Kitaca

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Kitaca
File:Kitaca logo.svg

File:Kitaca card.jpg
Normal unregistered Kitaca (on top) and the debut commemorative Kitaca (on bottom)
LocationUsable nationwide
Distributed in Hokkaido
LaunchedOctober 25, 2008 (17 years ago)
OperatorHokkaido Railway Company
ManagerHokkaido Railway Company
CurrencyJapanese yen
Stored-valuePay as you go
Auto rechargeNone
Unlimited useNone (Other non-related unlimited use passes available)
Validity
Websitewww.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/kitaca/index.html
File:Kitaca readers.jpg
Ticket gates with Kitaca readers at Hassamu-Chūō Station, Sapporo

Kitaca (Japanese: キタカ, romanized: 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 "north" (北, kita) and the English loanword "card". 北 is also the first character of 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.[1]

As of end August 2022, the number of cards issued was approximately 1.96 million.[2]

Usable area

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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.[3]

Types of cards

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  • 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.[4]

Integration

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File:ICCard Connection en.svg
Interoperation map

In 2009, Kitaca became interchangeable with JR East's Suica, including its use of electronic money functionality.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ (in Japanese) 北のカード「Kitaca」vol.4〜「エゾモモンガ」の生みの親〜 Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine (Northern card "Kitaca" vol.4, the crator of the "Ezo momonga"), from Satsueki.jp, retrieved on October 26, 2008.
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Hokkaidō Shimbun, October 16, 2008
  5. ^ (in Japanese) Official press release by JR Hokkaidō, December 12, 2007.
  6. ^ (in Japanese) 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.
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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