Should you buy a day pass or just tap Suica / Pasmo / Icoca? Enter how many days you're spending in a city and your daily metro/bus rides to compare pay-as-you-go IC card spending (plus recommended preload amount) against popular city subway and regional passes. Read our IC Cards (Suica, Pasmo & Icoca) Guide.
Why IC cards almost always win for flexibility
- One tap across companies: Tokyo has JR East (Yamanote Line), Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and private railways (Odakyu, Keio, Tokyu, Tobu, Keisei). Day passes only cover specific operators, whereas a Suica, Pasmo, or Icoca covers every single one seamlessly.
- Apple Wallet Suica / Pasmo / Icoca: iPhone users can add a digital Suica, Pasmo, or Icoca directly in Apple Wallet in 30 seconds and top up in yen with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Apple Pay—no physical card needed.
- When a pass truly pays off: the Tokyo Subway 72-Hour Ticket (¥1,500 — ¥500/day) is an unbeatable deal if your hotel is next to a Tokyo Metro or Toei station and you take 3+ subway rides a day.