IC Cards / 交通系ICカード

As an advocate for and daily user of public transportation, I collect (and catalog) transit cards, also called IC cards here in Japan. That term technically refers to all integrated circuit smart cards, though, so the more precise word for what I’m talking about is 交通系ICカード / koutsuu-kei IC kaado, literally “transport-type IC cards”. While my full collection comprises cards from various places I’ve lived and traveled to around the world, this page lists my Japanese ones.

Total cards obtained so far: 117

Briefly, my “rules” for my collection are that:

• • I must travel to each location via public transit only¹Including air travel on a couple occasions! No cars. & collect all cards myself
  • I should attempt to register each card in my name, which usually results in my name being printed on the card (記名 kimei) ²I opt for my name in romaji if possible, otherwise katakana. This almost always entails going to a counter and filling out a paper form rather than buying the card from a machine or aboard a vehicle. The location where I register a card is sometimes different from where I buy it. Registering cards is not possible with all issuers/agencies. Some issuers refer to registered cards with special names, e.g. “My Suica” or “スターnimoca (star nimoca)”.
  • Any intentional variation in the front design or back text qualifies that card as different, i.e. not a duplicate of another card
  • Cards which are only available via mail (online purchase), are not publicly available, or those only obtainable by certain city residents³e.g. PiTaPa, OSAKA PiTaPa, SMART ICOCA; Suica Light, senior cards; Nimi City ICOCA, N Bus OKICA are not included

eli’s Japanese IC cards

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Discord

In late February 2024, due to the lack of any centralized, coordinated English-language community or discussion space, I set up a Discord server focused around the (niche) hobby of collecting Japanese transportation IC cards. It’s mainly intended for residents of Japan, but open to anyone with an interest. Feel free to join here!

https://discord.gg/JrSwkvvBYm

Vocabulary

• 交通系ICカード / koutsuu-kei ai shii kaado – transportation IC card
• 記名式 / kimeishiki – registered in one’s name, lit. ‘signed-type’
• 無記名 / mukimei – unsigned, anonymous (opposite of the above)
• 記念デザイン / kinen dezain – commemorative design
• デポジット / depojitto – deposit (cost of the card itself, refunded if returned)
• チャージ / chaaji – to (re)charge aka top up a card
• SF / esu efu – abbreviation of “stored fare”
• 手数料 / tesuuryou – handling fee
• 全国相互利用 / zenkoku sougo riyou – Nationwide Mutual Usage Service, the system of 10 major IC cards with e-money functionality being interoperable & mutually compatible (more info)
• 地域連携ICカード / chiiki renkei ai shii kaado – regional cooperation IC card, a 2-in-1 card which combines “region affiliate” operator needs with Suica functionality, officially called “Multi-function Card for Regional Transit” or “Regional Collaboration IC card” in English (more info)

Wall of shame

The vast majority of IC cards are sold for a ¥500 “deposit” + a minimum load amount (either ¥1500 or ¥500). At sales windows, companies will usually let you immediately refund the loaded value while still retaining the card, minus a ~¥220 handling fee, making most cards cost ~¥720 in practice. Even when an issuer disallows refunds, if part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service, a card’s loaded value can easily be spent as e-money at stores and restaurants (not solely on transportation). The following companies meet neither of the conditions above, in effect making each card cost an absurdly high amount to obtain:

• Hiroshima Bus Association (PASPY) – ¥2000 ×7 designs
• Uno Bus (Hareca) – ¥2000 ×5 designs
• JR Kyushu Bus & Nangoku Kotsu (RapiCa) – ¥3000 ×2 designs
• Toyama Chitetsu (ecomyca) – ¥2000 ×2 designs
• Nankai Bus (Natch) – ¥3000
• Iwasaki Corporation (Iwasaki IC Card) – ¥3000
• Mie Kotsu (emica) – ¥2000
• Iyotetsu (IC e~card) – ¥2000
• Nagano City (KURURU) – ¥2000
• Aizu Bus (AIZU NORUCA) – ¥2000
• Sendai City (icsca) – ¥1000

Resources

• 交通系ICカードpedia wiki (in Japanese)
• 業界の動向 ‐ 全国のICカードこれひとつ (in Japanese)
• My “Japanese IC cards” spreadsheet (contact me)

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If you found the information on this page (or my contributions to Wikipedia here & here) useful or interesting, please do consider leaving a tip! I’m always happy to chat with or help out other collectors & transit fans, too – join the Discord linked above, or see the ‘About’ page for my contact info.