PASMO card: where to buy, price, refund and where it works

Can you buy PASMO now?

1 March 2025

Sales of blank (non-personalized) PASMO cards, which had been suspended, resumed on March 1, 2025.

1 September 2024

Sales of personalized PASMO cards, which had been suspended because of a semiconductor shortage, resumed on September 1, 2024.

2 August 2023

Sales of new personalized PASMO cards were suspended from August 2, 2023, to keep stock for commuter passes and reissues.

8 June 2023

Because of a global semiconductor shortage, sales of new non-personalized PASMO cards were suspended from June 8, 2023.

Blank and personalized cards on sale

PASMO's current purchase page tells you to buy a PASMO at a ticket machine or a station counter of a PASMO operator, and to choose a blank or a personalized PASMO.

Checked on the issuer's page on 5 October 2026. Sales and prices change: confirm before you travel.

Where to buy PASMO

Ticket machines and station pass counters; no credit cards

You can buy a PASMO from a ticket machine at a participating transportation provider, or at the commuter pass ticket counter at the station. Purchase procedures differ by operator, and credit cards are not accepted.

Sales points differ by PASMO operator

PASMO and JR East say that where PASMO cards are sold differs by PASMO operator, so you should check each operator's website or ask the operator.

Price, deposit and top-ups

Price from

from 500 yen

Deposit

500 yen

Max balance

20,000 yen

Valid for

Invalid after 10 years unused

Price

PASMO's rules set the sale price of a PASMO at 1,000 yen including a 500 yen deposit. Operators may sell it at other prices in 1,000-yen steps, up to 20,000 yen.

Price

At Tokyo Metro ticket vending machines you can buy a new PASMO for 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen. Station offices and commuter pass offices sell it from 1,000 up to 20,000 yen in 1,000 yen steps. The price includes a 500 yen deposit.

Deposit

A 500 yen deposit is included in the price of a new PASMO card. It cannot be used for fares or shopping, and it is refunded when you turn in the card.

Maximum balance

A PASMO card cannot be topped up if the balance would exceed 20,000 yen.

Top-ups

You can top up PASMO at a station ticket machine, but not if the balance would go above 20,000 yen. The amount you can add at one time differs depending on the operator and the machine.

Top-ups

On a bus, ask the driver and top up in 1,000-yen steps with 1,000-yen bills only. You cannot top up on the bus if the balance would exceed 10,001 yen.

Top-ups

You can also top up PASMO at convenience stores and some shops. PASMO says to ask at the shop for details.

Top-ups

PASMO's rules say a PASMO can be topped up in 1,000-yen units, and that value from another IC card cannot be used to top it up.

Where you can use PASMO

Trains and buses

To ride a train, touch PASMO to the reader on the ticket gate. On a bus, touch it to the reader inside the bus to pay the fare.

Shops

PASMO can be used for electronic payments, so there is no need to count out coins.

Main area

With PASMO you can travel all over the metro Tokyo area and use participating railway and bus networks across Japan by touching the card at the ticket gate or the bus farebox. PASMO is not accepted on all train and bus networks in Japan.

Other areas

In PASMO and Suica areas, 10 different cards can be used, including Kitaca, ICOCA, PiTaPa, TOICA, manaca, HAYAKAKEN, nimoca and SUGOCA. These cards cannot be used on some lines. Only PASMO and Suica work on the Kanto Railway and the Chiba Monorail, and PiTaPa does not support nationwide e-money use.

Watch out

A PASMO cannot be used for a ride that crosses from one IC card area into another. For such trips, buy a ticket in advance.

Watch out

Refunds of an IC card are handled by the company that issued it, at its stations or offices, and not in other areas.

Refunds, expiry and lost cards

Expiry

A PASMO becomes invalid if it is not exchanged, used or topped up for 10 years, counted from the day after the last such use.

Expiry

Tokyo Metro says a PASMO card has no valid period, but a card that is not used for 10 years becomes void.

Refund

A PASMO you no longer need can be refunded if you return the card. The stored balance cannot be refunded on its own, and the 500 yen deposit is refunded with it.

Refund

PASMO's rules say refunding the balance costs a 220 yen fee per card (if the balance is under 220 yen, the whole balance is the fee), and the deposit is returned together.

Refund

Some stations and bus counters cannot refund a PASMO, and for any PASMO other than a blank one you must show an official ID such as a driver's license.

Registered card

A blank PASMO can be used by anyone but cannot be reissued if lost. A personalized PASMO can be used only by the person named on it, can be reissued if lost, and needs your name, gender, date of birth and phone number registered when you buy it.

If you lose it

A lost personalized PASMO card or commuter pass can be reissued: visit a nearby station or bus operator office.

If you lose it

PASMO's rules say reissuing a lost personalized PASMO costs a 520 yen reissue fee plus a 500 yen deposit, paid in cash.

Cards for children

Child fares; valid until March 31 of the year they turn 12

A Child PASMO lets the holder ride at children's fares. An official ID that confirms the holder's age must be shown to buy one, and it is valid up to March 31 of the year the child turns 12.

The official wording

The issuer's own words, as published on its English pages.

Related items

• Suica vs PASMO
• Welcome Suica Mobile
• Suica on iPhone
• Suica on Android
• Mobile PASMO
• IC card refunds
• Topping up an IC card