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If you have been reading older Tokyo guides, you have probably seen the advice to pick up a PASMO PASSPORT at the airport. That card is no longer sold.
The good news: the tourist version of Suica is still available, and there is now a phone version as well. Here is what changed, what each option costs you up front, and which one to get — based on the rail operators’ own announcements.
The short answer
- Have an iPhone? Use Welcome Suica Mobile. No card to pick up, and it lasts 180 days.
- Android phone, or prefer a physical card? Buy a Welcome Suica card at the airport station. It lasts 28 days.
- PASMO PASSPORT has ended. If you still have one from an earlier trip, see the section at the end.
What happened to PASMO PASSPORT?
PASMO PASSPORT was a short-term IC card for visitors, launched on 1 September 2019. In an announcement dated 20 August 2024, the PASMO operators and JR East stated that it had already ended sales. Tokyo Metro then abolished the ticket rules for the card on 12 October 2024.
So if a blog or video tells you to buy one, it is out of date. For a visitor’s IC card in 2026, the choice is between the two Welcome Suica options below.
Welcome Suica (card) vs Welcome Suica Mobile
| Welcome Suica (card) | Welcome Suica Mobile (app) | |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | Physical card | iPhone and Apple Watch only |
| Valid for | 28 days, counting the day you buy it | 180 days from issue |
| Deposit | None | None (no card) |
| Where to get it | Airport station vending machines and JR East service counters | Download the app before or after you land |
| How to top up | Ticket machines, up to ¥20,000 on the card | A card in Apple Pay, or cash at some station machines |
| Leftover balance | Generally not refunded | — |
Welcome Suica (card)
The card comes in amounts from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000, and there is no deposit. It is valid for 28 days, including the day you buy it.
The easiest place to get one is on arrival. JR East sells it from dedicated Welcome Suica machines at Narita Airport Station, Airport Terminal 2 Station and Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station, as well as at JR East service counters at major stations. It is limited to one card per person. Locations can change, so check JR East’s Welcome Suica page before you fly.
One thing to plan for: according to JR East, the remaining balance is generally not refunded. Top up in small amounts towards the end of your trip, and spend what is left at station shops or convenience stores that accept Suica.
Welcome Suica Mobile
JR East announced the app version in February 2025, with the launch planned for March 2025. It runs on iPhone and Apple Watch only; there is no Android version.
It is valid for 180 days from issue, so it also covers longer stays and repeat visits within six months. You top it up with a card saved in Apple Pay, or with cash at some station ticket machines. Because there is no card, there is nothing to queue for at the airport.
JR East notes that downloads can be restricted in some countries for legal reasons, so install and set it up before you leave home if you can.
Where you can use it
Both versions are Suica, so they work the same way at the gate: tap in, tap out, and the fare is deducted. In Tokyo that covers JR lines such as the Yamanote Line, as well as the subway. You can also pay at many station shops, convenience stores and vending machines that show the IC card logo.
If you plan to ride the subway many times in one day, compare the cost with an unlimited pass first. Our guide to the Tokyo Subway Ticket shows how many rides you need for it to pay off. For how long common journeys take, see travel times between Tokyo’s neighbourhoods.
What about a regular Suica or PASMO?
Regular Suica and PASMO cards were not on sale for a while. Personalised (registered) cards went back on sale on 1 September 2024. If you see a regular card at a ticket machine, it works at the same ticket gates.
For a short trip, though, Welcome Suica is designed for visitors and needs no deposit, so it is the simpler choice.
Getting set up on arrival day
- Before you fly: if you use an iPhone, install Welcome Suica Mobile and add some credit. You will need mobile data to top up with Apple Pay after you land. A travel eSIM is the simplest way to be online at the airport; you can compare Japan eSIM plans on Klook, and our Japan eSIM guide explains what to look for.
- At the airport: if you need a card, buy a Welcome Suica at the airport station machine before you head into the city.
- Into Tokyo: our Narita and Haneda transport guide compares the trains and buses into the city.
If you still have a PASMO PASSPORT
Tokyo Metro’s notice states that rights attached to cards issued before the rules were abolished continue under the original terms. In principle, your card’s original validity period should still apply. If you are unsure whether your card is still valid, ask at a station office before you travel.
Summary
- PASMO PASSPORT is no longer sold.
- iPhone users: Welcome Suica Mobile, valid 180 days.
- Everyone else: Welcome Suica card from the airport station, valid 28 days, with no deposit and no refund of the leftover balance.
- Planning a subway-heavy day? Check the Tokyo Subway Ticket first.
Information checked against JR East, PASMO and Tokyo Metro announcements on 19 September 2026. Sales locations and conditions can change, so confirm on the official sites before you travel.
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