen.

For the details on topping up at station charging machines, convenience stores, Seven Bank ATMs, Lawson Bank ATMs, and some buses, see the post below.

👉 How to Top Up Suica and Pasmo with Cash: Welcome Suica and Tourist Pasmo

I Bought a Tokyo Subway Ticket. Do I Still Need a Transport Card?

The Tokyo Subway Ticket lets you ride every Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway line freely for 24, 48, or 72 hours from when you start using it. If your itinerary is built entirely around subway lines, the Tokyo Subway Ticket on its own is enough.

It doesn't cover the JR Yamanote Line, the Keikyu Line, the monorail, or buses, so if your plans include those, you'll want a transport card as well.

Which combination works out cheaper depends on the routes and fares you actually use. Check your itinerary and use the pass on the days with a lot of subway riding.

👉 Tokyo Subway Map 2026: Free HD Download (PDF) and Reading Guide

👉 Tokyo Subway Ticket: QR, Price, Exchange Locations, and Lines

✅ Traveling mainly on JR lines? Look at the Tokunai Pass

If you'll ride JR lines inside Tokyo's 23 wards several times, on the Yamanote Line, the Chuo Line, and so on, the Tokunai Pass is worth comparing too. It's a ticket that covers a day of unreserved ordinary-car seating on JR local and rapid trains within the 23 wards.

👉 Tokyo Subway Pass vs JR Tokunai Pass: Complete Comparison

👉 Tokyo Tokunai Pass (JR 1-Day Pass): 3 Travel Routes

Frequently Asked Questions About Tokyo Transport Cards

Q. Can two people share one transport card?

A. No. On trains, each person needs their own transport card. The fare is calculated at the exit station based on the boarding record on the gate, so two people can't tap through one after the other on the same card.

Q. Can I use Suica and Pasmo outside Tokyo?

A. Yes. You can use them on railways, buses, and at participating shops in major Japanese cities that carry the nationwide transport IC card mutual-use mark.

Q. Can I ride the Shinkansen and limited express trains with just a transport card?

A. Not with the transport card alone. You need to buy a separate Shinkansen or limited express ticket, or use a reservation service that links to the transport card.

With Tokyo transport cards, what matters more than the card name is choosing based on whether you use an iPhone, whether you need a physical card, and whether you plan to return to Japan. Get the one card that fits you and the trip gets a lot lighter, from moving around the city to paying at convenience stores and vending machines.

Pick the transport card that matches how you travel, and head into your Tokyo trip with an easy mind.

🧡 Tokyo Mate Transport Card Guides

👉 iPhone Suica and Pasmo: Registration and Apple Pay Top-Up

👉 Narita Airport Suica and Pasmo: Where to Buy Them

👉 How to Top Up Suica and Pasmo with Cash