Kitaca

nihongo|Kitaca|キタカ|Kitaka is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in Sapporo, Japan. Hokkaidō Railway Company (JR Hokkaidō) will introduce the system from autumn, 2008. Its name means "the card of nihongo|north|北|"kita"", while 北 is also the first character of nihongo|Hokkaidō|北海道. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses RFID technology developed by Sony corporation known as FeliCa. The card has an official mascot of "Ezo momonga (pteromys volans orii)," a kind of flying squirrel found in Hokkaidō.

Usable area

55 stations in Sapporo area, including unmanned stations, will accept Kitaca.
*Hakodate Main Line: From Otaru to Iwamizawa
*Chitose Line: From Sapporo to Shin-Chitose-Kūkō (New Chitose Airport) and to Tomakomai
*Sasshō Line (Gakuentoshi Line): From Sapporo to Hokkaidō-Iryō-Daigaku

Types of cards

Prepaid card and commuter pass will be issued. JR Hokkaidō is also considering on functions such as electronic money, credit card, or mobile payment.

Future integrations

The card will have an integration service with JR East's Suica. The service with SAPICA, a smart card system to be introduced by Sapporo City Transportation Bureau from January 2009, was also considered. However, the latter service was canceled because of the cost.

External links

* [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/kitaca/ Official website] by JR Hokkaidō
* [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/press/2007/070613-1.pdf Official press release] by JR Hokkaidō