Welcome Suica vs TOURIST PASMO: Which Is Better for Tourists in 2026?

At Haneda Airport, you may face the choice almost immediately: Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO?

Both are prepaid IC cards designed for international visitors, and both can be used for trains, subways, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and many other everyday payments in Japan.

They look similar, and for normal transportation they work in almost the same way. But there are important differences in where you can buy them, the amounts available when you purchase them, and mobile options.

The good news is that most tourists do not need to overthink the decision.

This guide compares Welcome Suica and the new TOURIST PASMO in 2026 and explains which one you should choose depending on where and how you arrive in Tokyo.

Quick Answer

For most tourists, buy whichever card is easiest to get on your route.

Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO have very similar everyday transportation coverage. You do not need Welcome Suica just because you plan to use JR trains, and you do not need TOURIST PASMO just because you plan to use Tokyo Metro or private railways.

Choose Welcome Suica if:

• You want more opportunities to buy a tourist IC card after leaving the airport
• You arrive at Haneda Terminal 3 and are using the Tokyo Monorail
• You are already near JR East facilities at Narita Airport
• You are already in central Tokyo
• You want to consider Welcome Suica Mobile on a compatible Apple device

Choose TOURIST PASMO if:

• You arrive at Haneda and are using Keikyu
• You arrive at Narita and are already at a Keisei counter
• You want to buy a physical tourist IC card immediately after landing
• You like the TOURIST PASMO design and want to keep it as a souvenir

For most travelers, there is no reason to buy both.

Welcome Suica vs TOURIST PASMO: Quick Comparison

Feature	Welcome Suica	TOURIST PASMO
Issuer	JR East	PASMO
Designed for tourists	Yes	Yes
Physical card validity	28 days including purchase date	28 days from purchase
Deposit	None	None
Purchase amounts	¥1,000 / ¥2,000 / ¥3,000 / ¥4,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥10,000	Haneda: ¥1,000–¥10,000 Narita: ¥2,000
Maximum balance	¥20,000	¥20,000
Haneda Airport	Terminal 3	Terminals 1, 2 and 3
Narita Airport	Yes	Yes
Selected central Tokyo sales points	Yes	Not currently listed for TOURIST PASMO
Regular unused balance refund	No	No
Reissue if lost	No	No
Child card	Available	Available
Train and bus use	Yes, on compatible IC networks	Yes, on compatible IC networks
Shopping	Yes	Yes
Dedicated tourist mobile option	Welcome Suica Mobile	No dedicated TOURIST PASMO mobile version

The biggest practical difference for most visitors is therefore where you can buy the card, rather than where you can use it.

What Is Welcome Suica?

Welcome Suica is JR East’s prepaid IC card for temporary visitors to Japan.

The physical card is valid for 28 days including the date of purchase. There is no deposit, so you do not need to pay the ¥500 deposit commonly associated with some standard Japanese IC cards.

You can use Welcome Suica on compatible trains, subways, and buses and for electronic payments at many convenience stores, vending machines, restaurants, station shops, and other locations displaying a compatible transportation IC logo.

Physical Welcome Suica cards are sold in the following amounts:

• ¥1,000
• ¥2,000
• ¥3,000
• ¥4,000
• ¥5,000
• ¥10,000

You can add more money later, up to a maximum balance of ¥20,000.

One important limitation is that unused stored value is normally not refundable, so it is better to add money gradually rather than loading a large amount at the beginning of your trip.

For a more detailed explanation, see our complete Welcome Suica guide for tourists.

What Is TOURIST PASMO?

TOURIST PASMO is PASMO’s current physical IC card designed for international visitors to Japan.

The service was introduced in 2026 and is valid for 28 days from the date of purchase.

Like Welcome Suica, TOURIST PASMO requires no deposit and can be used on compatible trains and buses as well as for cashless payments at participating stores.

The card can be topped up repeatedly during its validity period, but the balance cannot exceed ¥20,000.

The amount available when you first buy TOURIST PASMO depends on the airport.

At Haneda Airport, the available amounts are:

• ¥1,000
• ¥2,000
• ¥3,000
• ¥4,000
• ¥5,000
• ¥10,000

At Narita Airport, the currently listed purchase amount is ¥2,000.

TOURIST PASMO also has a special design featuring Japanese kanji, so you can keep the physical card as a souvenir after your trip.

Is TOURIST PASMO the Same as PASMO PASSPORT?

No.

This is an important point because many older Japan travel guides still mention PASMO PASSPORT.

PASMO PASSPORT was the previous tourist-oriented PASMO card. Its sales ended before PASMO completed its handling of the product in October 2024.

TOURIST PASMO is the newer tourist product introduced in 2026 and was inspired by PASMO PASSPORT.

So if an older blog post or YouTube video tells you to buy a PASMO PASSPORT, that information is outdated for a 2026 trip.

For travelers in 2026, TOURIST PASMO is the current tourist PASMO product.

Which Card Is Cheaper?

There is no meaningful price winner for most travelers.

Neither physical card requires a deposit, and both can be topped up after purchase.

The main difference is the range of initial amounts available at the place where you buy the card.

Welcome Suica offers several purchase amounts from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000. TOURIST PASMO offers the same range at Haneda Airport, while the current listed price at Narita Airport is ¥2,000.

For a normal vacation, this difference should not determine which card you choose because you can add more money later.

Where Can You Buy Welcome Suica?

This is one of Welcome Suica’s biggest advantages.

JR East currently lists Welcome Suica sales at airport locations including:

• Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station
• Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station
• Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (Tokyo Monorail) Station

It is also available at selected JR East locations including:

• Tokyo Station
• Shinjuku Station
• Shibuya Station
• Ikebukuro Station
• Ueno Station
• Yokohama Station
• Sendai Station
• JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ TOKYO
• TAKANAWA GATEWAY Travel Service Center

This makes Welcome Suica particularly useful if you leave the airport without buying an IC card. You still have several opportunities to get one after reaching Tokyo.

Where Can You Buy TOURIST PASMO?

TOURIST PASMO currently has a much more airport-focused sales network.

Haneda Airport

Keikyu sells TOURIST PASMO at Haneda Airport Terminal 1・2 Station.

Tourist ticket machines are available at both the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 gates.

TOURIST PASMO is also available at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station through the Keikyu Tourist Information Center and tourist ticket machines.

The listed tourist ticket machines at Haneda accept credit cards for the purchase of TOURIST PASMO.

Narita Airport

At Narita Airport, TOURIST PASMO is sold through Keisei at:

• SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER at Terminal 1 Station
• SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER at Terminal 2 Station

The currently listed purchase amount at these Narita locations is ¥2,000.

Unlike Welcome Suica, the current TOURIST PASMO sales information does not list major central Tokyo stations as tourist-card sales points.

Which Is Better at Haneda Airport?

The best choice depends on your terminal and the railway you plan to use.

Haneda Terminal 1 or Terminal 2

TOURIST PASMO is usually the more convenient physical tourist card.

Keikyu sells TOURIST PASMO at Haneda Airport Terminal 1・2 Station, while Welcome Suica’s Haneda airport sales location is at Terminal 3 on the Tokyo Monorail side.

If you land at Terminal 1 or 2, there is little reason to travel to another terminal simply to buy Welcome Suica.

Haneda Terminal 3

At Terminal 3, both are realistic options.

If you plan to take the Tokyo Monorail, Welcome Suica is the natural choice because it is sold at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 (Tokyo Monorail) Station.

If you plan to take Keikyu, TOURIST PASMO is convenient because it is sold at the Keikyu station area.

The important point is that you do not need to choose your airport train based on the IC card.

Choose your train first. Then buy the easiest card on that route.

Which Is Better at Narita Airport?

At Narita, convenience again matters more than the brand.

Welcome Suica is sold through JR East locations at Narita Airport, while TOURIST PASMO is sold through Keisei’s information centers.

A simple rule is:

• Already using JR East facilities → Welcome Suica is convenient.
• Already using Keisei → TOURIST PASMO is convenient.

You should not spend extra time walking around the airport just because one card appears slightly better than the other on paper.

Which Is Better If You Are Already in Tokyo?

Welcome Suica has the clear advantage.

JR East currently sells Welcome Suica at several major stations in and around Tokyo, including Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, and Yokohama.

TOURIST PASMO’s current tourist-card sales network is focused on Haneda and Narita airports.

So if you reach central Tokyo without buying an IC card at the airport, Welcome Suica is normally the easier tourist card to find.

Can You Use Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO Across Japan?

Both cards can be used on many participating transportation networks outside Tokyo thanks to Japan’s nationwide IC-card interoperability system.

That includes many systems using cards such as Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, TOICA, manaca, Kitaca, SUGOCA, nimoca, and Hayakaken.

So if you buy a Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO in Tokyo, you can generally continue using it on compatible transportation in destinations such as Osaka or Kyoto.

However, “accepted across Japan” does not mean every train, bus, or journey in Japan accepts the card.

Some local transportation systems do not accept interoperable IC cards, and you may not be able to travel across separate IC-card service areas in a single tap-in/tap-out journey.

If you are still deciding which IC card makes sense for a multi-city trip, read our guide to the best IC cards in Japan for tourists.

Can You Use Them for Shopping?

Yes.

Both cards can be used for electronic payments at participating locations.

Common examples include:

• Convenience stores
• Vending machines
• Restaurants and cafés
• Station shops
• Some coin lockers
• Other stores displaying a compatible transportation IC-card logo

This becomes particularly useful near the end of your trip.

Because the remaining balance on these tourist cards is normally not refundable, using your final few hundred or thousand yen at convenience stores can help you avoid leaving money on the card.

How Do You Top Up Welcome Suica?

Physical Welcome Suica can be topped up repeatedly during its validity period, up to a maximum balance of ¥20,000.

You can top it up at compatible ticket machines, fare adjustment machines, Seven Bank ATMs, and other supported locations.

For the physical Welcome Suica card, top-ups are made in Japanese yen. Credit cards cannot be used to directly top up the physical card.

How Do You Top Up TOURIST PASMO?

TOURIST PASMO can also be topped up during its validity period.

At station ticket machines, you can add money with cash. The card cannot be topped up if the resulting balance would exceed ¥20,000.

TOURIST PASMO can also be topped up on supported buses and at convenience stores and certain other participating shops.

For both cards, a simple strategy works well:

Do not load too much money at once.

Adding smaller amounts when needed reduces the risk of having a large non-refundable balance at the end of your trip.

Can You Get a Refund?

Normally, no.

Unused stored value on Welcome Suica is not refundable simply because your trip has ended or you no longer need the card.

The same applies to TOURIST PASMO.

There are separate procedures when a card itself malfunctions, but that is different from requesting a normal refund for unused money.

The practical takeaway is simple:

Do not leave ¥10,000 on the card the day before you fly home.

What Happens If You Lose the Card?

Lost physical Welcome Suica cards cannot be reissued.

Lost TOURIST PASMO cards also cannot be reissued.

For practical purposes, treat either physical card like cash. If you lose the card, you may lose the remaining balance with it.

What About Welcome Suica Mobile?

This is one of the biggest differences in the comparison.

JR East offers Welcome Suica Mobile, allowing users with compatible Apple devices to issue and top up Suica through the app.

Money can be added using an eligible card registered with Apple Pay, and the mobile Suica can be used for compatible trains, buses, and shopping.

Most importantly, Welcome Suica Mobile has a different validity period from the physical card.

Physical Welcome Suica: 28 days
Welcome Suica Mobile: 180 days from issuance

That makes the mobile option especially attractive for travelers staying in Japan for more than four weeks.

As of 2026, Welcome Suica Mobile is an iOS service and requires a compatible Apple Pay device. Availability of issuance or top-up may also be restricted in some countries until you arrive in Japan.

Is There a TOURIST PASMO Mobile Version?

There is currently no dedicated tourist product called TOURIST PASMO Mobile.

That does not mean PASMO has no mobile services. Regular PASMO has mobile options, including Apple Pay and supported Android services, but those are separate from the physical TOURIST PASMO product discussed in this guide.

Compatibility can vary by device and setup, particularly for Android phones purchased outside Japan.

If you are unsure whether your phone is compatible, a physical Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO is the simpler option after arrival.

Which Is Better for iPhone Users?

If you have a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, your choice is not limited to two physical cards.

You may also consider Welcome Suica Mobile.

It has several practical advantages:

• No need to find a physical tourist-card sales counter
• Apple Pay top-ups
• 180-day validity
• Transportation and shopping functionality on your device

For a compatible iPhone user, Welcome Suica Mobile may therefore be more convenient than either physical tourist card.

Which Is Better for Android Users?

For many international Android users, a physical card remains the simplest choice.

Mobile PASMO exists for supported Android devices, but mobile transportation IC-card compatibility depends on the phone and its supported hardware and services.

Do not assume that every Android phone purchased overseas will work with Japan’s mobile IC-card systems.

If compatibility is uncertain, buy a physical Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO after you arrive.

Do You Need Both Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO?

No.

For an ordinary Japan trip, buying both provides almost no practical benefit.

Both are prepaid IC cards and overlap heavily in the transportation networks and stores where they can be used.

Buying two also means managing two separate balances that are normally non-refundable.

Choose one and continue using it throughout your trip.

Do You Need Suica for JR and PASMO for Tokyo Metro?

No.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings among first-time visitors.

Welcome Suica being issued by JR East does not mean it is only for JR trains.

Similarly, TOURIST PASMO does not need to be your card simply because you plan to use Tokyo Metro or private railway lines.

Because of IC-card interoperability, both can be used on many participating railway and bus systems.

For tourists, where the card is easiest to buy matters more than the company logo printed on it.

Can You Use Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO in Osaka and Kyoto?

Generally, yes, wherever compatible nationwide interoperable IC cards are accepted.

This means you usually do not need to buy a new IC card simply because you travel from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto.

However, some local services do not accept IC cards, and an IC card is not a substitute for every long-distance train ticket.

Can You Use Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO on the Shinkansen?

Do not assume that simply loading money onto a physical Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO lets you board any Shinkansen by tapping the ticket gate.

Shinkansen travel normally requires the appropriate Shinkansen ticket, e-ticket, or a compatible ticketless arrangement.

Some services allow an IC card to be linked to a separate Shinkansen reservation, but the IC card itself is not an unlimited Shinkansen ticket.

If you plan to travel between major cities, see our guide to buying Shinkansen tickets in Japan.

Are Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO Rail Passes?

No.

Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO are primarily stored-value IC cards.

You add money to the card, and the appropriate fare is deducted each time you travel.

They are fundamentally different from unlimited-ride passes such as some Tokyo subway passes or the Japan Rail Pass.

If you are mainly sightseeing around Tokyo, our Tokyo Subway Ticket vs Suica comparison explains when an unlimited subway ticket can be better than paying each fare with an IC card.

For longer trips around Japan, see our Japan Rail Pass guide and calculator.

What Happens After 28 Days?

The physical tourist card expires.

Physical Welcome Suica is valid for 28 days including the date you buy it and becomes invalid from the 29th day.

TOURIST PASMO is also valid for 28 days from purchase.

Unused stored value is normally not refundable simply because the card has expired or your trip has ended.

Before leaving Japan, use your remaining balance for transportation or compatible shopping rather than letting a large balance expire.

FAQ

Is Welcome Suica better than TOURIST PASMO?

Not universally. For normal transportation and shopping, the two physical cards are very similar. Welcome Suica has an advantage in the number of currently listed tourist sales locations, while TOURIST PASMO can be particularly convenient at Keikyu facilities at Haneda and Keisei facilities at Narita.

Is TOURIST PASMO the same as PASMO PASSPORT?

No. PASMO PASSPORT was the previous tourist product and its handling ended in 2024. TOURIST PASMO is the newer tourist card introduced in 2026.

Does TOURIST PASMO require a ¥500 deposit?

No. TOURIST PASMO does not require a deposit.

Does Welcome Suica require a ¥500 deposit?

No. Welcome Suica also does not require a deposit.

Can I refund the money left on my card?

Normally, no. Remaining stored value on both tourist cards is non-refundable under ordinary circumstances.

Can I reload both cards?

Yes. Both cards can be topped up during their validity periods, with the stored balance generally limited to ¥20,000.

Can I use either card at convenience stores?

Yes, at participating stores that accept compatible transportation IC-card electronic money.

Which card should I buy at Haneda Airport?

At Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, TOURIST PASMO is particularly convenient because it is sold at Keikyu’s Haneda Airport Terminal 1・2 Station. At Terminal 3, both are available nearby, so it makes sense to choose based on whether you are taking Keikyu or the Tokyo Monorail.

Which card should I buy at Narita Airport?

Either is fine. Welcome Suica is convenient if you are already using JR East facilities, while TOURIST PASMO is available through Keisei. Choose whichever is easiest on the route you are already taking.

Can I keep the card after my trip?

Yes. You can keep the physical card as a souvenir, although remaining stored value will no longer be usable after the validity period ends.

Final Verdict

For most tourists, Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO are functionally very similar once the card is in your wallet.

The most important difference is how easy each one is to obtain.

Choose Welcome Suica if you want more opportunities to buy a tourist IC card after leaving the airport, you are already using JR East facilities, or you want to consider Welcome Suica Mobile.

Choose TOURIST PASMO if you arrive at Haneda through Keikyu or at Narita through Keisei and it is the easiest physical tourist IC card to buy on your route.

If you use a compatible Apple device, Welcome Suica Mobile deserves separate consideration because its 180-day validity and mobile top-ups make it significantly different from the two 28-day physical tourist cards.

For everyone else, the simplest rule is the best one:

Do not spend extra time searching for the “perfect” IC card.

Buy the easiest one to obtain, avoid loading more money than you expect to spend, and start exploring Japan.

Planning Your Japan Trip?

These guides can help you plan transportation and connectivity before you arrive:

• Best IC Card in Japan for Tourists 2026
• Welcome Suica Guide 2026
• Tokyo Subway Ticket vs Suica
• How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets in Japan 2026
• Japan Rail Pass Calculator Guide 2026
• Best Japan eSIM for Tourists 2026
• Pocket WiFi vs eSIM in Japan