Suica and Pasmo are 99% identical. This explains the 1% difference and when each wins.
Suica (JR East) and Pasmo (private Tokyo railways) are fully interoperable with ICOCA/Kitaca/TOICA/manaca/PiTaPa/SUGOCA/nimoca/Hayakaken — that's 10 regional IC cards all accepting each other. One card = all of Japan's trains + most buses + combini + vending machines.
Apple Pay Suica works on iPhone 7+ international models (Pasmo requires Japan-region iPhone until recent update). JR East affinity means Suica auto-tops-up faster at JR gates. Welcome Suica variant: free for tourists, no ¥500 deposit, 28-day validity — perfect for short trips.
Pasmo Passport: same tourist variant as Welcome Suica, no deposit, 28-day validity. Pasmo branding appears on more private Tokyo railways' promotional goods (Tokyu, Keio, Odakyu). If you primarily use Tokyu Line or Odakyu, Pasmo feels marginally more native. Otherwise identical.
If you have an iPhone: Apple Pay Suica is the winner, no physical card needed. Charge from your Japanese or foreign credit card right from Wallet. If starting at Haneda: Welcome Suica counter is at arrival hall, quick grab. If starting at Narita: both Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport counters coexist, pick whichever line is shorter.
Physical Suica/Pasmo with ¥500 deposit: return at any JR East / Pasmo counter before leaving Japan. Get ¥500 back minus ¥220 handling fee if remaining balance. Welcome Suica / Pasmo Passport: no return, no deposit — just keep or discard after 28 days.
