ICOCA

The nihongo|ICOCA|イコカ|Ikoka card is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on JR West rail network in Japan. The card was launched on November 1, 2003 for usage on the Urban Network, which encompasses the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Since August 1, 2004, in a reciprocal agreement with JR East, ICOCA is also usable in the Tokyo-Kantō area. Similarly, the Suica card of JR East can also be used on JR West rail services. Additionally, since January 21, 2006, ICOCA cards can also be used at all locations accepting Osaka PiTaPa smart cards.Since September 1, 2007,ICOCA is also usable in the Hiroshima-Okayama area. However, teikiken (定期券) cards cannot be used across different rail services.

ICOCA stands for IC Operating CArd, but it is also a play on the phrase nihongo|"Iko ka"|行こうか|, an informal invitation meaning "Shall we go?" in Japanese.

The mascots for the ICOCA program consist of a blue platypus (or duckbill) called nihongo|Ico the Platypus|カモノハシのイコちゃん|Kamonohashi no Iko-chan and nihongo|Icota and Icomi the Platypuses|カモノハシのイコ太とイコ美|Kamonohashi no Ikota to Ikomi.

Where to buy the card

These cards are available at card vending machines at the train stations. The card costs 2000 yen, which includes a 500 yen deposit that will be returned if the card is turned in. The remaining 1500 yen is immediately available for train rides, and more money can be charged on to the card at similar ticket vending machines or fare adjustment machines inside each station.

Functions/Services

Usage of the card involves passing it over a card reader. The technology allows for the card to be read at some distance from the reader, so contact is not required, and many people leave the card in their wallet and just pass the wallet over the reader as they enter the ticket gate.

The balance on the card is displayed when you enter the ticket gate this way. The balance is also displayed whenever the card is inserted into the ticket or fare adjustment machines as well. A travel record is stored on the card, and can be displayed or printed out as well.

On occasion, when travelling to a station where ICOCA is not supported, the card must be handed over to the staff at the exiting station, so that they can calculate the remaining fare, and also so that they can return a slip of paper which must be given to the staff at the next station where ICOCA is used.

Types of cards

*standard ICOCA rechargeable card
*ICOCA 定期券 ("teikiken") - rechargeable card with added commuter pass
*こどもICOCA ("kodomo") - children's ICOCA
*こどもICOCA 定期券 - children's ICOCA with added commuter pass
*Smart ICOCA
*Smart ICOCA 定期券

Technology

The card incorporates contactless RFID technology developed by Sony, called FeliCa. The same technology is also deployed in the Edy electronic cash cards used in Japan, the Octopus card in Hong Kong & the ezlink Card in Singapore.

See also

*Mass transit systems
*Electronic money
*List of smart cards

External links

* [http://www.jr-odekake.net/guide/icoca/ Official homepage]