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: 85

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

• I must travel to each location via public transit only & collect all cards myself
• I must attempt to register each card in my name, which usually results in my name being printed on the card (記名 kimei) ¹I 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
• Only for places I’ve lived (Nagoya, Tokyo, and Sendai), I may collect former default designs or previously released commemorative/limited-edition designs of cards issued in that city via trading or buying them online

eli’s Japanese IC cards

Supplemental cards (old designs & those not obtained alone) – click to expand

Name	Variant / Generation	Kinen?	Notches	Back	Code	Issuer
icsca	Default		·	Silver	SK	Sendai Kotsu
Suica	ⅱ ("Suica IO Card")		··	Silver	JE	JR East
Suica	ⅲ		·	Silver	JE	JR East
Suica	Suica & N'EX Yōkoso Japan	✔	··	Silver	JE	JR East
Suica	Suica & N'EX Endless Discovery	✔	··	Silver	JE	JR East
Suica	Tokyo Station 100 Years	✔	··	Silver	JE	JR East
Suica	Pikachu ("Suica IO Card")	✔	··	Silver	JE	JR East
manaca	ⅰ		·	Silver	TP	Nagoya Municipal Subway
manaca	ⅰ		·	Silver	TP	Meitetsu (MIC)
manaca	Tamarun ↔ ANA Miles exchange commem.	✔	·	Silver	TP	Meitetsu (MIC)
manaca	manaca/TOICA Mutual Use commem.	✔	·	Silver	TP	Meitetsu (MIC)
manaca	Nationwide Mutual Usage commem.	✔	·	Silver	TP	Meitetsu (MIC)
manaca	Meijo Univ. Alumni Association	✔	·	Silver	TP	Meitetsu (MIC)
TOICA	ⅰ		·	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	Debut	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	1st Anniversary	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	Shizuoka Debut	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	Suica/TOICA/ICOCA Mutual Use commem.	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	Shizuoka Service Area 1st Anniversary	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	Character design card	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	TOICA/manaca Mutual Use commem.	✔	··	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	JR Central 30th Anniversary conventional train type	✔	·	Silver	JC	JR Central
TOICA	JR Central 30th Anniversary shinkansen type #2	✔	·	Silver	JC	JR Central

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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 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’
• 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 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 (typically ¥1500). 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
• Kotoden (IruCa) – ¥2000 ×7 designs (limited e-money availability)
• 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

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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! (The yen is so weak… ) I’m always happy to chat with or help out other collectors & transit fans, too – click on the ‘About’ page above for my contact info.