An IC card (such as PASMO or Suica) is an essential tool for traveling in Japan, used to pay for trains, buses, and daily shopping with a single tap.
🌟 Highly Recommended: Mobile IC Card (Mobile PASMO)
We highly recommend setting up a Mobile IC Card on your smartphone before you arrive. It allows you to use transportation to your hotel immediately upon arrival and completely avoids waiting in line at station ticket offices.
・Get it in advance: Download the app and add it directly via Apple Wallet / Google Pay before traveling to Japan.
・No deposit required: Unlike physical cards, there is no 500 yen deposit fee.
・Instant use: If you link a credit card and top it up beforehand, you can use it immediately upon arrival.
⚠️ Some international credit cards (especially Visa) may occasionally fail to top up within the app due to security protocols. Mastercard and American Express generally work more smoothly. If your card fails, you can easily top up your phone with cash at convenience stores (cashiers or ATMs) or smartphone-compatible ticket machines at airports and stations.
👉 Official Website & App Download: Mobile PASMO
1. Buying a Physical IC Card at the Airport (Limited Availability)
If you prefer a physical plastic card, you must visit a station ticket office or a dedicated tourist center at the airport.
・Initial Cost: Usually 2,000 to 3,000 yen (includes a 500 yen refundable deposit and usable balance).
・Cash Only: Physical IC cards can only be purchased and reloaded using cash.
・Refunds: You can return the card at a station office to get your 500 yen deposit back.
💡 Smart Refund Tip:
A 220 yen handling fee is deducted from your remaining balance upon refund:
・If the balance is 220 yen or more: You get [Balance – 220 yen] + your 500 yen deposit.
・If the balance is less than 220 yen (including 0 yen): You only get the 500 yen deposit back. No extra fees will be charged.
Best Strategy: Spend your balance down to exactly 0 yen at a convenience store before returning the card. This ensures you get your full 500 yen deposit back without losing a single yen!
2. How to Use an IC Card
・At Train Stations: Simply tap your card (or smartphone) on the reader at the ticket gate when entering and leaving. The correct fare is calculated and deducted automatically.
・On Buses: Tap your card on the reader when boarding and/or exiting, depending on the local bus system’s rules.
・Insufficient Balance: If your card triggers an alert at the exit gate due to an insufficient balance, do not worry. You can always use the “Fare Adjustment” machines right next to the gates to top up and exit.
3. How to Charge an IC Card
・At Stations: Use ticket machines or automatic charging machines that display the IC logo. Insert your card (or place your phone on the reader), select “Charge,” and insert cash.
・At Convenience Stores: Tell the cashier, “PASMO charge, please” (“PASMO no charge wo onegaishimasu” / PASMOのチャージをおねがいします). Choose your amount on the screen and pay with cash.
4. Other Convenient Uses
・Shopping: Accepted at convenience stores, vending machines, and many restaurants.
・Coin Lockers: You can use your IC card to lock and unlock modern coin lockers at major stations, completely eliminating the need for physical keys or paper tickets.