Suica--Pasmo question

Is the Suica or Pasmo card our best option for a week in Tokyo? Hubby will need to go back and forth daily from Shinjuku station to Waseda Univeristy (Takadanobaba station I think). Plus we will do sight seeing of course all over Tokyo. Then we will also probably go on one trip to Kamakura or Niko or somthing.

Does the Suica or Pasmo work on all the lines we would most likely use?

Thanks!

Suica--Pasmo question

Yes, Suica or Pasmo would work for your planned travel areas.

I suggest the following:

1. If you are flying into Narita, use the NEX-Suica package to save money into Shinjuku and also get a Suica at the same time:

www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html

2. If you go to Nikko, get either the All Nikko Pass or World Heritage Pass package instead of swiping Suica/Pasmo. Roundtrip transportation is included along with entrace tickets or bus passes.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

Suica--Pasmo question

If your husband is traveling between Shinjuku Station and Takadanobaba Station daily for a week (eg 5 days) he can also purchase a package of 11 one way tickets for the price of 10. Though this not come in Suica format, but regular ticket format.

But it is still good to get a Suica/Pasmo card for any other trip.

The ticket machines sell them under multi-ride tickets.

Remember, you won%26#39;t get your money back if there%26#39;s a balance still left on it -- until your husband comes back, of course! You can, however, turn your card back in and get a refund of 500 yen which is the original deposit fee. BUT if there%26#39;s money left on it, you%26#39;ve just forfeited. So when you get near the end, use up the pre-paid amount and pay cash.

You can shop with Suica%26#39;s and Pasmo%26#39;s at certain convenience stores, ie anything inside the stations and Family Mart.

You can get your money back if you have some left on your Pasmo or Suica. They charge you 210 yen fee, though. The smartest thing to do is to spend all at stores or with vending machines. Or keep it for your next trip--it%26#39;s valid for 10 years from the date last used.

Hi, Shibuyakko,

Thanks for the info about getting money back for an extra charge of 210 yen. That%26#39;s good to know.

The other day I left home without my Pasmo -- gasp! -- and had to buy a new one. I calculated carefully and used it all the way to the last yen. However, I have another ';extra'; card on that has 7 yen left on it. The railways frowned when they saw the ';odd'; number. (It%26#39;s a card that%26#39;s been used at AM/PM and FamiMa%26#39;s.) It is understandable that the railways would rather work with whole numbers, after all, there are no train tickets for 158 yen!

Would they return ';odd'; numbers, too? Do you know?

If you forgot your pasmo at home, why didn%26#39;t you just buy regular tickets for the day until you got back? It is more of a hassle to buy a new pasmo use it up then to return it for 500yen at the end of the day.

As long as the amount is over the minimal amount they can refund (eg over 210 yen) they will refund it 500yen.

It%26#39;s time consuming to stand in line, buying tickets for every destination (many destinations that day). Private train lines and JR. It was cold and rainy, too.

So I bought a new Pasmo and used it all up. They gave me back the 500 yen deposit at my ';home'; station when I returned it. Boy, was I GOOD at calculating the train fares!