Welcome Suica vs TOURIST PASMO: the two visitor cards

Welcome Suica is e-money for travel and shopping for temporary visitors, and it can be used for 28 days beginning with the date of purchase. TOURIST PASMO is a special IC card for international visitors. It is used for cashless public transportation and cashless shopping and is accepted across Japan. PASMO says TOURIST PASMO is only available to tourists from overseas on short-term visits, and the card has an expiration date.

Updated October 5, 2026

Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO side by side

Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO compared, from the issuers' pages (checked 5 October 2026)
	Welcome Suica	TOURIST PASMO
Issued by	East Japan Railway Company (JR East)	PASMO Co., Ltd.
Main area	Tokyo area, Tokyo Monorail, parts of other areas
Price	1,000 / 2,000 / 3,000 / 4,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 yen	Narita 2,000 yen; Haneda 1,000-10,000 yen
Deposit	No deposit	No deposit
Expiry	28 days from purchase; GOOD THRU is not expiry	28 days from purchase
Refund	No refunds	No refunds
Where to buy	JR EAST Travel Service Centers (airports, big stations)	Keikyu ticket machines for travelers
Who can buy		Short-stay tourists from overseas

The details, card by card

Issued by

Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica is issued under the East Japan Railway Company's procedural regulations for IC cards for foreign visitors to Japan.
TOURIST PASMO: PASMO Co., Ltd., a transportation IC card company, announced the release of TOURIST PASMO for international visitors to Japan.

Main area

Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica can be used on train lines, subways and buses in the Tokyo metropolitan area, on the Tokyo Monorail between Haneda Airport and Tokyo, and in the Sendai, Niigata, Aomori, Morioka and Akita areas and parts of the Hokkaido, Tokai, West Japan and Kyushu areas.

Price

Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica is sold at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen for adults and children.
TOURIST PASMO: Narita Airport sells TOURIST PASMO for 2,000 yen with 2,000 yen of value on it. Haneda Airport sells it for 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen, and the price you pay is the value on the card.

Deposit

Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica needs no deposit when you buy the card.
TOURIST PASMO: There is no deposit for TOURIST PASMO.

Expiry

Welcome Suica: The validity period is 28 days including the date of purchase, and the GOOD THRU date on the back of the card is not the expiration date.
TOURIST PASMO: TOURIST PASMO is valid for 28 days from the date of purchase.

Refund

Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica cannot be refunded, whatever the validity period or the remaining balance on the card.
TOURIST PASMO: Value added to TOURIST PASMO is not refunded, even if you no longer need the card.

Where to buy

Welcome Suica: Welcome Suica is sold at JR EAST Travel Service Centers at Narita Airport Terminal 1, Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (Tokyo Monorail) stations, and at Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yokohama and Sendai stations.
TOURIST PASMO: At Haneda Airport Terminal 1・2 Station (Keikyu), TOURIST PASMO is sold at the ticket machines for travelers, one at the Terminal 1 gate and one at the Terminal 2 gate. Credit cards are accepted.

Who can buy

TOURIST PASMO: PASMO says TOURIST PASMO is only available to tourists from overseas on short-term visits, and the card has an expiration date.

Frequently asked questions

Is the issued by different on Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO?

Welcome Suica is issued under the East Japan Railway Company's procedural regulations for IC cards for foreign visitors to Japan. PASMO Co., Ltd., a transportation IC card company, announced the release of TOURIST PASMO for international visitors to Japan.

Is the price different on Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO?

Welcome Suica is sold at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen for adults and children. Narita Airport sells TOURIST PASMO for 2,000 yen with 2,000 yen of value on it. Haneda Airport sells it for 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 10,000 yen, and the price you pay is the value on the card.

Is the expiry different on Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO?

The validity period is 28 days including the date of purchase, and the GOOD THRU date on the back of the card is not the expiration date. TOURIST PASMO is valid for 28 days from the date of purchase.

Is the where to buy different on Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO?

Welcome Suica is sold at JR EAST Travel Service Centers at Narita Airport Terminal 1, Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (Tokyo Monorail) stations, and at Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yokohama and Sendai stations. At Haneda Airport Terminal 1・2 Station (Keikyu), TOURIST PASMO is sold at the ticket machines for travelers, one at the Terminal 1 gate and one at the Terminal 2 gate. Credit cards are accepted.