TOICA

TOICA

TOICA

Contactless smart card used in Japan


TOICA (トイカ, Toika) is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for JR Central railway network which was introduced in the Chūkyō Area (Greater Nagoya) of Japan on November 25, 2006. The name is an acronym for kai IC Card.[2] Like JR East's Suica or JR West's ICOCA, the card uses RFID technology developed by Sony known as FeliCa.[3][4]

First-generation TOICA card.

Quick Facts Location, Launched ...

A year after launch, in December 2007, 350,000 cards had been issued. By Spring 2023, 3.27 million cards had been issued. In the Nagoya area, 50% of riders (and 70% of commuter pass holders) use the card.[5]

Since 2013, it has been part of Japan's Nationwide Mutual Usage Service, allowing it to be used in major cities across the country.[6]

Usable area

Automatic ticket gate (without blocking plates) at Mikawa-Shiotsu Station.

As of 2022, TOICA is currently accepted on JR Central lines in the following area:

Since 2018, TOICA is also supported on the Aichi Loop Line (Aikan).

Interoperation

Interoperation map

As of March 23, 2013, TOICA began interoperability with nine other major IC cards, allowing it to be used country-wide as part of Japan's Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.[7] As such, it may be used interchangeably with manaca, Suica (including Mobile Suica), PASMO, ICOCA, SUGOCA, and other cards.

Prior to the beginning of nationwide interoperability, TOICA became interoperable with Suica and ICOCA in March 2008 and with SUGOCA in March 2011.

Smart card systems in Shizuoka Prefecture, namely LuLuCa (Shizuoka Railway) and NicePass (Enshu Railway), are yet to be integrated.


References

  1. "よくいただくご質問". Central Japan Railway Company (in Japanese). Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  2. JR Bulletin 057. JR Central. Accessed December 5, 2007.
  3. "Japan's prepaid transportation cards – IC cards – Japan Station". www.japanstation.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  4. Japanese Wikipedia article of TOICA, retrieved on April 3, 2008.
  5. Ito, Etsuro (October 2013). "Launch of Nationwide Interoperable Transport System IC Cards" (PDF). East Japan Railway Culture Foundation. Japan Railway & Transport Review. pp. 6–15. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  6. "Prepaid IC Cards in Japan". Retrieved May 15, 2013.

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