Pasmo or Suica for Tokyo / Kyoto visit. Which is better and why?
Jul 29, 2017, 9:56 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
I'm an idiot who gets Suica card then returns it at the end of each trip. I'm just afraid that it won't work when I return a few months later. I do the same with Octopus. We've discussed this elsewhere in this forum... it's irrational, I should just hang onto it. I just lack faith in these IC cards' durability, because hotel room cards crap out all the time.
Anyways, I always get Suica. Never Pasmo. I just think more people get Suica, even though there may ultimately not be too much difference. One definite merit of Suica is that you can accrue points when you pay with Suica. Places like Ito Yokado, Kinokuniya, and a lot of the businesses in the JR paid area of the station (eg, Ecute). Granted you don't really accrue much value through this program, and I'm not sure if there's an English website that walks you through the registration and redemption process. I don't think Pasmo has such program, although I could be wrong. Another benefit with Suica is that there're attractions that offer discounts to Suica holder. I just learned this the other day when I went to the Rainbow Pool at Tachikawa where the admission was 10-15% less just for showing Suica.
Anyways, I always get Suica. Never Pasmo. I just think more people get Suica, even though there may ultimately not be too much difference. One definite merit of Suica is that you can accrue points when you pay with Suica. Places like Ito Yokado, Kinokuniya, and a lot of the businesses in the JR paid area of the station (eg, Ecute). Granted you don't really accrue much value through this program, and I'm not sure if there's an English website that walks you through the registration and redemption process. I don't think Pasmo has such program, although I could be wrong. Another benefit with Suica is that there're attractions that offer discounts to Suica holder. I just learned this the other day when I went to the Rainbow Pool at Tachikawa where the admission was 10-15% less just for showing Suica.
Jul 29, 2017, 10:14 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
Jul 29, 2017, 12:00 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Dirt
Posts: 949
My 2004 vintage Suica card still works.
Most hotel key cards are plain ol' magnetic cards. They are subject to external magnetic fields that may alter the data on the stripe.
Jul 29, 2017, 1:30 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Not a Suica but I had a Kyoto 3k yen reloadable bus pass that I got in 2004 that still worked in 2011. I may still have it around here somewhere but am unlikely to have a chance to test it out again.
Aug 7, 2017, 9:38 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,232
Most travel guides mention that both Pasmo and Suica cards can be used on public transport. Absolutely zero mention any *practical* difference between the two. I'm taking a short trip to Tokyo with an overnight to Kyoto and, possibly, a day trip to Hakone. Which card, if any, is better for me and why?
Is one accepted more widely at "no credit card" non-transport points of sale? There's got to be some practical difference between the two, hasn't there? Which do you prefer and why?
Is one accepted more widely at "no credit card" non-transport points of sale? There's got to be some practical difference between the two, hasn't there? Which do you prefer and why?
The difference between Suica and Pasmo is if you're a commuter and which company issues your commuter pass. JR or Eidan/Toei.
As a tourist, pick which ever one you fancy. I use a Tokyo Monorail Suica with a green monorail car on it. Twee!
Aug 8, 2017, 1:42 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Posts: 1,445
Thanks. I'll just purchase whatever Suica variant I encounter first at NRT.
There's practically no difference in how they're accepted in typical use. You can use both on buses, subways and JR (excluding Nozomi). I was recently in Kansai and recharged and used my Suica in Kyoto and Osaka. It's great that all the different variants of Suica (issued by the different JR branches) work with each other and all over.
The difference between Suica and Pasmo is if you're a commuter and which company issues your commuter pass. JR or Eidan/Toei.
As a tourist, pick which ever one you fancy. I use a Tokyo Monorail Suica with a green monorail car on it. Twee!
The difference between Suica and Pasmo is if you're a commuter and which company issues your commuter pass. JR or Eidan/Toei.
As a tourist, pick which ever one you fancy. I use a Tokyo Monorail Suica with a green monorail car on it. Twee!
Aug 8, 2017, 6:39 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Mabuhay Miles, Skypass, Eva Air, KrisFlyer
Posts: 180
Special note about the deposit, refund of Suica. The deposit is 500 JPY per card. You can get this back before you leave my refunding it at a JR Ticket Office, but if it has any balance on it, they will charge you 200 JPY. So if you want to maximize it, use it to less than 200 JPY before you refund it Or just keep it for your next trip
Or just keep it for your next trip
Aug 9, 2017, 3:31 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,623
Aug 9, 2017, 4:08 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,104
IIRC the Suica cards are valid for 10 years after the last recharge/use (not sure which one).
For many years I was a Suica user, because of the JR promo on the N'Ex - one got a return ticket + a Suica with some value on it for a discounted price. Return it to the JR office for the deposit every time, get a new one when arriving next time.
Since they discontinued this promo, I just got a Pasmo (nearest vending machine on arrival) and have used it ever since. Haven't noticed any practical differences between using the two. (the small coin rechargability is in favour of the Pasmo. Some Suica reload machines took only 1k yen bills)
For many years I was a Suica user, because of the JR promo on the N'Ex - one got a return ticket + a Suica with some value on it for a discounted price. Return it to the JR office for the deposit every time, get a new one when arriving next time.
Since they discontinued this promo, I just got a Pasmo (nearest vending machine on arrival) and have used it ever since. Haven't noticed any practical differences between using the two. (the small coin rechargability is in favour of the Pasmo. Some Suica reload machines took only 1k yen bills)
Aug 10, 2017, 10:48 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Yokohama (near HND, TYO)
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Special note about the deposit, refund of Suica. The deposit is 500 JPY per card. You can get this back before you leave my refunding it at a JR Ticket Office, but if it has any balance on it, they will charge you 200 JPY. So if you want to maximize it, use it to less than 200 JPY before you refund it Or just keep it for your next trip
Or just keep it for your next trip
Aug 10, 2017, 6:15 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
Aug 10, 2017, 11:24 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Yokohama (near HND, TYO)
Programs: meltdowngraded from "F" and "C" , Accor Plt, BW Dia, ihg G, UA 0.9999MM
Posts: 1,569
Think about Euro. French banks, German banks, Spanish banks can handle it. Pasmo is like that. At NRT, Keisei accepts refund request. At HND, Keikyu.
Aug 10, 2017, 11:29 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
Really! Had no idea. I remember trying to refund a Pasmo at JR and they obviously refused, and since then I haven't bothered. But fair enough!
Aug 11, 2017, 10:01 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,404
On a sidenote: I really do think that tourists get more value from the combined TOEI/Tokyo Metro passes once they travelled relatively frequently with one (or both) of the two companies.
That said, combining both (Pasmo/Suica and pass) is probably the best solution.
That said, combining both (Pasmo/Suica and pass) is probably the best solution.
Aug 14, 2017, 3:11 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,623
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/1day/
How much money has this saved you? And what is the itinerary that makes this worthwhile? I'm genuinely interested to know.
I think someone once explained that it was a great value for them because they stayed at some distance from central Tokyo and needed to change from one subway company's lines to the other company's lines quite frequently. With the way I travel and the places that I stay, I think it's very rare for me to spend more than 900 yen on subway fares in one day.