Where do many travelers unexpectedly lose money despite the weak yen?
Question 4 of 5
Prepaid IC cards like Suica and Pasmo are convenient for trains, buses, and convenience-store purchases, but leftover balances are easy to forget about. Refunding a standard physical card at a JR East ticket counter deducts a ¥220 handling fee from the balance, though you always get the ¥500 deposit back in full. The bigger trap is the tourist-specific "Welcome Suica" or "PASMO Passport" card many visitors buy at the airport: these carry no deposit and generally can't be refunded for cash at all, so any leftover balance is simply lost when the card expires. Mobile IC cards linked to Apple Pay or Google Pay usually require a Japanese bank account to refund, which most tourists don't have. The better habit is spending the balance down deliberately at a convenience store or vending machine near the end of the trip.
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