I only found this out from 1 random comment on an old thread the week before my trip, so here's a thread for people searching the sub for Hamamatsu advice after me

You cannot use the Suica/Pasmo cards in Hamamatsu

Public transport there does not accept them. Instead they have their own local IC card (NICE card) just for their network.

Should you get a NICE card? No. I was going to because I was intimidated by the prospect of a japanese fare chart and my companion is a bit hopeless with the coins, but the person at the bus terminal information office dissuaded me and it turned out to be pretty easy to manage.

There are 2 other ways to pay on the bus.

First, if you have a tap to pay visa card, you can use that. Board at the rear door and tap on on the black keypad. Tap off at the front as you get off. This may attract international transaction fees but it's hassle free.

Secondly, paying with cash. Turns out reading the fare chart is easy. When you board at the rear door take a ticket from the machine. The number on the ticket is the number of the stop you got on at. On the screen at the front of the bus the chart is displayed. It shows each stop number that's been passed so far and in the box under each is the price someone who got on at that stop will have to pay to get off at the upcoming stop. It seems to be capped at 800Y max.

When you're getting off you first drop the ticket into the machine next to the driver, then the fare in coins.

- The fare machine takes coins only, but when the bus is stopped you can use the slot on the front to exchange 1000Y notes for coins. You're supposed to do this before your stop, not at it.

- The fare machine does not give change, but the exchange one will give you enough 10s and 50s that you should have no difficulty making up the right amount

- The nearest bus stops for the air museum and Ryugashido aren't particularly near, and the walk to Ryugashido involves a decent hill so if that's a problem find out whether or not that shitty Go Taxi app everyone recommends is going to screw you before you get there not after.