PASMO, SUICA, JR PASS, SUBWAY PASS: Which is Best for Tokyo Travel?

Japan Travel Now

4 years ago

Travel Passes

If your itinerary will require you a lot of train and bus rides in a day, getting a pass can be useful. Here are some of them.

Tokyo Subway Ticket – offers unlimited use of all Toei and Tokyo Metro subway lines, but not JR lines, within Central Tokyo. Cost: ¥800 (24 hours); ¥1,200 (48 hours); ¥1,500 (72 hours). ➡️ Reserve here.
Tokyo Free Kippu – offers unlimited use of all JR lines, Toei subway lines, Tokyo Metro subway lines, and Toei-operated city buses within Central Tokyo for one day. Cost: ¥1,590
Tokunai Pass – offers unlimited use of JR lines within Central Tokyo for one day. This is not valid on subway trains and city buses. Cost: ¥750
Toei and Tokyo Metro One-Day Pass – offers unlimited use of all subway lines (Toei and Tokyo Metro) within the 23 wards of Tokyo for one day. It can be purchased at any subway stations in Central Tokyo, unlike the Tokyo Subway Ticket which can only be purchased at select places. Cost: ¥900
Toei One-Day Pass – allows unlimited use of all Toei subway lines and buses for one day. This is not valid on JR trains and Tokyo Metro subway trains. It can be purchased at any Toei subways stations. Cost: ¥700
Tokyo Metro 24-Hour Ticket – allows unlimited use of all Tokyo Metro subway lines for one day. This is not valid for JR trains and Toei subway trains. It can be purchased at any Tokyo Metro stations. Cost: ¥600

Japan Rail Pass

The JR Pass will allow you to take unlimited rides within the JR network. It is best for long-distance train travel.

If your itinerary is limited to Tokyo only, purchasing a JR Pass is not really worth it. JR Pass only covers JR lines; therefore, it’s useless when you ride the Toei and Tokyo Metro subway trains.

When is JR Pass worth it? If you are visiting multiple cities in Japan for a period of 7 days or longer. JR Pass covers Shinkansen (high-speed bullet trains), which are very expensive. The JR Pass will allow you to take these speedy trains without worrying about the cost. It’s a great buy if you have a busy itinerary spanning multiple cities.

➡️ RESERVE A JR PASS HERE

Prepaid IC Cards

Prepaid IC cards provide commuters the convenience of getting around Tokyo via train or bus without having to fall in line to buy a ticket each time. You don’t have to worry about the fare maps when you have these cards; you just have to swipe them over the card reader, and you’re good to go. You just need to check your balance every now and then, so you know when it’s time to reload. Furthermore, you can use these cards to purchase products at some shops and establishments.

There are two brands of prepaid IC cards that are very popular in Tokyo:

Suica – cards can be purchased at any JR stations.
Pasmo – cards can be purchased at private non-JR stations like Toei and Tokyo Metro.

Note: There’s an initial ¥500 deposit when you first purchase the card.

Although two different brands, both Suica and Pasmo cards can be used on any of the Tokyo trains, subways, and buses – JR (except for Shinkansen and limited express trains) or non-JR lines. If you’ve been to the other major cities of Japan and you have their versions of IC cards, you can also use them in Tokyo. These IC cards are:

Icoca
Kitaca
Toica
Manaca
Pitapa
Sugoca
Nimoca
Hayakaken

Tokyo Essentials

Tokyo Pocket Wi-fi Stay Internet-connected while in Tokyo! ➡️ RESERVE HERE	Japan Local SIM Local SIM Card with data plan! ➡️ RESERVE HERE
Tokyo Subway Ticket Unlimited rides to all subway lines in Tokyo! ➡️ RESERVE HERE	JR Pass Unlimited train rides within the JR network. ➡️ RESERVE HERE