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If you had a chance to check out the last post, you now know what a Pasmo Card is and what a Suica card is. If you didn’t have a chance to look at the previous post, no worries: you can click right here to go straight to it.
Even if you’re just visiting Japan, these cards can be super convenient in getting from place to place using the Japanese train system. I’ve decided to split the videos into two separate posts to keep them short and sweet. Let’s first take a look at just how easy it is to get a PASMO card.
The very first thing to do is find a PASMO Ticket/Commuter pass machine. Unfortunately not all ticket machines at a Japanese train station are created equal. Some are just used to purchase the standard, paper, train tickets, while others will allow you to buy a cards, commuter passes and so on. Once you’ve found the correct machine (I used the Tsukuba Station machine that had the pink marquis), here’s exactly what to do:
STEP ONE: Touch the 'PASMO' button in the blue panel on the lower-left side of the screen.
STEP TWO: Touch the Top PASMO button or in Japanese the 'PASMO 購入 (こうにゅう) button.'
STEP THREE: Choose the type of PASMO you want: A Personal User or General User PASMO.
There is an English button to make things super simple 🙂
STEP FOUR: Select how much value you'd like to have on your PASMO card.
STEP FIVE: Insert cash to pay for you new card.
PASMO Summary Screen
STEP SIX: Take your PASMO card and receipt.
THAT'S IT!! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW CARD!!!
By thway, if you make any mistakes during the process, just remember that the red, “Cancel” button on the payment panel is your friend.
This red button stops everything and returns you to the main screen, very useful if you make a mistake.
If seeing it done on video makes it easier for you, here you go 😀
I hope this makes getting a PASMO card even easier for you. Next I’ll show you how to get a SUICA, which follows nearly the exact same procedure (except for one step).
Thank you so much for reading today.
See you tomorrow gang!
Donald Ash
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Thanks for that, should come in handy for me. Quick question – is there any significant difference between the personal use/general use card? I’m thinking General might be to share between family or something, and personal set to just one user. Is that the case?
Hey Sean! Thanks for your question. There aren’t really any major differences between the two. The personal and general Pasmos seem to do exactly the same things and cost the same thing. It’s just that with the personal user pasmo, because they have your info on file, and the name is on the card, they can reissue the card if you lose it. But I didn’t think of the family sharing thing. I guess even if your name is printed on the card, a family member could use it (I don’t think they check whatsoever). If they family member misplaces the card, then you could report it as lost. That personal Pasmo just covers all bases I think.
Did you know they make a separate kid’s PASMO, too?
Awesome! Just put this weak post into your main ‘whats a Pasmo’ blog post and save readers the trouble dude of digging further past all your cruddy spam dude. Cheers
I have a pasmo card but once I run out of yen, how do I add more on it?