Tokyo has one of the world’s best public transport systems, with well-maintained and easy-to-use trains and buses. There are also plenty of useful rail passes and IC transport cards that make getting around the city a breeze. These IC transport cards are especially convenient as you can use them to travel on trains and buses, and to pay at stores and restaurants.
A particularly useful – not to mention, cute – one is the Pasmo Passport. Unlike the regular Pasmo card, the Pasmo Passport is exclusively available to overseas tourists and gets you discounts at attractions across Tokyo. It's also adorned with some adorable Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty and Pompompurin.
The Pasmo Passport can be used for transport on trains and buses in the Kanto region as well as other areas around Japan where IC cards are accepted. You can also use the Pasmo Passport to receive discounts at venues like Sanrio Puroland, Heiwajima Natural Hot Springs and Daikichi Asakusa Kimono Rental. To see the full list of participating outlets, visit here.
At this time, the ¥500 issuing fee for the card has been waived, so you can buy the Pasmo Passport for ¥1,500 (the full ¥1,500 can be used as fare). The card expires after 28 days, but you can take it home with you as a nice souvenir of your trip.
The card is available at Narita and Haneda airports, plus major Tokyo stations like Ueno, Ikebukuro and Shinjuku. For a full list of where to buy the Pasmo Passport, visit here. Be sure to bring your passport with you as you will need to show proof that you are a temporary visitor when you buy the card.
Do note that the Pasmo Passport will be discontinued in August 2024. Some sales locations may stop selling the card before then.
For more information on the Pasmo Passport, visit the website.
This article was originally published on January 31 2023 and updated on April 8 2024.
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