Tokyo: which transit card should you use, and is the JR Pass still worth it?

Question, scoped A week in Tokyo, maybe a day trip or a trip to Kyoto. How do you pay for trains? As of October 2026. The answer IC cards Suica and PASMO are rechargeable IC cards that work on almost all trains, subways and buses in Tokyo and on many other networks across Japan, and in convenience stores. For visitors there is the Welcome Suica (sold at airports and some stations), and on iPhone and some Android phones you can add Suica to your phone's wallet. Physical card sales were restricted for a period in 2023 because of a chip shortage; check what is available when you arrive. The Japan Rail Pass The nationwide JR Pass price went up sharply in October 2023. Since then it often costs more than individual tickets for a simple Tokyo–Kyoto–Tokyo trip. Price your actual route with individual shinkansen fares before buying. The pass still pays off for long, multi-city itineraries. Regional JR passes can be better value for a single region. Practical notes - Tokyo's subway is run by two operators, Tokyo Metro and Toei. Transfers between them are charged as separate trips; IC cards handle this automatically. - Trains stop running around midnight. Plan the last train or budget for a taxi. - Medication: Japan bans some common US medicines, including amphetamine-based stimulants. Read the medication thread on Travel Tips before you pack. Sourced JR group and Tokyo Metro official sites; Japan Rail Pass official site. What would change this answer JR Pass pricing, and IC card availability. Both have changed within the last few years.