Japan Tourist PASMO 2026: The Complete Guide for Self-Guided Travelers

What Is the TOURIST PASMO and Why It Replaced the PASMO PASSPORT

The TOURIST PASMO is a prepaid transportation IC card aimed at short-stay travelers. It was created based on the PASMO PASSPORT, which was sold until October 2024, and has a limited validity designed for short-term travel in Japan.

So if a guidebook from 2023 told you to grab a PASMO PASSPORT at the airport, that advice is now outdated. Functionally, the TOURIST PASMO works just like a regular PASMO card — tap in, tap out. The big differences are the validity period and the refund rules, which we'll get to.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Valid for 28 days from the date of purchase.
• No deposit and no refund on the remaining balance.
• Available at Haneda Airport and Narita Airport station counters.
• Works on trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and many shops nationwide.
• Designed as a souvenir with a kanji-themed design.

Pricing differs by airport: at Narita the card is ¥2,000 fully loaded, while at Haneda you choose from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000. The full purchase amount goes straight onto the card as usable credit.

Where to Buy It

You can pick one up the moment you land. TOURIST PASMO is available at two railway operators at Haneda Airport and Narita Airport.

At Narita Airport, look for the railway station counters inside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2/3. At Haneda Airport, you'll find sales points at Terminal 1, 2, and Terminal 3 stations. The signage points you to the train operator's counter, not a generic information desk.

Honestly, if you're jet-lagged and just want to get on the Keikyu or the Narita Express, this is the easiest thing in the world to set up. Hand over cash, get a card, tap, go.

One thing to note for travelers arriving outside Tokyo: if you fly into Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto) or Fukuoka instead, you'll need a different card — ICOCA for Kansai, for example. The TOURIST PASMO itself is sold only at the two Tokyo-area airports.

What You Can Pay For

This is where IC cards quietly become a lifesaver. You simply touch your TOURIST PASMO to the reader at the ticket gate to ride trains, touch it to the reader inside a bus to pay the fare, or tap at a register for electronic payments — no counting out coins.

You'll use it for:

• Subways and trains across Tokyo (Tokyo Metro, Toei, JR East commuter lines, private railways)
• City buses
• Convenience store purchases (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart)
• Vending machines at train stations
• Coin lockers at major stations
• Many cafés, drugstores, and souvenir shops

TOURIST PASMO works in major cities across Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. In Kyoto you can use it on city buses and the Randen tram — no digging for coins while visiting Ryoan-ji or walking through the torii gates at Fushimi Inari.

That nationwide compatibility is why we recommend it for self-guided trips that bounce between regions. One card, one tap, no headaches.

Topping Up: How to Add Money

Insert your TOURIST PASMO into the ticket machine and follow the on-screen instructions to top it up with cash. Most train station machines have an English option — look for the small flag icon top right.

Cards cannot be topped up if the balance will exceed ¥20,000. Twenty thousand yen is the ceiling, full stop.

You can also reload at a convenience store — just ask the shop staff for details. If you're on a bus and running low, the driver can usually help with a ¥1,000 top-up.

A quick warning: most top-up machines only accept cash. Bring some yen. There's an ATM at virtually every major airport and 7-Eleven if you need to withdraw.

The Catch: No Refunds on Remaining Balance

This is the biggest mental shift from a regular PASMO card. Value added to TOURIST PASMO will not be refunded — take your card home as a souvenir.

In other words, whatever's left on the card when you leave Japan is gone. So load smart. Start with a smaller amount, top up as you go, and try to run the balance down toward the end of your trip.

Since refunds aren't offered, try using up your balance at the airport before departure — perfect for last-minute shopping or a final bowl of ramen. Use the leftover yen on snacks at the airport convenience store. Coffee. A bottle of water. Anything.

TOURIST PASMO vs Welcome Suica

JR East runs a near-identical product called the Welcome Suica. The Tourist PASMO and Welcome Suica are functionally identical: both are prepaid IC cards that work across trains, subways, buses and shops nationwide, have no deposit, expire after 28 days, and don't offer refunds on the remaining balance.

So which one should you grab? Honestly, whichever counter has a shorter line.

• Arriving at the JR East Travel Service Center? Welcome Suica is right there.
• Arriving at a private railway counter (Keikyu, Tokyo Metro, Keisei)? TOURIST PASMO is right there.
• Want the kanji "travel" design? TOURIST PASMO.
• Prefer the cherry blossoms artwork? Welcome Suica.

Both are valid for 28 days. Both work the same way on the same gates. Don't overthink it.

TOURIST PASMO vs Regular PASMO (For Repeat Visitors)

If Japan is on your bucket list for future trips, the regular PASMO card is worth considering instead. If you do not anticipate returning to Japan in the near future, the TOURIST PASMO might be a good choice. For people who visit Japan often, note that a standard PASMO card can remain valid for up to 10 years after its last use, as long as it's used or recharged periodically.

The trade-off: regular PASMO cards charge a refundable ¥500 deposit but let you keep the balance for next time. Sales of non-personalized regular cards have resumed since March 2025, so they're back on the menu at most train station machines.

Mobile PASMO and Apple Wallet: The Phone Option

If you have an iPhone, you can skip the physical card entirely. iPhone 8 and later can be set up to serve as Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA cards by adding them to Apple Pay. Some credit cards issued outside of Japan cannot be used to charge your card, but Visa and Mastercard work in most cases as of 2026 — Mastercard has historically been the most reliable for adding funds. American Express also works for many people.

A few caveats:

• Android phones can use Mobile PASMO via app, but the apps are targeted at residents of Japan and difficult or impossible to use for visitors. They require Osaifu Keitai compatibility, which is not provided by most phones sold outside of Japan.
• If your iPhone is older than iPhone 8, stick with the physical card.
• A digital Welcome Suica via the Welcome Suica Mobile app is valid for 180 days instead of 28, which is handy if you're on a long trip.

For most international visitors with a modern iPhone, the Apple Wallet route is the easiest. Add it once. Top up from your phone. Tap and go. The card stays on your device for future trips.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Loading too much, too soon. Remember, no refund. Start with ¥2,000–¥3,000, top up later.
2. Ignoring the reference paper. It lists the expiration date, age category, and discount information. Don't toss it.
3. Assuming it covers the Shinkansen. It generally doesn't for long-distance bullet trains — those still need a separate ticket or smartEX/EkiNet booking. See our JR Pass worth-it guide.
4. Forgetting it expires. TOURIST PASMO cannot be reissued if lost. Treat it like cash.
5. Buying one when you don't need it. If you have an iPhone with Mastercard or Amex, just add Suica or PASMO to Apple Wallet before you fly.

How to Build It Into a Real Itinerary

• Day 1 — Land at Narita or Haneda Airport. Walk to the train station counter. Buy the TOURIST PASMO. At Narita, expect ¥2,000 with the full amount loaded as credit. At Haneda, choose your starting denomination.
• Day 1, evening — Ride into Tokyo Station or your hotel area using the card. Buy a drink at a convenience store with the same card.
• Days 2–5 — Tokyo. Tap through subway gates, buses, vending machines, and conbinis. Top up at any ticket machine when the balance dips.
• Day 6 — Day trip. Most regional lines accept IC cards. Some scenic mountain railways still require paper tickets — see our Hakone day trip guide.
• Days 7–10 — Kyoto and Osaka. The card keeps working on Kyoto city buses, JR West local trains, and the Osaka Metro.
• Final day — Run down the balance. Stop at the airport convenience store. Buy snacks for the flight. Aim to leave under ¥500 on the card.

For a fuller route, pair this with our 10-day itinerary or 7-day itinerary guides.

FAQ: Japan TOURIST PASMO 2026