Deposit-free “Suica” and “PASMO” will be released for foreign visitors only.
JR East will release “Welcome Suica” and Pasmo will release “PASMO PASSPORT” from September 1, 2019. Although a 500 yen deposit is not required when making, there is a 28-day expiration date.
Previous Suica and PASMO required a procedure to refund this deposit, but the procedure is not necessary because there is no deposit.
Then, I will explain each Suica and PASMO.
Welcome Suica
In addition to the usual use of IC cards, a “short-term use IC card for inbound passengers” has been set up and sold with a dedicated card with no expiration date.
■ Card name
Welcome Suica
■ Card contents
It can be used for payments at stores, taxis, tourist facilities, etc., in addition to the use of railways and buses in the Suica / PASMO area and nationwide mutual use areas.
■ Sales start date
September 1, 2019 (Sun)
■ Sales price (planned)
Select from 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 4,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 10,000 yen per sheet
* No deposit is required.
■ Sales location (planned)
JR EAST Travel Service Center (Narita Airport Station, Airport Terminal 2 Station, Tokyo Monorail Line Haneda Airport International Building Station, Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Shibuya Station, Ikebukuro Station, Ueno Station, Hamamatsucho Station), Narita Airport Station, Airport Second Building Station
■ Usable period
28 days
* Refunds cannot be made for charges.
PASMO PASSPORT
This “PASMO PASSPORT” is an IC card with the meaning of the second passport when traveling in Japan.
■ Card name
PASMO PASSPORT
■ Card contents and sales targets
In addition to the Kanto region, it is also possible to use trains and buses compatible with IC cards nationwide, as well as shopping with electronic money.
For foreign tourists visiting Japan
■ Sales start date
September 1, 2019 (Sun)
■ Sales Price
2,000 yen (charge 1,500 yen + issuance fee 500 yen)
* No deposit is required.
■ Release method
Confirm that you are a foreign traveler in your passport at the point of sale. Scheduled to be released with a special mount.
■ Usable period
28 days
* Refunds cannot be made for charges.
■ Sales location
Keisei Electric Railway
Narita Airport Station and Airport Terminal 2 Station
“SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER”
7: 00-21: 00
Keihin Electric Railway
Haneda Airport International Terminal Station
“Keikyu Tourist Information Center Haneda Airport International Terminal Station”
7: 00-22: 00
Shinagawa Station
“Keikyu Tourist Information Center Shinagawa Station”
8: 30-20: 00
Tokyo Metro
Ueno Station, Nihonbashi Station, Ikebukuro Station (Marunouchi Line / Yurakucho Line), Ginza Station, Shimbashi Station, Shinjuku Station, Ebisu Station, Iidabashi Station, Takadanobaba Station, Akasaka Mitsuke Station, Meiji Jingumae <Harajuku> Station, Shin Ochanomizu Station , Otemachi Station, Tokyo Station
Each commuter pass
7: 40-20: 00
Toei Subway
Ueno Okachimachi Station
“Tourist Information Center”
8: 00-20: 00
Tokyu Corporation
Shibuya Station
“WANDER COMPASS SHIBUYA”
10: 00-20: 00
Summary
In terms of function, there is almost no difference between each IC card. However, for PASMO, the issuance fee includes 500 yen, which is 500 yen less than the actual purchase price. In that respect, Suica is more profitable.
In addition, Suica has more variations in the initial purchase amount. If you expect to charge a lot in advance, Suica seems to be recommended.
However, there is not much difference in functionality, so you can purchase it with your favorite card face.