Pasmo


Pasmo, stylized as PASMO, is a rechargeable contactless smart card electronic money system. It is primarily used for public transport in Tokyo, Japan, where it was introduced on 18 March 2007. Pasmo can also be used as a payment card for vending machines and stores. In 2013, Pasmo became usable in all major cities across Japan as part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.
Pasmo is a development of the Passnet system used by many non-JR railway lines in the Greater [Tokyo Area]. The system offers interoperability with the JR East Suica system, as well as integrating private bus companies into the former Passnet network.
The technology is based on an RFID technology developed by Sony known as FeliCa. As of April 2009, there are over 11 million cards in circulation.

Companies and organizations accepting Pasmo

Railways

Most railway operators introduced the system simultaneously when Pasmo started.

Buses and tramways

Bus and tramway operators have been introducing Pasmo readers on their systems gradually.

Popularity

On April 11, 2007, it was announced that sales of Pasmo fare cards would be limited to commuter rail pass purchases until August due to extremely high demand. It was originally predicted that approximately 2 million Pasmo cards would be sold in the first month, but actual sales numbers totaled approximately about 3 million. Due to depleting stock, regular Pasmo card sales were suspended and only commuter passes were sold. Sales resumed on September 10, 2007.

Mobile devices

A version for mobile phones known as Mobile Pasmo, which uses Mobile FeliCa and Osaifu-Keitai functionality, was launched in March 2020.

Interoperation

Through collaboration with JR East, passengers became able to use Pasmo interchangeably with Suica to ride nearly any railway, metro, or bus in the Tokyo metropolitan area in 2007. Transit systems/lines outside the Pasmo system but usable with the Pasmo card included JR East lines in the Kanto, Niigata and Sendai area, the Tokyo Monorail, Saitama New Urban Transit, Sendai Airport Transit, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, and JR Bus Kanto.
In 2013, interoperation was extended country-wide, and Pasmo became usable across Japan as part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.
In July 22, 2014, Nintendo added support for Suica and Pasmo in the Nintendo eShop through the NFC function of the Wii U GamePad and the New Nintendo 3DS. The service was discontinued in January 18, 2022.