PASMO

What is PASMO?

PASMO is a convenient transportation system using an IC card which allows repeatedly use of a single chargeable card.

A single PASMO card allows you to travel on rail and bus in the metropolitan area and can also be used for payment as electronic money when making purchases at participating PASMO electronic money stores.

PASMO can also be used in all Suica areas in the metropolitan area in Sendai and Niigata and at all Suica electronic money participating stores displaying the "Suica mark".

PASMO GUIDE(PDF) For persons living in Japan PASMO GUIDE(PDF) For tourists

(1) Where can I use PASMO ?

PASMO can be used at more than 100 transportation facilities including private railways, subways and buses which accept PASMO.
PASMO can also be used in all Suica areas in the metropolitan area in Sendai and Niigata and at all Suica electronic money participating stores displaying the "Suica mark".

(2) Where can I buy PASMO ?

PASMO can be purchased at the place of business of private railways, subways and buses which accept PASMO.
When purchasing at a station ticket vending machine, the desired amount can be selected from ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥3000, ¥4000, ¥5000, ¥10000.
A ¥500 deposit is included in the purchase price.

(3) How many different kinds are there?

(4) How do I use it?

When using on a train

When using on railways, just touch the PASMO on the reader of the ticket gate.
PASMO can read the card even in a holder, but to prevent reading errors, please touch it parallel to the reader of the ticket gate. The reading section will flash blue and make a "pi" sound or "pi pi" sound when it has finished reading.

When using on a bus

A sticker will be displayed on buses which accept use of PASMO Suica.

◆ Method of Payment Before Riding

When getting on, please touch the PASMO onto the reader of the IC fare machine. The fare will be deducted from SF. You do not have to touch it again when getting off.

*Inform the station staff before touching the reader if you want to pay the fare for a number of persons.

◆ Method of Payment After Riding

When getting on, please touch the PASMO onto the reader of the IC fare machine. You do not need to take a ticket.
When getting off, touch the PASMO onto the reader of the IC fare machine and the fare will be deducted from the SF. When paying after riding, you need to touch the PASMO onto the reader when getting on and when getting off.

*If you require a fare statement is required when paying the fare for a number of persons, please ask the driver before touching the reader.

When using as electronic money

When paying, please tell the shop assistant that you wish to use PASMO. You pay just by touching PASMO onto the reader of the terminal. When touching, please confirm the payment amount.

When using at an automatic ticket vending machine

Please choose the desired goods and touch the PASMO onto the reader.

(5) How do I re-charge PASMO?

◆ Charging at the station

PASMO can be charged at ticket vending machine at stations of private railways and subways accepting PASMO. The desired amount can be selected from ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥3000, ¥4000, ¥5000, ¥10000. The remaining SF amount can be charged any number of times up to ¥20,000.

◆ Charging on the bus

PASMO can be charged in the bus of providers accepting PASMO. PASMO can be charged in ¥1000 units. The remaining SF amount can be charged any number of times up to ¥10,000. Please just ask the driver.

(6) How do I see my transaction history?

You can print out your transaction history of PASMO up to the most recent 20 payments at station ticket vending machines or bus station offices.
If you are using comnuterticket, transaction history will not print.
If you use a named PASMO, you can view your transaction history on the Internet.

*Station names are shown in Japanese.

(7) I want to buy a commuter ticket！

◆ When buying for the first time:

Please proceed to the commuters ticket sales office at a station, fill out the "PASMO Commuters Ticket Application Form" giving your name, gender, date of birth, telephone number, area covered by the ticket and term of use and then give the form to a ticket officer.

◆ When buying a subsequent ticket:

Go to the ticket office where you bought your last ticket, fill out the "PASMO Commuters Ticket Application Form" giving your name, gender, date of birth, telephone number, area covered by the ticket and term of use and then give the form to a ticket officer. Some stations allow purchase of commuters tickets (for work and for students) at automatic ticket vending machines.

◆ When changing commuters tickets:

Go to a station ticket office, fill out the "PASMO Commuters Ticket Application Form" giving your name, gender, date of birth, telephone number, area covered by the ticket and term of use and give it to the ticket officer together with your existing magnetic ticket. Some stations allow purchase of commuters tickets (for work and for students) at automatic ticket vending machines.

◆ Costs of Commuters Tickets

Please contact your station.

(8) What do I do if I lose my PASMO?

If you have a named PASMO, it can be re-issued if you lose it. The procedure is different depending on the type of PASMO. When you lose your PASMO, please make an application to the station or bus station office. Blank PASMOs can not be re-issued when lost.

(9) What do I do if I can no longer use PASMO?

If PASMO is damaged and can no longer be used, please apply to the station or bus station office.

(10) What do I do if PASMO is no longer necessary?

When you no longer use PASMO, you can receive a refund from the station office or bus station office. A charge (¥210) will be deducted from your PASMO and the remaining money together with your ¥500 deposit will be refunded.

(11) FAQ

What should I do when I want to travel out of the area in which I can use PASMO?

PASMO is a card which can be used in ticket machines in a defined area (PASMO accepting businesses plus the metropolitan area, Sendai, Niigata Suica Area so you can not travel out of the area or through areas not covered. You can not use the card in more than one area. When using out of areas (for example entering the Sendai Suica area and exiting the PASMO area), please buy a ticket in advance. However when this is not possible, please buy a cash adjustment ticket at your destination destination.

Even though I have enough money in my SF amount, I could not use the card at a ticket machine or in the bus. What should I do?

There are the possibilities below but first check your card.

Did you touch the reader with another IC card? (is there another card in your IC holder?)
Did you touch the reader together with something that would block the electronic waves such as aluminum foil?

If the answer is no and you still can not use your ticket, please contact an officer at your station or bus since the card may be defective or the previous transaction may not be completed.

Can I transfer my commuter ticket or SF balance from my current Suica to PASMO?

You can not transfer a commuter ticket or SF balance from Suica to PASMO.
After using your current commuter ticket until completion, please purchase a PASMO ticket. Please remember that you can not purchase a PASMO commuter ticket for areas not covered by businesses accepting PASMO.

Is there anything I should pay attention to when using PASMO?

Please do not bend, turn, scrape, apply strong impacts or attach seals to PASMO. There is a risk of trouble such malfunction when touching the automatic ticket machine or the card being rejected by the ticket vending machine when recharging.

I wanted to make a ¥2,000 charge but put ¥4000 on the card by mistake. How do I get a refund?

Please make an application for refund to the same station on the same day. You can get a free refund only if you do not use the card after charging.

After boarding the train using SF from PASMO, the train service was cancelled, What do I do?

When boarding, using SF and the service is cancelled, use a separate SF when travelling by another route or please buy another ticket. (We do not handle transit services).

SF, When using outside the commuting ticket region

SF, When using outside the commuting ticket region Train Co. A cancelled service erea Sta. A Sta. B Sta. C other Train Co. Sta. b Sta. c When using another company’s line in addition to the fare from station A to station B, a fare will be charged from station b to station c.

*The region covered by a PASMO commuters ticket like a magnetic commuter ticket will allow for transit services when it is determined that restoration of services will take some time. In that case, present your transit ticket together with your PASMO ticket with pass through the barrier manned by an officer.

Since only 20 transactions from my transaction history can be printed out. What should I do when I need earlier transactions?

We request that you print out your history as frequently as possible. If you have a named PASMO card, you can become of a member of the "my page PASMO history reference service" on the PASMO homepage and view your transaction history for the past 3 months. For more details, please see (link: history reference page).

*You can not become a member on the day you purchase your named PASMO card or when converting a blank PASMO to a named PASMO.

I use two railway commuting tickets. What do I do if I want to use PASMO?

You can not use two or more IC cards for transportation services at the same time. Please continue to use the current magnetic tickets.

*Since March 15, 2008, the scope of sales of commuting tickets by railways has been increasing. Please contact your current railway for details regarding the regions for which you can buy commuting tickets.

Can I buy a single commuting ticket covering a number of railway and bus companies?

You can buy a single type of PASMO for railways and buses. The regions and routes covered are the same as those for the current magnetic tickets.

*For further details, please contact your sales office.

Can I use PASMO after my commuter ticket expires?

You can use it as a named PASMO. By applying to a station officer, the facts on your commuter ticket will erase and change it to a named PASMO.

*When it is necessary to re-issue an expired commuting ticket without change, you must return it to the issuing office.

I already have a PASMO but I want to buy a PASMO commuting ticket. Do I have to buy a new PASMO?

You can purchase a commuting ticket with your existing PASMO. There is not need to purchase a new PASMO.

After applying for a re-issue of a lost card, I immediately found the lost PASMO card. Since it has not been re-issued yet, can the application be cancelled?

An application to re-issue a lost card can not be canceled. (The use of a card which has been registered as re-issued is canceled and can not be used.) Therefore please perform the re-issue procedure and prepare the re-issue fee of ¥500 and deposit of ¥500 (apart from integrated PASMO).
If you bring the PASMO card that you found with you when the card is re-issued, the ¥500 deposit on that card can be refunded. (apart from integrated PASMO).

After making the application for re-issue of a lost card, after some time I found the lost PASMO card. Can I use this PASMO card?

When you made the application for re-issue of a lost card, that PASMO card can no longer be used. If you return the card to the station or bus station office accepting PASMO, you can a refund of the deposit of ¥500.

*When receiving a refund of the deposit, an official identification document such as a drivers license is required.
*Deposits are not refunded on integrated PASMO.

Can I use electronic money other than Suica at stores accepting PASMO electronic money ?

No.

Since the name or telephone number recorded on PASMO has changed due to marriage or moving, can it be changed?

Yes, it can be changed. Please make an application to a station or bus station office accepting PASMO. When making the changes, an official identification document to confirm your identity is required to be presented with the application.

*The places handling these changes depend on the provider and therefore please contact the service provider that you use.
*Customers using auto-charge PASMO or integrated PASMO are requested to make the same changes with their credit card company at the same time.

I no longer need my named PASMO. Can I give it to a family member or a friend?

A named PASMO can not be changed or given to another person. Please apply for a refund from a station or bus station office handling PASMO.

*If a named PASMO is used as a IC card transportation ticket by a person other than the named person, the PASMO may be invalidated and confiscated.

The printing of the PASMO has become illegible. What should I do?

When the printing on a PASMO becomes illegible the card can not be used. Please apply to your nearest station accepting PASMO to have the card reprinted.

*A bus office can not perform reprinting, therefore please take the card to a station.
*When purchasing a railway commuting ticket using PASMO, please take the ticket to the issuing office.
*The places handling these changes depend on the provider and therefore please contact the service provider that you use.

Can I use a Kids PASMO after graduating from elementary school?

You can use it until March 31 of the year that you graduate from elementary school. After April 1, you can not use the card and it should be changed into an adult PASMO at a station accepting PASMO.

*When a commuting ticket has an expiry date, please contact the issuing office.

Can I use a mobile Suica?

Mobile Suica can be used at ticket gates and buses accepting PASMO and at PASMO electronic money stores.

*Mobile Suica can not be used at some railway service windows. Please remember that when you need to buy an adjustment ticket , please pay in cash (you can not use the SF balance).
*"Mobile Suica" is a service provided by JR Higashi Nihon. For further details, please visit the JR Higashi Nihon homepage.

Is the My Page available in various foreign languages?

At present it is only available in Japanese.
Please visit the PASMO website for details about services and the method of registering on My Page in Japanese.