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

[MacRumors]

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.

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!)

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

 

[farewelwilliams]

mind boggling as to why it took this long

 

[applicious84]

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.

 

[jent]

Can the iPhone and Apple Watch be used interchangeably for the same account / virtual card?

 

[Plutonius]

I wonder how they justify taking this long to support Apple Pay ?

Did they have to upgrade all of their hardware ?

 

[alexandr]

Can the iPhone and Apple Watch be used interchangeably for the same account / virtual card?

i certainly hope so. would be a real pisser otherwise.

 

[ian87w]

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?

 

[ian87w]

The question is, will this work with any iPhone, or does it require Japanese iPhone? Seems like this is the detail that needs to be mentioned.

 

[Tres]

Maybe it's different in Tokyo, but where I am there are no lines that only support PASMO, so I can't really see the benefit of using this over SUICA. Still, gonna set it up to check it out.

 

[yurc]

The question is, will this work with any iPhone, or does it require Japanese iPhone? Seems like this is the detail that needs to be mentioned.

Previously it required domestic iPhone 7, since global variant are lack of FeliCa.

Now up to iPhone 8 and latter, non domestic JP iPhone can load Suica card as well since they have FeliCa chips.

 

[UnalignedByte]

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 🤷‍♂️

 

[Tres]

mind boggling as to why it took this long

I wonder how they justify taking this long to support Apple Pay ?

Did they have to upgrade all of their hardware ?

I'd suggest it's more likely that Apple and JR had an exclusivity agreement for X years, which has now ended.

There are heaps of transit cards in Japan that aren't available via Apple Pay, ICOCA for one. Not that it really matters - most of them are interoperable.

 

[ian87w]

Previously it required domestic iPhone 7, since global variant are lack of FeliCa.

Now up to iPhone 8 and latter, non domestic JP iPhone can load Suica card as well since they have FeliCa chips.

Good to know.

 

[farewelwilliams]

I'd suggest it's more likely that Apple and JR had an exclusivity agreement for X years, which has now ended.

There are heaps of transit cards in Japan that aren't available via Apple Pay, ICOCA for one. Not that it really matters - most of them are interoperable.

I'm not sure. Pasmo only came to Android in early 2020 if I'm not mistaken. I suspect it's because Pasmo didn't want to front the credit card fees of refilling a Pasmo card (which you can do with Suica) but now they're realizing customers want this feature.

 

[farewelwilliams]

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.

 

[japanime]

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.

If it weren't for Suica, Apple Pay would have been DOA in Japan. Apple needed JR East, not the other way around.

 

[yurc]

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.

 

[wordup60]

The question is, will this work with any iPhone, or does it require Japanese iPhone? Seems like this is the detail that needs to be mentioned.

iPhone X here. Suica has worked fine for me both on trains and in shops in express mode (no need to press any buttons, just touch) through the SuicaEng app. Initially I was able to top up easily within that app too, but for some reason that stopped working about a year ago. I had to get the Japanese-only Suica app to top up, which is only a minor inconvenience.

 

[andysw9]

Can the iPhone and Apple Watch be used interchangeably for the same account / virtual card?

It depends what you mean by 'interchangeably'. Because the value is stored on the card it can only exist in one place at a time, so watch or phone but not both concurrently. You can move the card between watch and phone as often as you like.

 

[junior]

It depends what you mean by 'interchangeably'. Because the value is stored on the card it can only exist in one place at a time, so watch or phone but not both concurrently. You can move the card between watch and phone as often as you like.

It’s a major pain in the ass. When I forget my Apple Watch I have to log into my Apple account via the web browser to be able to change Suica back to my phone and it takes ages. I think it’s pretty quick if you have the watch on you, but when you’re without it it’s a hassle. Really wish they’d make the switch easier.

 

[dw2]

A real "finally"!

 

[Tres]

Is anyone else having issues getting the option to show up in Wallet? SUICA is showing up ok, but that's it...

My region is set to Japan and I've rebooted, but nothing is showing up yet...

 

[JKAussieSkater]

Is anyone else having issues getting the option to show up in Wallet? SUICA is showing up ok, but that's it...

My region is set to Japan and I've rebooted, but nothing is showing up yet...

Try downloading the PASMO app: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/pasmo/id1489151487?l=en

 

[MacDeeeeee]

Is anyone else having issues getting the option to show up in Wallet? SUICA is showing up ok, but that's it...

My region is set to Japan and I've rebooted, but nothing is showing up yet...

I actually just launched the Wallet app, tapped the plus icon, and Pasmo was there, alongside Suica and usual credit/debit cards options. Didn't even have to reboot or anything. Region is set to Japan, and I'm in Japan on a Japanese SIM card, if that matters at all…

Not sure why I'd bother adding Pasmo though, considering - and unless I'm missing something - Suica covering any and all use cases supported by Pasmo (so Pasmo being a full 100% subset of Suica)

 

[JKAussieSkater]

Maybe it's different in Tokyo, but here in Osaka there are no lines that only support PASMO, so I can't really see the benefit of using this over SUICA. Still, gonna set it up to check it out.

tl;dr Without PASMO train lines in your area, this isn’t a suitable option for you to check out…


*unless* you hate the Japanese Suica app, which has a dismal convoluted UI. The PASMO app’s UI is far superior to work with, even if I’m doing screenshot translations.

Proper answer:
Since many companies include travel allowance within each employee’s contract, they usually require that employees buy cheaper monthly train passes instead (called “commuter” passes).

Commuter passes cannot be issued by JR’s Suica if the boarding & destination train stations are a competing private train-line’s station. Likewise, PASMO cannot be issued as commuter passes if the boarding & destination train stations are a JR-line station.

So employees are forced to use PASMO to get a cheaper fare, and can’t use Suica to do that in these situations.

Also, Suica doesn’t provide monthly commuter bus passes, whilst PASMO does.

So really the comparison only applies if you’re buying in bulk (monthly passes), otherwise both cards are equivalent.

*unless* you hate the Japanese Suica app, which has a dismal convoluted UI. The PASMO app’s UI is far superior to work with, even if I’m doing screenshot translations.

Not sure why I'd bother adding Pasmo though, considering - and unless I'm missing something - Suica covering any and all use cases supported by Pasmo (so Pasmo being a full 100% subset of Suica)

Neither Suica nor PASMO are a subset of each other, but please read my explanation above this quote for the info you’re missing 😉