This is actually good recent information. My last trip was, I was able to buy an ICOCA card in Osaka. I thought I can't buy it due to shortage of the card, but it seems didn't apply to other region. But still, do some research before coming.
Yes! In most other regions, their standard version of the IC card is still available for purchase. Since Tokyo gets the largest influx of people, they have to be more sparing with their IC cards.
Great video and super informative!! I'm traveling there soon with family and this is super helpful. Can you use the IC card to pay for more than one person? Or does each traveler need their own card?
Hey, any suggestions,our flight got delayed,instead of arriving at 4pn a terminal ,2 we arrive at 8:15 and the pasmo card they close at 9 we arrive a narita
Howdy! Yeah, you won’t be able to get to the counter in 45 minutes unless you’re really lucky. I recommend purchasing a paper ticket for the train (or bus!) to get to your destination in I’m assuming Tokyo. The next day, you can head to the following stations in the link below to pick the card up. Sorry that it’s a bit inconvenient! www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/buy/
Hi! Yes, from my experience, buses, trains, and most taxies in Kyoto and Osaka take Welcome Suica. Just make sure to have cash on hand (1000 yen bills and coins) just in case :)
The Welcome Suica I believe can only be purchased at Narita or Haneda. The Pasmo Passport can be purchased at those airports and some major stations in Tokyo as can seen in this map: www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/buy/
Hi there - so this card can be used across all buses and trains (not Shinkansen) all over Japan? No need to buy a separate card for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto etc?
That is correct! The Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport can be used all across Japan as long as the train line or bus takes ‘IC Card’. Beware though that some countryside buses and trains only take cash, but for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, you will be okay.
Two questions: Can i use the same welcome suica that i initially bought for my second visit? Or will i need to buy another welcome suica card? Could you further elaborate on some train station that doesn’t accept IC cards? This happened to me and the staff took care of the issue. I want to k ow first hand on how to handle the issue the next time i run i to that issue. Thanks! 👍👍
From my understanding, if you used the welcome Suica you bought on your first visit even ONCE, the 30 day timer begins. So, chances are you will need to buy another welcome Suica. In the countryside, there are places that have not implemented the IC card system. In that case, you have to buy a paper ticket, but I’m sure at those stations, the attendants are very helpful. There isn’t a list of IC stations and Non-IC Stations unfortunately, so like I stated in the video, have cash ready. It is possible to enter a large station on an IC card and ride to a destination that only takes paper tickets but at that point, I’d just be frank with the attendant like you have in the past and they should fix the issue. There is no set rule for this :( Hope this helps!
Does the Passmo passport card have to have a minimum amount of credit to be able to start making a trip? The other day, I wanted to use it and it told me the balance was low. You know exactly what the limit is so that it does not warn you that you have to put money
The gates check if you have the amount necessary to go to the closest/cheapest station. Say you have station 1, 2, 3. 100 yen to get to station 1, 200 yen to station 2 and so on. If you have at least 100 yen on your card, it will let you pass through the gates. If you have less than 100, you will get denied. I hope that made sense!
@@JapanReality Hi, thanks for the answer. I had 400-500 yen, to be exact, i think it was 420 yen and the trip were less than 240. The problem with this card is that they not refund the money and the mínimum to add is 1000 yen, so i don't know if this is made on purpose to keep the money of the visitors even if You make the exact calculations of your tríps to optimize the credit in your card.
This may seem like a very stupid question, but how does the gate know how much to charge you for the ticket? What if you are boarding a train and getting off at the first vs. last stop? Do you also scan your card upon exiting and then it actually charges you? Also, its one card per person, right. So children have to have their own cards.
No stupid questions here! When you enter a train station, the card records it. When you exit at a separate station, it records it and calculates the fee between the two. It is not based on what train you take, even if there are multiple options. Children need a card as well. There is a child welcome Suica option for kids up to 12 years old. Toddlers and younger may not need a card but it’s best to ask the station attendants at that point.
This is super helpful! This bit about entering and exiting the train stations has been tripping me up because on some of the JR websites they state that you might pass through rails not owned by the original railway, and you will owe an extra fee to cover that rail. Also there is the scenario of entering at a JR station but then exiting at a non-JR station. Also, I have seen some people confusingly enter a JR station at Nippori station with their SUICA but then proceed to also deposit their Narita Skyliner ticket to get to the airport and then also scan the SUICA upon arriving at that station...I need to do a lot more digging to grasp this. Thanks for your helpful videos I am starting to get it@@JapanReality
It gets tricky when you have paper tickets in the mix. If I enter with a paper ticket, I will leave with that ticket. If I enter with Suica, I leave with Suica. Even if you pass through 'rails not owned by JR' whatever that means, Suica should do all the hard work for you. I have never seen that in practice by the way. When you transfer to a different non-JR rail line, you almost always pass through gates and switch trains.
Sorry, I have one more silly question which has been baffling me and no video seems to clearly capture. If I purchase a ticket for a train, the ticket will indicate a specific train time, then I will have no choice but board that train because I have to have a ticket that matches the train time. However, if I enter the gate with a Suica card, there is not specified train time, so technically I could board the next or future train I choose (in cases of congestion, I might opt to skip to board a train for the next one). I am asking because I saw someone board the Limited Express SHINANO in Nagoya for Nagano, but then get off at a station somewhere in between to enjoy the view at the platform and then proceed to get on the next train headed for Nagano. I am guessing exiting a station for a quick pit stop without exiting the entire gate altogether is permissible. What if someone booked a paper ticket for a final destination, but then decided to get off at an earlier stop? I am guessing they would not get a refund of the difference in fare if they got off at an earlier stop and if they wanted to continue their journey at a later time they would need to book a new ticket to their final destination from the stop they got off. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read and answer my questions.
Hi...thanks for the video...i saw there is a 3 days unlimited ride pasmo card 6000 yen..is this a better than getting welcome suica for 3 days? just traveling around tokyo and go to mt fuji..txs
Howdy! I’m not seeing the 3 day unlimited pass anywhere but I do see a 1 day Tokyo metro / pasmo all you can ride ticket. However, I recommend the Welcome Suica over an unlimited pass. The Tokyo Metro unlimited pass only covers the metro and maybe JR. There are multiple train companies within Tokyo and with a Welcome Suica, you can ride them all hassle free. As for Mount Fuji, you can’t get there by train, only car or bus so the unlimited train pass wouldn’t be of any use. Lastly, if you managed to do more than 6000 yen worth of train rides in 3 days just within Tokyo, I’d be impressed.
Nope! If you have a physical card, it is cash only. There are exceptions to this rule of course but 99% of the time, it's cash only. If you manage to get the mobile Suica or Pasmo (which I didn't explain in this video because complexity), it is possible to recharge with a card.
Sorry to hear that! The regular pasmo can only be purchased with a commuter pass and the video would get way too long to explain it. I hope you find a video that answers your question!
@@JapanRealityyou should replace the title to "A Guide to the Suica (IC card)" your video is clickbait and i was really hoping to have a guide on getting a Pasmo card. Disliked
Thank you for the feedback! I'll be careful next time! I showed the booth at which you can purchase the Pasmo other than that, there is no difference between using the Pasmo or Suica. @@user-ee6lk1pb6w
Hello, 🐦 God the Father loves you so much that He sent Holy and Sinless Jesus (His Holy Son) to earth to be born of a virgin. He grew up and died on a cross for our sins. He was in the tomb for 3 days, then Father God raised Jesus Christ (Y'shua) to Life! He appeared to people and went back to Heaven. We must receive Jesus sincerely to be God's childJohn 1:12. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on HIS name." That is great news! Will you sincerely receive Holy, Lord Jesus into your life today?
Thank you. Going to travel to Japan for the first time by myself. Now I just got to figure out where to go in Tokyo.
Solo traveling in Japan and this answered all my questions on the IC Card. Appreciate the concise and clear explanation!!
Great video. Thank you. Excited to see Tokyo and Stephen
Glad you made a video about this! Answered a lot of questions for me.
Thank you for this very informative video. I’ll be in Tokyo at the end of the month. New subscriber here. 💜
It is explained thoroughly and very helpful.
Appreciate the vid! Planning on going to Japan in the future.
Good video. I will use this for my visitors overseas.
Excellent video Bradley. Very informative
Very helpful- I appreciate the run down of if an error message comes up and what to do- cause knowing my luck that will happen to me- 😂
Glad it helped! I can assure you that the folks who never get bing bonged are in the extreme minority.
best video explaining all other on yt are confusing thank you!
This was truly helpful, Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to make this.
wish I had this video during my visit! great vid!
These are all the answers I wanted 😊 thank you :)
super helpful, thanks fam
This is actually good recent information. My last trip was, I was able to buy an ICOCA card in Osaka. I thought I can't buy it due to shortage of the card, but it seems didn't apply to other region. But still, do some research before coming.
Yes! In most other regions, their standard version of the IC card is still available for purchase. Since Tokyo gets the largest influx of people, they have to be more sparing with their IC cards.
Awesome vid!
Great video!
praying they still have the sanrio pasmo when i get there in may 🙏
Great video and super informative!! I'm traveling there soon with family and this is super helpful. Can you use the IC card to pay for more than one person? Or does each traveler need their own card?
Each person needs their own card! The exception is for toddlers where they can go through for free.
Great video, thank you! Still, if you can shoot one about the iPhone compatible version of IC cards it would be great.
I will go down that rabbit hole once JR and PASMO decide to stop changing the requirements haha
Hey, any suggestions,our flight got delayed,instead of arriving at 4pn a terminal ,2 we arrive at 8:15 and the pasmo card they close at 9 we arrive a narita
Howdy! Yeah, you won’t be able to get to the counter in 45 minutes unless you’re really lucky.
I recommend purchasing a paper ticket for the train (or bus!) to get to your destination in I’m assuming Tokyo. The next day, you can head to the following stations in the link below to pick the card up.
Sorry that it’s a bit inconvenient!
www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/buy/
Thank you! This was really helpful :) Does the welcome suica work for the buses/trains in Kyoto and Osaka, too?
Hi! Yes, from my experience, buses, trains, and most taxies in Kyoto and Osaka take Welcome Suica. Just make sure to have cash on hand (1000 yen bills and coins) just in case :)
Arigato gosaimazu! Really helpful! Can we purchase IC card at metro stations as well? Or should it be only at airport?
The Welcome Suica I believe can only be purchased at Narita or Haneda.
The Pasmo Passport can be purchased at those airports and some major stations in Tokyo as can seen in this map:
www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/buy/
Hi there - so this card can be used across all buses and trains (not Shinkansen) all over Japan? No need to buy a separate card for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto etc?
That is correct! The Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport can be used all across Japan as long as the train line or bus takes ‘IC Card’. Beware though that some countryside buses and trains only take cash, but for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, you will be okay.
Two questions:
Can i use the same welcome suica that i initially bought for my second visit? Or will i need to buy another welcome suica card?
Could you further elaborate on some train station that doesn’t accept IC cards? This happened to me and the staff took care of the issue. I want to k ow first hand on how to handle the issue the next time i run i to that issue.
Thanks! 👍👍
From my understanding, if you used the welcome Suica you bought on your first visit even ONCE, the 30 day timer begins. So, chances are you will need to buy another welcome Suica.
In the countryside, there are places that have not implemented the IC card system. In that case, you have to buy a paper ticket, but I’m sure at those stations, the attendants are very helpful. There isn’t a list of IC stations and Non-IC Stations unfortunately, so like I stated in the video, have cash ready.
It is possible to enter a large station on an IC card and ride to a destination that only takes paper tickets but at that point, I’d just be frank with the attendant like you have in the past and they should fix the issue. There is no set rule for this :(
Hope this helps!
@@JapanReality this was helpful. Thanks.
does the suica machine only takes yen? not USD nor debt Visa card?
Only Yen in cash!
Does the Passmo passport card have to have a minimum amount of credit to be able to start making a trip? The other day, I wanted to use it and it told me the balance was low. You know exactly what the limit is so that it does not warn you that you have to put money
The gates check if you have the amount necessary to go to the closest/cheapest station.
Say you have station 1, 2, 3.
100 yen to get to station 1, 200 yen to station 2 and so on.
If you have at least 100 yen on your card, it will let you pass through the gates. If you have less than 100, you will get denied. I hope that made sense!
@@JapanReality Hi, thanks for the answer. I had 400-500 yen, to be exact, i think it was 420 yen and the trip were less than 240. The problem with this card is that they not refund the money and the mínimum to add is 1000 yen, so i don't know if this is made on purpose to keep the money of the visitors even if You make the exact calculations of your tríps to optimize the credit in your card.
This may seem like a very stupid question, but how does the gate know how much to charge you for the ticket? What if you are boarding a train and getting off at the first vs. last stop? Do you also scan your card upon exiting and then it actually charges you? Also, its one card per person, right. So children have to have their own cards.
No stupid questions here! When you enter a train station, the card records it. When you exit at a separate station, it records it and calculates the fee between the two. It is not based on what train you take, even if there are multiple options. Children need a card as well. There is a child welcome Suica option for kids up to 12 years old. Toddlers and younger may not need a card but it’s best to ask the station attendants at that point.
This is super helpful! This bit about entering and exiting the train stations has been tripping me up because on some of the JR websites they state that you might pass through rails not owned by the original railway, and you will owe an extra fee to cover that rail. Also there is the scenario of entering at a JR station but then exiting at a non-JR station. Also, I have seen some people confusingly enter a JR station at Nippori station with their SUICA but then proceed to also deposit their Narita Skyliner ticket to get to the airport and then also scan the SUICA upon arriving at that station...I need to do a lot more digging to grasp this. Thanks for your helpful videos I am starting to get it@@JapanReality
It gets tricky when you have paper tickets in the mix. If I enter with a paper ticket, I will leave with that ticket. If I enter with Suica, I leave with Suica. Even if you pass through 'rails not owned by JR' whatever that means, Suica should do all the hard work for you. I have never seen that in practice by the way. When you transfer to a different non-JR rail line, you almost always pass through gates and switch trains.
Thank you this is very helpful! @@JapanReality
Sorry, I have one more silly question which has been baffling me and no video seems to clearly capture. If I purchase a ticket for a train, the ticket will indicate a specific train time, then I will have no choice but board that train because I have to have a ticket that matches the train time. However, if I enter the gate with a Suica card, there is not specified train time, so technically I could board the next or future train I choose (in cases of congestion, I might opt to skip to board a train for the next one).
I am asking because I saw someone board the Limited Express SHINANO in Nagoya for Nagano, but then get off at a station somewhere in between to enjoy the view at the platform and then proceed to get on the next train headed for Nagano. I am guessing exiting a station for a quick pit stop without exiting the entire gate altogether is permissible.
What if someone booked a paper ticket for a final destination, but then decided to get off at an earlier stop? I am guessing they would not get a refund of the difference in fare if they got off at an earlier stop and if they wanted to continue their journey at a later time they would need to book a new ticket to their final destination from the stop they got off.
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read and answer my questions.
Is suica and passmo the same? Traveling to Kyoto and tokyo. Which one is better?
Suica and Pasmo are the same!
Hi...thanks for the video...i saw there is a 3 days unlimited ride pasmo card 6000 yen..is this a better than getting welcome suica for 3 days? just traveling around tokyo and go to mt fuji..txs
Howdy! I’m not seeing the 3 day unlimited pass anywhere but I do see a 1 day Tokyo metro / pasmo all you can ride ticket.
However, I recommend the Welcome Suica over an unlimited pass. The Tokyo Metro unlimited pass only covers the metro and maybe JR. There are multiple train companies within Tokyo and with a Welcome Suica, you can ride them all hassle free.
As for Mount Fuji, you can’t get there by train, only car or bus so the unlimited train pass wouldn’t be of any use.
Lastly, if you managed to do more than 6000 yen worth of train rides in 3 days just within Tokyo, I’d be impressed.
@@JapanReality thanks for the info and reply...🙏
Communication social time transportation the different cards budget for calendar co-workers
I see that u used cash for the Suica card. I assume you can use credit cards to get one and recharge them?
Nope! If you have a physical card, it is cash only. There are exceptions to this rule of course but 99% of the time, it's cash only. If you manage to get the mobile Suica or Pasmo (which I didn't explain in this video because complexity), it is possible to recharge with a card.
Unfortunately the pasmo card that you said was outside the scope of the video is why I started watching the video.
Sorry to hear that! The regular pasmo can only be purchased with a commuter pass and the video would get way too long to explain it. I hope you find a video that answers your question!
@@JapanRealityyou should replace the title to "A Guide to the Suica (IC card)" your video is clickbait and i was really hoping to have a guide on getting a Pasmo card. Disliked
Thank you for the feedback! I'll be careful next time! I showed the booth at which you can purchase the Pasmo other than that, there is no difference between using the Pasmo or Suica. @@user-ee6lk1pb6w
Hello, 🐦
God the Father loves you so much that He sent Holy and Sinless Jesus (His Holy Son) to earth to be born of a virgin. He grew up and died on a cross for our sins. He was in the tomb for 3 days, then Father God raised Jesus Christ (Y'shua) to Life! He appeared to people and went back to Heaven. We must receive Jesus sincerely to be God's childJohn 1:12. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on HIS name." That is great news! Will you sincerely receive Holy, Lord Jesus into your life today?