What is Suica/ PASMO?
Suica, most common, and PASMO, second most common, are preloaded e-money cards instead of train or bus tickets. These cards make you easy to get trains and buses. Simply touch the Suica/Pasmo card to the reader at the ticket gate when out and about. There is no need to buy ticket.
Where can we get these cards?
You can get these card by ticketing machines at train stations. Please select “general user” as the type. The price is 1500JPY including balance of 1000JPY and initial deposit of 500JPY. These cards are very useful as they basically digitize your cash and with these cards you can make small purchases at many shops and stores and vending machines. For one week stay, appropriate amount of deposit may be from 5,000 to 10,000JPY. You can make recharge at RIKEN Cafeterias.
You can buy a new Suica/PASMO at the station like this.
At RIKEN cafeteria, you can make recharge using this machine.
Can we get refund of balance charged to the card?
Your remaining balance and initial deposit of 500 yen will be refunded at train offices at stations. If you have no remaining balance, then your initial deposit of 500JPY will be refunded. While each card can be used between different train lines and payment systems (for example, Suica can be used where it says Pasmo), you can only get your money refunded from the office for that particular card. It also means that if you purchase a card in Tokyo but depart Japan from Osaka you won’t be able to get a refund because the operators are different.
Ask at your nearest Suica/PASMO retailer for details.
