Suica, Pasmo, Welcome Suica and the JR Pass: what a tourist should take, where to buy and when the pass doesn't pay off. Japanese transport without illusions.
In Tokyo you can easily change five lines of three different companies in a single day, while in Kyoto there is almost no metro and everything relies on buses. The most unpleasant thing about Japanese transport is not the prices but the choice: Suica or Pasmo, Welcome Suica or an ordinary card, a JR Pass or separate tickets, the Skyliner or the Narita Express. We have gone through it all in order: which IC card to take, what to pay for it with without a Russian card, when the JR Pass still makes sense after the October price rise and how to get from the airport.
- Suica or Pasmo: there is no difference for a tourist, both work across the country together with ICOCA and seven more regional cards.
- For short trips there are tourist options without a deposit: Welcome Suica (a physical card for 28 days), Welcome Suica Mobile for iPhone and Tourist PASMO.
- An IC card does not replace a ticket for the shinkansen and limited express: a separate ticket, pass or app is needed.
- The JR Pass rose in price by about 5–6% from 1 October 2026 and pays off less often than before: count your journeys.
- Russian cards are not suitable for top-ups.
Current as of October 2026. Prices and card sales rules change; before buying check the sites of JR East, PASMO and japanrailpass.net.
Suica or Pasmo: what a tourist should choose
An IC card in Japan is both a travel pass and an electronic wallet: it pays in the metro, on buses, in konbini, in vending machines and in left-luggage lockers. Suica is issued by JR East, Pasmo by the metro and private line operators of the Tokyo region. In function they are the same, and since March 2013 the ten biggest IC cards in the country (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, Kitaca, TOICA, manaca, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca, Hayakaken) have been mutually recognised. So the question “Suica or Pasmo” is settled simply: take the one whose machine or counter turned out to be nearer.
The real choice is not between brands but between formats:
| Option | Deposit | Validity | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| An ordinary Suica or Pasmo | ¥500, returned when the card is handed in | no time limit | machines at stations; sales of ordinary cards resumed in 2025 |
| Welcome Suica | none | 28 days from issue | JR East centres at Narita, Haneda and large Tokyo stations |
| Welcome Suica Mobile | none | about 180 days, iPhone and Apple Watch only | the app, topped up with a foreign card |
| Tourist PASMO | none | 28 days from issue | Narita and Haneda airports |
| Suica in Apple Wallet | none | no limit | right in the phone |
Tourist PASMO appeared in May 2026 to replace PASMO Passport, which was withdrawn from sale in 2024. Tourist cards have a common downside: the balance is not refunded on departure, so on the last day it is better to spend it at a konbini or at a station. With an ordinary Suica the deposit is returned at JR East ticket offices, but with a small deduction for the operation — for a trip of a week or two it is rarely worth the time.
How to choose: flying for 7–10 days and not coming back — Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO. Coming to Japan regularly — an ordinary Suica, it doesn’t expire. Have an iPhone and a foreign card — Suica in Apple Wallet or Welcome Suica Mobile is the most convenient: you need neither a machine nor queues at the airport.
What to top up Suica with if Russian cards don’t work
A physical card is topped up with cash in machines. A mobile Suica is topped up with a foreign Visa or Mastercard linked to the phone. A nuance: for some Visa cards top-up was blocked because of issuer restrictions, while Mastercard and American Express as a rule go through. If the payment didn’t go through in Wallet, try topping up via the Suica app. At night, roughly from 2 to 4 a.m. Tokyo time, top-up is unavailable because of maintenance. Russian cards will suit neither the phone nor the ATMs; more on money: Japan’s currency, which cards work and how Russians pay.
It is harder for Android owners: virtual IC cards work only on phones that support the FeliCa standard, and imported models often lack it. It is more reliable to take a physical card on arrival.
Suica in Osaka and Kyoto: do you need ICOCA
A frequent question is whether Suica works on JR West lines, that is, in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara). Yes: Suica, ICOCA, Pasmo and the other cards are interchangeable on trains and the metro, as well as on most buses. You don’t need to buy ICOCA separately if you have already travelled around Tokyo. There are caveats: on buses you cannot top up a card, and on some routes of private carriers in Kansai acceptance of national cards is limited, so keep a balance in reserve. If you fly straight to Osaka, ICOCA can be bought at Kansai airport, and for the route from the airport read the article how to get from Kansai airport to Osaka and Kyoto.
What an IC card won’t pay for
- Shinkansen and limited expresses. The card pays only the base fare, and for the speed you need a ticket for the train itself: at the ticket office, a machine or in an app.
- Some long-distance buses and taxis accept an IC card not everywhere.
- A route pass. The so-called commuter pass (teiki) is issued on a named card for daily trips between two stations. A tourist for a week doesn’t need it: journeys within a city fit into an ordinary balance.
Shinkansen and the JR Pass: does the pass pay off in 2026
The shinkansen is the main transport expense: one journey between cities can cost as much as a night in an average hotel. The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) gives unlimited rides on the JR network for 7, 14 or 21 days. From 1 October 2026 it became more expensive: the JR group announced this in April. Official prices for adults according to the Japan National Tourism Organization table:
| Pass duration | Before 1 October 2026 | From 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | ¥50,000 | ¥53,000 |
| 14 days | ¥80,000 | ¥84,000 |
| 21 days | ¥100,000 | ¥105,000 |
Sources disagree about which sales channels the increase applies to: some write that it applies to all, others that it applies to passes from foreign agents, while on the official website japanrailpass.net the old prices are kept for a limited time, with the end of the promotion not announced. Before buying, compare the price at an agent and on the official site. We do not give rouble conversions here: the yen rate changes, so calculate at the rate on the day of purchase.
When the JR Pass is still worthwhile
- Several long journeys in a week. Tokyo — Kyoto — Hiroshima — Tokyo with stops is covered better by a pass than by tickets.
- A dense route through several regions. The pass pays off by the number of journeys, not the number of days in the country.
When it is better without it
- Tokyo only. The metro and private lines are not included in the pass, and it does not make journeys within the city cheaper.
- Tokyo and Kyoto with Osaka there and back. After the price rise the break-even threshold is higher — count the tickets first.
- You need the fastest train. Nozomi and Mizuho are not included in the basic pass: a separate supplement is needed for them, while Hikari and Sakura run on the same routes but take longer.
A simple way to check: write out your journeys by date, find the fares on timetable sites (Jorudan, Navitime) and add them up. If the sum is less than the price of the pass, take tickets. For regions there are passes cheaper than the national one, for example for Kansai or Hokkaido, and for Tokyo one-day metro tickets. More on pass mistakes: the mistake that stops the JR Pass paying off, and on the visa: the Japan visa for Russians.
How to get from the airport in Tokyo
Tokyo has two international airports, and the road from them differs greatly. From Haneda to the centre is closer and cheaper: Keikyu trains go to Shinagawa in about 15–20 minutes, the monorail to Hamamatsucho in about 13. From Narita, located far to the east, the road takes from half an hour to an hour and a half depending on the chosen train or bus.
| Airport | Option | Time guide | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narita | Keisei Skyliner | about 40 minutes to Nippori or Ueno | seats on a separate ticket; an IC card does not replace a ticket |
| Narita | Narita Express (N’EX) | about an hour to Tokyo and Shinjuku | included in the JR Pass |
| Narita | Buses and ordinary trains | longer, but noticeably cheaper | an option for a budget and for a stay before a flight |
| Haneda | Keikyu | about 15–20 minutes to Shinagawa | the most direct option, not included in the JR Pass |
| Haneda | Tokyo Monorail | about 13 minutes to Hamamatsucho | included in the JR Pass |
If you arrive late at night, remember that the last expresses from Narita may leave before your arrival. In that case it is easier to stay at a hotel near the airport: Narita or Haneda: which airport to book a hotel at. A detailed breakdown of routes: how to get from Narita to Tokyo cheaply, and transfers and expresses are collected on the page transport in Japan: JR Pass, passes and transfers.
City transport: metro, buses, taxis
- The metro and electric trains are cheap and exactly on schedule. JR, metro and private company lines in Tokyo intersect, and an IC card works everywhere.
- Buses are needed in Kyoto: the metro there has two directions, while the temples are scattered. Payment by IC card, exit through the front door.
- Taxis are expensive: a short ride in central Tokyo easily costs as much as a lunch for two.
- Rush hour in Tokyo is no myth: roughly from 8 to 9 a.m. the carriages are packed, and with a suitcase it is better to wait it out.
Read line diagrams and changes in a navigator rather than guessing: even locals use Google Maps or Jorudan. For the calculation of the whole trip: how much a trip to Japan costs.
What to buy in advance and what on the spot
| Before departure | In Japan |
|---|---|
| Suica in Apple Wallet, if you have an iPhone and a foreign card | Welcome Suica or Tourist PASMO at the airport, if you have no iPhone |
| A JR Pass on the official site, if the calculation showed a benefit | shinkansen tickets at the ticket office or a machine according to the actual route |
| Download offline maps and a timetable app | one-day metro tickets, regional passes |
Frequently asked questions
Suica or Pasmo: which is better for a tourist?
There is no difference: both work across the country, including Kansai and Hokkaido. Choose by what is more convenient to buy: Suica is sold in JR machines, Pasmo in the metro and on private lines.
How much does Suica cost and can I return the card?
An ordinary Suica includes a ¥500 deposit and a balance for journeys. The card is handed in at a JR East ticket office, the deposit is returned, and a small fee is deducted from the balance. Welcome Suica and Tourist PASMO have no deposit, but are not returned either.
How long is Welcome Suica valid?
For 28 days from the moment of issue, not from the first journey. The mobile version, Welcome Suica Mobile for iPhone, is valid longer — about 180 days, but check the terms in the app.
What is a commuter pass Suica?
It is a pass between two chosen stations, issued on a named card for daily trips. A tourist doesn’t need it: it is easier to top up an ordinary Suica.
Does Suica work on JR West?
Yes. JR West issues its own card, ICOCA, but the country’s ten cards have been interchangeable since 2013, and a Tokyo Suica rides around Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
Can I pay for the shinkansen with a Suica card?
No, a high-speed train cannot be paid for with an IC card alone: a ticket or a booking through an app is needed. An IC card covers only the base fare and journeys on local trains.
Can I top up an IC card with a Russian card?
No. A physical Suica is topped up with cash in machines, a mobile one with a foreign card.
The JR Pass has gone up: is it worth taking?
Look at the route. If you have three or more long journeys in a week, the pass may pay off. If you stay in one city, it isn’t needed. Before buying, compare the price on the official site and at an agent.
Do I need a JR Pass for the trip from the airport?
No, it is worthwhile only as part of the overall calculation. N’EX and the monorail are included in the pass, but nobody takes it for the airport alone.
What next
Build your route: a Japan itinerary for 10–14 days, when to go, how to travel independently, and on the spot the guide to konbini and an eSIM for Japan will come in handy.
