TOURIST PASMO or Welcome Suica: Which Tokyo Card?

Arriving in Tokyo in October 2026, you may see two visitor cards at airport rail counters: JR East's Welcome Suica and the newer TOURIST PASMO. Both are short-stay transport IC cards, but their purchase points, top-up methods and expiry are the details that decide which one is useful for your first ride. The official PASMO visitor page now describes TOURIST PASMO at Haneda and Narita, while JR East lists Welcome Suica sales points at those airports and selected city stations. The practical choice is generally the card you can actually buy on your route, with a manageable starting balance. Neither card is a reason to queue at the wrong railway company after a long flight.

For a rough currency comparison, the European Central Bank reference rates for 16 October 2026 put ¥1,000 at about US$6.33, ¥2,000 at about US$12.66 and ¥10,000 at about US$63.28. The operator charges in yen; these dated dollar estimates are only for budgeting and may differ from your card issuer’s conversion.

What the cards do, and what they do not do

Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO are stored-value IC cards. On participating railways and buses you tap to pay an applicable fare from the balance; you can also use them for purchases where the relevant IC payment is accepted. They are not unlimited travel passes. A long-distance or premium train may still need a separate ticket or reservation, so examine the requirements for that particular service before boarding. JR East's Welcome Suica guide explicitly says limited express, express and Green Car travel require the related ticket in advance. A card balance is convenient for the ordinary gate; it does not silently add every supplement a journey might require.

Both physical visitor products have a 28-day validity period starting on their purchase date. This makes them suitable for many short trips but less suitable for an extended stay or a card bought well before you expect to use it. The number printed on the back of a Welcome Suica is not the card's trip expiry; JR East says to use the reference paper issued at purchase to check the actual validity. PASMO likewise tells TOURIST PASMO users to keep the reference paper showing expiry and balance. For either card, avoid loading more than you reasonably expect to spend before the 28 days end. Leftover value is a real cost, because ordinary unused-value refunds are not offered for these visitor cards.

Where your flight lands changes the easiest purchase

JR East lists Welcome Suica vending machines at Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station, Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 on the Tokyo Monorail. It also lists JR East Travel Service Centers at those airport locations, plus selected Tokyo-area stations. PASMO describes TOURIST PASMO sales through Keikyu at Haneda and Keisei at Narita. At Haneda, its listed points include machines at Keikyu's Terminal 1・2 Station and a counter or machine at Terminal 3. At Narita, it lists Keisei information centers at the airport rail stations. The same airport can therefore offer both products in different railway areas. Follow the operator and departure station for the train you intend to ride, rather than searching every terminal for a brand name.

Suppose you land at Narita Terminal 1 and are taking a Keisei service into Tokyo. PASMO's page lists TOURIST PASMO at the Keisei information center in Terminal 1 Station for ¥2,000, all included as stored value. If that counter is open and the card fits your trip, buying there is simpler than detouring to the JR East side for a Welcome Suica. Reverse the example for a traveler using a JR East service from Narita: the Welcome Suica machines or JR East counter may be more natural. This is an itinerary example, not a promise about counter opening hours or train availability. Check the operator's current hours and service before the flight, especially for a late arrival.

Compare the starting value, not just the card name

JR East lists physical Welcome Suica purchase denominations of ¥1,000, ¥2,000, ¥3,000, ¥4,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000, with no deposit. PASMO lists TOURIST PASMO prices from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000 at Haneda, depending on sales point, and a ¥2,000 version at Narita. It also says there is no deposit. A ¥2,000 visitor card is not a ¥2,000 fee: the amount is value you can use for eligible rides or purchases. Yet unused value is not automatically cash you get back. A traveler making only a few short urban journeys should start modestly and top up later; someone with several known rides can load more, while still considering the card's expiry.

The two cards have different published top-up details. JR East says a physical Welcome Suica can be charged with yen at marked machines and at Seven Bank ATMs; it specifically says a credit card cannot top up the physical Welcome Suica. PASMO says TOURIST PASMO can be charged at station machines with cash and at some convenience stores, with a ¥20,000 maximum card balance. Some airport purchase machines accept credit cards for the initial TOURIST PASMO purchase, according to PASMO, but do not confuse an initial purchase method with every future top-up method. If you usually travel without cash, know where your chosen card can be charged before its balance gets low.

Refund, loss and expiry are the real differences from a reusable card

PASMO says unused TOURIST PASMO value is not refundable because the trip has ended, and a lost card cannot be reissued. JR East also says no ordinary refund is available for a Welcome Suica's remaining balance and that a lost card cannot be reissued. JR East separately describes a narrow malfunction process for a faulty card, which should not be mistaken for a normal end-of-trip cash-out. Those terms make the purchase decision simple: treat the card like travel spending money that needs to be used, and protect it like cash. If you lose it halfway through the trip, you may need another way to pay rather than expecting the original balance to move to a replacement.

For a family, do not hand a child an adult card and assume the gate will know their age. JR East says a child Welcome Suica requires age evidence, such as a passport, at purchase and has a child-specific end date tied to the March after the relevant birthday. PASMO publishes a child TOURIST PASMO and says its reference paper shows the age category. Ask for the right card at the staffed point or follow the child-card machine instructions. Keeping the purchase reference paper with your travel documents can make it easier to check the valid period and clarify a problem with station staff.

What about a phone instead of a plastic card?

JR East offers a separate Welcome Suica Mobile app for iPhone and Apple Watch; it is not the same 28-day physical card. JR East's mobile product announcement states a 180-day validity period and supported Apple devices, subject to operating-system conditions. Its current mobile page explains that the app can issue and charge a Suica. If you already use a working mobile transit card, compare that setup with another physical purchase. Check your exact phone, account region and payment method through the official app instructions; a travel eSIM for internet access does not itself make a phone compatible with Japanese transit IC payment.

For an Android user, a physical visitor card is often the simpler decision to investigate first, especially if the phone's Japanese IC support is uncertain. Do not infer compatibility just because the handset has NFC or supports an eSIM. Transport IC hardware, wallet services and connectivity are separate features. An eSIM may help you consult route information on the move, while the plastic card can still pay at a gate if the phone battery runs down. If you plan to rely on a phone-only transit setup, verify it before the first rail journey and keep an alternative payment route in mind.

A three-step way to choose at the airport

First, identify the rail operator and station for your first leg. Second, check the official sales point for the card available beside that route and whether it will still be open when you arrive. Third, choose the smallest sensible starting value and keep the reference paper. For example, a traveler staying five days in central Tokyo and making ordinary train and bus rides could buy whichever of the two physical visitor cards is readily available at the relevant airport rail station, then top up in yen as needed. That traveler gains little by crossing the airport for the other design if both are accepted on the intended participating routes.

Check individual services before tapping. A special express train, an intercity journey or a route outside participating IC areas may require an additional ticket or different payment. That matters more than the familiar Suica-versus-PASMO label. If your trip continues beyond Tokyo, consult the operator of each later route. Save a screenshot of the destination and station names, then check travel eSIM compatibility if you want mobile data for maps and rail updates. Roameo sells data plans over partner networks; it does not sell or guarantee railway tickets or transit-card acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are TOURIST PASMO and Welcome Suica unlimited passes?

No. They are stored-value IC cards. Eligible fares are deducted from the balance, and some train services require separate tickets or supplements.

Can I refund an unused visitor-card balance?

Both operators say ordinary unused value on these physical visitor cards is not refundable. JR East describes a separate procedure for a card malfunction, which is a different circumstance.

Which card should I buy at Narita?

Check whether your first train uses Keisei or JR East and buy at the convenient official sales point. PASMO lists a ¥2,000 TOURIST PASMO at Narita; JR East lists several Welcome Suica purchase denominations at its airport points.