Apple Pay and Express Transit Mode Now Support PASMO Transit Cards in Japan

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Japanese smart payment system PASMO today announced that it has launched support for Apple Pay, allowing users to pay for transit fares and other transactions using their iPhone or Apple Watch. Express Transit is also supported, which allows users to quickly pass through transit gates without having to wake or unlock their devices or authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.

apple pay pasmo
PASMO is similar to and interoperable with Suica, a transit system that has been compatible with Apple Pay and Express Transit mode for several years. PASMO is accepted on a number of train lines and bus lines in numerous areas of Japan, although it is most prevalent in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

(Thanks, JKAussieSkater!)

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: PASMO
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

Top Rated Comments

ian87w Avatar
ian87w
10 months ago

Next, Apple takes all competing Suica apps off iOS, and everyone here defends Apple by saying it's their phone, and they can do whatever they want.
Huh? Do you even know what Suica is?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
farewelwilliams
10 months ago
mind boggling as to why it took this long
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UnalignedByte Avatar
UnalignedByte
10 months ago

mind boggling as to why it took this long
Welcome to Japan, land of the future, where Apple Pay is pretty much useless, many places still don't accept Visa or MasterCard, and I cannot pay for my mobile phone subscription with a debit card ?‍♂️
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
farewelwilliams
10 months ago

Welcome to Japan, land of the future, where Apple Pay is pretty much useless, many places still don't accept Visa or MasterCard, and I cannot pay for my mobile phone subscription with a debit card ?‍♂️
Dunno, I've found Suica via Apple Pay NFC to be super awesome while using the subways.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ayembee Avatar
ayembee
10 months ago
Very nice; just did this (living in Tokyo). So, a few quick pointers - you don't need to download the PASMO app for this to work. You do need to change your phone's region to Japan for the PASMO option to show up in wallet but, once it is added you don't need to keep it set to Japan. I changed my region back to the U.K. once the PASMO was setup and it remains visible in my Wallet and usable, including for top-ups (I need my phone to remain set to the U.K. for Apple News, otherwise that vanishes...:rolleyes:)

So far, so smooth - and about time!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yurc Avatar
yurc
10 months ago

Welcome to Japan, land of the future, where Apple Pay is pretty much useless, many places still don't accept Visa or MasterCard, and I cannot pay for my mobile phone subscription with a debit card ?‍♂️
Well, Visa / MasterCard are acceptable in most large shops, but honestly I prefer cash when needed to save a hassle.
Also I often paying with Suica / Nanaco card when eating (sukiya, etc). They accepted vast type of 電子マネー (e-money in Western terms maybe?) and that's why credit cards are less prevalent for locals.

So those cards are not just for paying train / bus fare but quite multi purpose, from vending machine, eating, shopping, as they have suica logo displayed, it ca be used for payment.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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