Suica vs PASMO: Which Card Should You Get?
For almost every visitor, the two cards work in the same places. Get whichever is easiest to buy.
The difference that actually matters
Suica is issued by JR East. PASMO is issued by a group of private rail and bus operators around Tokyo. That sounds important, but it rarely changes how a visitor uses the card.
Both can pay for trains, subways, buses, convenience stores, vending machines and many other small purchases across Japan.
| Question | Suica | PASMO |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Tokyo trains and subways? | Yes | Yes |
| Works in other major Japanese cities? | Yes | Yes |
| Pays at convenience stores? | Yes | Yes |
| Best choice for most visitors? | Whichever is easier | Whichever is easier |
When you might care
The main differences are where and how a card is issued, plus the exact rules for tourist versions or mobile wallets. Availability can change, so don’t build your trip around finding one particular logo.
If the machine or counter in front of you sells a compatible IC card, that is usually the right one to buy.
One limitation people miss
An IC card is a payment method, not a magic nationwide train pass. It will not replace every long-distance ticket, and you generally cannot start a journey inside one IC card region and end it in another without checking the rules.
Information checked on the date above. Fares, rules and availability can change, so confirm time-sensitive details with the operator before you travel.