Suica vs Pasmo: Navigating Tokyo’s Transit Titans for Seamless Travel

Suica vs Pasmo can also be used interchangeably between JR and private railways. Even if the usage area spans, either one card will suffice. However, when it comes to “either card is fine”, there may be some people who are wondering “Which card is more profitable?” I would like to say that there is no difference between the two, but in some respects, Suica and PASMO have different characteristics.

Suica vs Pasmo cards: what are they?

Booking for many people is the worst. It took them a long time to figure out the location, and the price, and then had to wait for ticket control for a long time.

This sometimes takes away the joy of traveling. The solution proposed to solve the long line of people queuing for tickets in Tokyo is to use smart cards at all lines in Tokyo and a few other places.

Tokyo IC cards come in two varieties: Pasmo and Suica. They are still usable in many other areas of Japan. Although they are provided by many businesses, they are fundamentally the same.

What is the similarity between Suica vs Pasmo?

When it comes to their fundamental uses, locations where they may be utilized, deposit quantities, etc., Suica and PASMO are nearly identical. Because of this, it may be claimed that there aren’t many limitations on usage, such as “If you use Suica (or PASMO), you can’t do this.”

	Suica	Pasmo
Deposit	4$	4$
Publisher	JR East	Private railway operators in the metropolitan area
Card issuer	Multi-functional Ticket Machine in the JR East area, Midori no Madoguchi	Multi-functional Ticket Machines at private railway stations, stations, and bus sales offices
Usable place	Using trains and buses Use of commuter pass for Transportation Station shop Vending machine Convenience store Family restaurant Supermarket *Some areas and stores may not be available.	Using trains and buses Use of commuter pass for Transportation Station shop Vending machine Convenience store Family restaurant Supermarket *Some areas and stores may not be available.
Available area	JR East area and areas where PASMO, Kitaca, TOICA, Manaca, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, Nimoca, Hayakaken, and Odeca can be used.	Tokyo Metro, private railway areas in the metropolitan area, and areas where Suica, Kitaca, TOICA, Manaca, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, Nimoca, Hayakaken, and Odeca can be used.

One thing to keep in mind is that, even if they are not located in the Tokyo metropolitan region, not all vending machines, convenience shops, and supermarkets accept both Suica and PASMO. It’s possible that only one of them is supported, depending on the area or retailer.

Regarding this, the degree of penetration of Suica and PASMO will naturally vary depending on whether the region’s closest station is JR East or a private railway, therefore Suica should be given priority if your living area, such as your house or place of employment, is close to JR East. People who live near private railroads like Tokyo Metro should give PASMO precedence.

What is the difference between Suica vs Pasmo?

Then what makes Suica vs Pasmo different from one another?

	Suica	Pasmo
In case of card cancellation	The remaining balance of the charged amount will be repaid if you pay the fee. The 4$ deposit will not be.	The 4$ deposit and remaining charge balance will be returned to you without any costs.
In case of loss or damage to the card	It will be replaced without cost if it is lost or harmed. Additionally, the fixed term’s balance and remaining term are guaranteed in their current state.	Reissue is an option. However, once more a 4$ deposit and 4$ reprint charge are necessary.

When it comes to cancellation, Pasmo, which charges no costs and reimburses the deposit, is preferable to Suica, which charges a price and does not do so. On the other hand, a Suica that may be reissued without paying an issuing charge will be preferable in the case of damage or loss.

What are the benefits of using Pasmo and Suica cards?

The following are some advantages of possessing a Suica or Pasmo card:

1. Save time

Waiting to buy a ticket every time you want to use a train or change trains can take a lot of time for users. People have to spend time buying new tickets between routes. This could lead to you missing the last train home.

2. Save money

When using Suica and Pasmo cards, you can get discount codes for travel. For example, depending on the route you take, the fare can drop 1$ for a trip from Shinjuku to Asakusa. If you just look at the amount of reduction per move, it may not be much, but if you are a person who travels a lot, it is the best way to save money. Besides, you will not lose money if you buy the wrong ticket.

3. Adaptability

With a Suica or Pasmo card, you may board a rail or bus without having to pre-determine your destination. This gives you greater freedom regarding stops. You can get off without bothering about acquiring the proper ticket if you abruptly change stations.

Another fantastic feature is the ability to follow your route using the Google Maps app on your phone if you are unsure of the exact bus stop.

4. Purchasing

Smart cards from Pasmo and Suica may be used in several Asian countries’ vending machines, coin-operated lockers, and retail establishments. When you don’t have enough change, it may be useful.

5. Long-lasting

You may apply for a Suica or Pasmo card and use it as a travel pass if you want to remain in Tokyo for a while. If this card is lost, a replacement card can be issued.

Can be used with Apple Pay

Depending on where you live or work, you may want to use both Pasmo and Suica. For example, you might want to use Suica because you’re boarding a train at a JR station, but you’re using a bus to get to the station and have purchased a travel pass.

In such a case, use Apple Pay, which allows you to use both together. By registering your PASMO or Suica in the Wallet app, you can manage it with just one iPhone.

You can then earn points using JR and you can buy bus travel tickets from the app. You can set priority cards, so switch between PASMO and Suica as needed.

You can use the Wallet app alone, but it is more convenient to register as a member with the PASMO and Suica apps. By registering as a member, you will be able to use functions such as purchasing travel cards and automatic charging.

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Advantages of Using Pasmo

The first advantage is that there are no refund fees. For Suica, a fee of up to 2$ will be charged according to the charge balance.

In principle, you can receive the full amount with PASMO, but from the spring of 2022, a fee of up to 2$ will be charged according to the balance, similar to Suica, in order to curb refunds due to short-term use.

You can also use the security mail service “Tokyu Ekids”. If you touch your PASMO card at the automatic ticket gate at the station, you will receive an e-mail with the passage information.

This service applies to children’s PASMO, named PASMO, and PASMO commuter pass, and a separate fee will be charged. However, since the monthly fee is 4$ and there is no need to prepare other equipment, it will be easy to use.

Advantages of Using Suica

For individuals who utilize auto-charge for more than 350$ each month, Suica is practical. Suica has a daily maximum of 140$, however, there is no monthly maximum.

The daily and monthly caps for PASMO, however, are 70$ and 350$, respectively. Using the Express Reservation Service is another perk of Mobile Suica.

At a low cost, you may travel on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. The ability to enter by merely tapping the ticket gate with your smartphone is another appealing feature.

Other functions of Suica and Pasmo

“View Suica card” is recommended for those who want to earn more points with a commuter pass.

The credit card I would like to recommend first is the “View Suica card” with the Suica function. The View Suica card is issued by View Card Co., Ltd. You can accumulate points called “JRE points” when you use the card to make payments. Accumulated points can be redeemed for Suica, various gift certificates, gift certificates, original products, etc.

View Suica Card

Issuer: Viewcard Co., Ltd.

Point redemption rate:

• Basic 0.5%
• 1.5% when purchasing a commuter pass or ticket (auto-charge)

Annual membership fee: 4$ for the first year, 4$ for the second and subsequent years

The biggest advantage of this credit card is that you can earn points for transportation expenses, which account for a large proportion of your expenses. Since it is integrated with the commuter pass, it is a nice point that you can combine all the cards you have.

In addition, there is an annual membership fee of 4$, but you can earn 1$ worth of JRE points every month if you make your usage statement online, so you can earn more points than the annual membership fee even if you rarely use the card.

In addition, the View Suica card has a mechanism called “View Thanks Bonus”, and bonus points are given the following month according to the accumulated usage from April to March of the following year, earning points that exceed the basic point return rate of 0.5% is possible.

Reward bonus points for each stage of the View Thanks Bonus

Stage name	Annual usage amount	Bonus points	Bonus return rate	Total return rate
Stage 30	2107$ to less than 2107$	100	0.08%	0.58%
Stage 70	4918$ to less than 7026$	500	0.18%	0.68%
Stage 100	7026$ to less than 10.539$	1100	0.28%	0.78%
Stage 150	From 10.539$	2100	0.35%	0.85%

* Products and services that can be used include payment for mobile phone bills, meals, shopping, and utility bills.

* Please note that the View Thanks Bonus does not apply to “VIEW Plus” eligible products such as Suica deposits (charges) and commuter pass purchases, annual membership fees, cash advances, etc.

BicCamera Suica card

Issuer: Viewcard Co., Ltd.

Point redemption rate:

• Basic 0.5%
• 1.5% when purchasing a commuter pass or ticket (auto-charge)

Annual fee:

• First year: Free
• 2nd year onwards: 4$ (free if you use the shopping card at least once)

The feature of BicCamera Suica is that you can earn not only JRE points but also BicCamera’s “BIC points” by shopping and paying utility bills.

Both are 0.5% return rates, so the total return rate is 1%. For those of you who spend a lot of time shopping for electronic goods, this is a very attractive credit card.

With such benefits, Bic Camera Suica is highly recommended for those who use Suica credit cards for shopping as well as transportation.

If there is one demerit, Bic Camera Suica is different from View Suica in that the commuter pass function cannot be installed on the card. Therefore, you must have a commuter pass and a Bic Camera Suica card.

It is a more profitable credit card than the View Suica card, nevertheless, provided you don’t mind carrying two cards. You may also utilize the annual fee for free.

FAQs

1. Pasmo or Suica, which is superior?

The absence of refund fees is the first benefit. According to the charge balance, a fee of up to 2$ may be applied to Suica.

In theory, PASMO allows you to get the whole amount, but beginning in the spring of 2022, a fee of up to 2$ will be added based on your balance, much as Suica, in an effort to reduce refunds for infrequent use.

2. Can you use Pasmo and Suica together?

Can they be combined? On a smartphone with Osaifu-Keitai functionality, only one of Mobile Suica or Mobile PASMO may be registered. As a result, it cannot be utilized simultaneously, and while changing trains, it is required to remove the previously recorded information once.

3. What causes Mobile Suica to end?

In order to preserve and enhance service quality and security, we will stop offering Mobile Suica services that require login on select Android smartphone models (such as those with Android OS 6.0 or below) on February 23, 2021.

4. Can Pasmo be applied globally?

The following train companies’ stations accept PASMO (with the exception of those on the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation and the Izuhakone Tetsudo – Sunzu Line). Additionally, it is applicable to interoperable national territories.

5. On the same machine, I wish to utilize Pasmo and Suica. What ought I to do?

Even though Suica has previously been released, a fresh PASMO can be issued for compatible terminals. Only one card with the “Express Card setting” can be used by holding it over when Suica/PASMO is set to one terminal on a terminal that can be used in tandem.

6. How can I change between PASMO and Suica on Android?

The switching operation of the transportation IC card to be used is done by selecting “Switch main card” under “Transportation IC card” from “My service” on the Osaifu-Keitai app if you have both Mobile Suica and Mobile PASMO loaded on your device.

7. What drawbacks are there to using Mobile Suica?

You may get points by charging Suica if you use a credit card that is registered with Mobile Suica as a Bic Camera Suica card with almost no annual charge. Mobile Suica does, however, have several disadvantages. You won’t be able to utilize Mobile Suica if the battery on your cell phone or smartphone dies.

8. Has the production of Pasmo and Suica ended?

New sales of anonymous cards for the Suica and Pasmo cards produced by JR East and other train operators have been halted. Sales will be stopped starting on August 8 owing to the “impact of the global shortage of semiconductors,” according to an announcement made on February 2 by JR East and the Pasmo Association, which is made up of private railways in the Tokyo metropolitan region.

Conclusion

For those who used Suica vs PASMO as a mere IC card, by switching to a credit card with Suica vs Pasmo, not only will you earn 7$ per year, but the auto-charge function will also increase You will be able to live in smart city life. Why don’t you take this opportunity to consider it?