Friday, August 23, 2024 Japan will resume travel pass sales in September after a year-long suspension caused by chip shortages, bringing back the popular Suica and Pasmo cards. On September 1, East Japan Railway (JR East) and various private railway operators in the Tokyo area will restart issuing Suica and Pasmo contactless travel cards, after halting their distribution in August 2023 due to a chip shortage. JR East, the provider of Suica, along with Pasmo, catered to by private companies, now have sufficient chip supplies to restart issuing these cards, although initially only to users who provide personal details during registration.
The availability of anonymous cards is still under consideration. Additionally, the “Welcome Suica” pass, designed for international visitors, will be available again. Previously limited to sales at Haneda and Narita International Airports, this tourist-friendly option will expand its availability to include major Tokyo stations such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Ueno, via the Eki-Tabi Concierge at these locations.
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