All you need to know about getting your first Pasmo (or Suica) card

A step-by-step guide in getting your very own Pasmo (or Suica) card

While the word Pasmo (or Suica) might seem unfamiliar to those that have not been in Japan for long, they are an integral part of Japanese people’s lives making our commute and travel much easier. Since it makes getting on public transport much easier, those that are here for an extended period of time should definitely invest in them whereas, it may even be worth it for those of you that are only visiting for a couple days.

What is a Pasmo (or Suica)?

It is an electronic card embedded with an IC chip which makes taking public transport much, much easier. It allows you to which save you from the hassle of checking your destination on the board above the ticket counter (especially since the alphabetical letters are tiny) and buying a ticket every time you get on the train. You top up your card with cash and place the card on the blue sensor by the gate. Once you use up all your credit on your card, you simply top up for more.

Purchasing your first Pasmo (or Suica)

These IC cards can be bought on the machines in the ticket machines at most stations. There are numerous train operating companies each with their own ticket purchasing machine, but nowadays, most ticket machines enables you to choose from numerous languages other than Japanese and in most cases, there are practically not much different in the process itself, although the layout on the machines may be somewhat different. In order to get a card, you will need to have JPY 500　(approx. US$3),　which will serve as a deposit for the card, plus the cash that you want to top up. This deposit, in addition to the money that you ended up not using before going back is refundable.

STEP 1: Choose language

STEP 2: Select 'Purchase a new Pasmo'

STEP 3: Select 'Yes'

STEP 4: Select 'Blank Pasmo'

STEP 5: Select the amount you wish to top up (including the deposit)

Topping up your Pasmo (or Suica)

Just like the process of purchasing the card itself, the top up is done on the ticket machine.

STEP 1: Choose Language

STEP 2: Select 'Recharge IC card'

Cancelling your card and getting your deposit back

While the deposit and the credit you have left is refundable, unlike the purchase and the recharge of the card, the process of cancelation can only be done by talking to the staff in the station (For Pasmo holders, go to stations that are not run by Japan Railways (JR) such as Tokyo Metro. For Suica holders, it will be done at stations run by JR), whom in many cases are not fluent in English. However, telling the staff that you want to cancel the card should suffice but would require some time but will be done on the spot.

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