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Kitaca

{{Short description|Smart card ticketing system used in Sapporo, Japan}}

{{Expand Japanese|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox electronic payment

| name=Kitaca

| image=frameless

250px

| caption=Normal unregistered Kitaca (on top) and the debut commemorative Kitaca (on bottom)

| location=Usable nationwide
Distributed in Hokkaido

| launched=October 25, 2008 ({{Time ago|Oct 25 2008}})

| technology1=FeliCa technology by Sony

| service_1=JR Hokkaido

| service_2=Sapporo Municipal Subway

| service_3=Sapporo Streetcar

| service_4=Hokkaido Chuo Bus

| service_5=Valid areas of Suica, PASMO, manaca, TOICA, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, Hayakaken, nimoca

| operator=Hokkaido Railway Company

| manager=Hokkaido Railway Company

| currency= Japanese yen

| stored_value= Pay as you go

| credit_expiry=

| automatic_recharge=None

| unlimited_use=None (Other non-related unlimited use passes available)

| sales_location1=Card vending machines at stations

| sales_location2=Train information counters

| sales_location3= Ticket counters

| variant_1=

| homepage= {{URL|https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/kitaca/index.html}}

}}

Image:Kitaca readers.jpg, Sapporo]]

Kitaca ({{langx|ja|キタカ|Kitaka}}) is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in Sapporo, Japan. It launched on October 25, 2008 and is managed by Hokkaido Railway Company. The card's name is a combination of the word for {{nihongo|"north"|北|kita}} and the English loanword "card". 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's mascot is an ezo momonga (Pteromys volans orii), a type of flying squirrel found in Hokkaidō, and was designed by Sora, an illustrator who lives in Sapporo.{{in lang|ja}} [http://www.satsueki.jp/topics/detail.asp?id=49 北のカード「Kitaca」vol.4〜「エゾモモンガ」の生みの親〜] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009122139/http://www.satsueki.jp/topics/detail.asp?id=49 |date=2008-10-09 }} (Northern card "Kitaca" vol.4, the crator of the "Ezo momonga"), from Satsueki.jp, retrieved on October 26, 2008.

As of end August 2022, the number of cards issued was approximately 1.96 million.{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2023 |title=『『ICカード Kitacaエリアを拡大します！』 〜2024年春、函館、旭川各エリアでKitacaサービスを開始します〜 (PDF) (Press Release) Hokkaido Railway Company |url=https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/CM/Info/press/pdf/220914_KO_Kitaca.pdf |access-date=8 April 2025}}

Usable area

As of March 2024, 69 stations in the Sapporo-Asahikawa area, as well as 6 stations in the Hakodate area including unstaffed stations, accept Kitaca on the following lines.{{cite web|url=https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/kitaca/kitaca02.html|title=Usable Area|author=JR Hokkaido|access-date=2022-10-19}}

Types of cards

  • Unregistered Kitaca
  • Registered Kitaca: Requires registration. The card can be reissued when lost.
  • Kitaca commuter pass: Requires registration.

Credit card function is also considered. North Pacific Bank, the largest local bank of Hokkaido, considers to include Kitaca's functions to its credit card Clover. A plan to introduce an Osaifu-Keitai compliant mobile payment system was cancelled due to the cost.Hokkaidō Shimbun, October 16, 2008

Integration

File:ICCard_Connection_en.svg

In 2009, Kitaca became interchangeable with JR East's Suica, including its use of electronic money functionality.{{in lang|ja}} [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/press/2007/071212-2.pdf Official press release] by JR Hokkaidō, December 12, 2007. Since late 2012, the card can also be used in lieu of a SAPICA, a smart card system introduced in 2009 by the Sapporo City Transportation Bureau.{{in lang|ja}} [http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/23613.html JR北海道のICカード乗車券「Kitaca」が10月25日にスタート] (JR Hokkaidō's IC card ticket "Kitaca" starts on October 25) by BB Watch, October 25, 2008.

In 2013, interoperation was extended country-wide, and Kitaca became usable in all major cities across Japan as part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.{{Cite web |last=Ito |first=Etsuro |date=October 2013 |title=Launch of Nationwide Interoperable Transport System IC Cards |url=https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr62/pdf/6-15_web.pdf |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=East Japan Railway Culture Foundation |publisher=Japan Railway & Transport Review |pages=6–15 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=交通系ICカードの普及・利便性拡大に向けて |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001086916.pdf |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=MLIT}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{in lang|ja}} [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/kitaca/ Official website] by JR Hokkaido
  • {{in lang|ja}} [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/press/2007/070613-1.pdf Official press release] by JR Hokkaido

{{Japanese smartcards}}

{{Japan Railways Group}}

{{Hokkaidō transit}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Fare collection systems in Japan

Category:Contactless smart cards

Category:Hokkaido Railway Company