Blog - Pasmo
Pasmo
On March 18 will be introduced a new IC card for paying public transportation fares. The name is Pasmo (from the existing "Passnet" plus a mix of the words "motto" (more) and "mo" (also)), but more than the card itself this is about the network of lines it can be used on.
While the existing Suica worked only for JR trains and buses (and a select few others), Pasmo will let you touch-and-go on most of the other train, subway and bus lines in and around Tokyo: Tokyo Metro, Toei, Tōkyū, Keiō, Odakyū, Tōbu, Seibu, Keisei, Yurikamome, you name it (some minor or non-central lines are scheduled for later).
Now, most of the Pasmo advertising links the service to its card with the cute logo, but really the service is all linked with Suica, so that Suica cards can be used on the Pasmo network and the other way around. It's even not allowed to have both a Suica and a Pasmo, I think probably because of the trouble that would arise from people placing two IC cards near the sensor at the same time.
The best new feature concerns the commuter pass. It's only very clear on the Japanese Wikipedia entry, but while the cards only allow holding one commuter pass, you can make it link through both networks! Until now I had to carry my Suica for JR, and two more magnetic commuter passes for other lines (yes, my workplace is a bit far away), but in March I should be able to put all three in my Suica card!
Pretty much the only usage difference between Suica and Pasmo cards is that you can't get a Pasmo-network-only commuter pass on a Suica card, or vice-versa.
Can't wait for Pasmo!
Update (2007/1/15): There's a good English press release on JR's site.
Posted on January 12, 2007 at 12:59 | Tweet
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There's also a Pasmo/Suica card which they will sell on launch day.
My concern is that I use Mobile Suica even though I don't use JR regularly anymore. So how can I use my keitai FeliCa with Pasmo?
Posted by Roy on January 12, 2007 at 14:20
I haven't seen details, but it seems like they might group Mobile Suica and Pasmo completely together, so perhaps you will be able to get even a Pasmo-network-only commuter pass on your keitai.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/PASMO#.E3.82.B5.E3.83.BC.E3.83.93.E3.82.B9.E9.96.8B.E5.A7.8B.E5.BD.93.E5.88.9D
Posted by Patrick on January 12, 2007 at 14:37
this just made my head spin ...
Posted by Peter Nacken on January 12, 2007 at 14:41
I added some more paragraph spacing. Otherwise you can always try looking at the Pasmo robot.
http://www.pasmo.co.jp/pasmo/character.html
Posted by Patrick on January 12, 2007 at 14:57
Wow... Is that true. In Tokyo there are all of this independent transportation systems at the same time?
In my home city Cologne there is only one company for tram, subway and buses plus one for trains (This situation is basically the same in all German cities).
Not to say that it easier here to find the right ticket for a ride - especially if you are a visitor ;-( Only the information about the fines - if you fail to get the right ticket - is available in other languages.
The card you describe must be a real relief if you try to get from point A to point B in Tokyo.
Posted by Markus Kreisel on January 12, 2007 at 23:02
> Wow... Is that true. In Tokyo there are all of this independent transportation systems at the same time?
There's no central entity controlling everything. It can be a bit of a pain to go to a destination using two or more companies' services, unless you have a prepaid card.
There was already a card called Passnet that worked on subway lines, but it didn't communicate with the large train network called JR. With Pasmo it will all become uniform for the first time.
Tokyo's metropolitan area has over 70 train/subway lines and 1000 stations. :)
(Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Greater_Tokyo)
> Only the information about the fines - if you fail to get the right ticket - is available in other languages.
Ouch...
In Tokyo you never have to worry about getting the wrong fare. If you can't figure out how much it costs to go where you want, you can simply buy the cheapest ticket and you then get charged the difference once you exit. It's all controlled electronically so that you can't exit without having paid the full fare.
Posted by Patrick on January 13, 2007 at 00:13
>>Ouch...
In Tokyo you never have to worry about getting the wrong fare. If you can't figure out how much it costs to go where you want, you can simply buy the cheapest ticket and you then get charged the difference once you exit. It's all controlled electronically so that you can't exit without having paid the full fare.
That's great. Germany it is mostly in the way, that you can enter public transportation without any ticket. There are more and more ticket machines inside the bus, tram or subway because at a lot of stations there is no such machine.
I really enjoyed visitor friendly systems like in Paris or New York and with the new card system it seems to be easy in Tokyo too - I really have to give it a try some day :-)
Posted by Markus Kreisel on January 14, 2007 at 04:07
yeah i saw those advertisements on the Inokashira line aswell....thanks for giving a more elaborate explanation, now I know what kind of card I need to get when I return.
Btw can you also buy the card in the machine like the suica?
Posted by Papigiulio on January 14, 2007 at 22:32
> it seems to be easy in Tokyo too - I really have to give it a try some day :-)
Yes definitely. :)
> Btw can you also buy the card in the machine like the suica?
They're not available yet, but I'm guessing they will be sold the same way as Suica. There are also several department stores/banks/etc. that will offer a Pasmo credit card with an auto-charge feature.
http://www.pasmo.co.jp/links/index.html
Posted by Patrick on January 14, 2007 at 22:45
New lifestyle!
Posted by joey on January 15, 2007 at 15:47
I wonder, will I benefit from this as a tourist as well (will be in Tokyo for a week later this spring)? Or is it still better to buy separate tickets?
Posted by snurra on January 15, 2007 at 18:12
You could choose to get a prepaid Pasmo or Suica (they're the same thing) so you can move more easily, but I think there's a 500yen deposit fee. If you don't use up the card's credit and at the end give the card back to get your deposit back, then it's not be your best option.
So maybe it would give you more calculation trouble than buying one-way tickets.
Actually if you're planning to travel all around, you might want to get the economic JR tourist pass.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/index.html
Posted by Patrick on January 15, 2007 at 18:23
Of particular interest to anyone without a JP passport coming to Tokyo is the new discount Suica + N'Ex ticket that launches on 28 March (10 days after Pasmo).
Basically, for 3,500 JPY you can get a one-way N'Ex ticket from Narita to Tokyo plus a special "Yokoso Japan!" Suica card with 1,500 JPY loaded upon it. This compares to the typical one-way N'Ex fare of 3,110 JPY.
For those comfortable taking the train into town (as opposed to the Limousine Bus) this makes the trip much more affordable and you get a Suica at the same time.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html
Doug
Posted by Doug on January 28, 2007 at 00:40
Thanks for the info! Sounds like a very good deal!
Posted by Patrick on January 28, 2007 at 13:31