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{{Short description|Contactless smart card system in Kyushu and Hakodate, Japan}}
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[[Image:Nimoca obverse.jpg|thumb|nimoca]]
{{Expand Japanese|date=August 2024}}
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[[File:Iccard.gif|thumb|How to use nimoca card in a ticket gate.]]
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[[Image:Nimoca obverse.jpg|thumb|nimoca with a commuter pass]]
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[[File:Iccard.gif|thumb|How to use nimoca card in a ticket gate]]
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'''Nimoca''', stylized as {{nihongo|'''nimoca'''|ニモカ|Nimoka}}, is a rechargeable contactless [[smart card]] ticketing system for public transport in [[Fukuoka Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. [[Nishi-Nippon Railroad]] (Nishitetsu) introduced the system on May 18, 2008. Its name is an [[acronym]] of "'''ni'''ce '''mo'''ney '''ca'''rd", while {{nihongo|2=にも|3=nimo}} in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] means "also", as the card is usable ''also'' on buses, ''also'' on trains, ''also'' for shopping, and so on. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses [[FeliCa]], an [[Radio Frequency Identification|RFID]] technology developed by [[Sony]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About FeliCa Technology |url=https://www.sony.net/Products/felica/NFC/ |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=[[Sony]] |language=en}}</ref>


The card features a [[ferret]] named Nimoca-chan as the official mascot.
{{lowercase|title=nimoca}}
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{{nihongo|'''nimoca'''|ニモカ|Nimoka}} is a rechargeable contactless [[smart card]] ticketing system for public transport in [[Fukuoka Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. [[Nishi-Nippon Railroad]] (Nishitetsu) introduced the system on May 18, 2008. Its name is an [[acronym]] of "'''ni'''ce '''mo'''ney '''ca'''rd", while {{nihongo|nimo|にも}} in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] means "also," as the card is usable ''also'' on buses, ''also'' on trains, ''also'' for shopping, etc. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses [[FeliCa]], [[Radio Frequency Identification|RFID]] technology developed by [[Sony]]. On March 13, 2010, nimoca has been interoperated with two similar cards in Fukuoka—[[SUGOCA]] from [[Kyūshū Railway Company]] (JR Kyūshū) and [[Hayakaken]] from [[Fukuoka City Subway|Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau]]—plus [[Suica]], a card used in [[Greater Tokyo Area]] by [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East). <ref>[http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/f5aec5c02debd8c1492573e80057f617?OpenDocument Official news release] by JR Kyūshū, February 7, 2008. {{ja icon}}</ref> The card features a [[ferret]] as the official mascot.


Nimoca can be used across Japan as part of the [[Nationwide Mutual Usage Service]].<ref name="mutual">{{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}}</ref> Along with all trains in Fukuoka, Nimoca is usable on most local, highway, and express bus lines in Fukuoka and neighboring prefectures, including those operated by Nishitetsu Group, Showa Bus, Oita Bus, Oita Kōtsū, Kamenoi Bus, and Showa Bus. As [[Digital currency|electronic money]], Nimoca can be used in Solaria Plaza, Solaria Stage, Tenjin Core, Nishitetsu Store (along Tenjin-Ōmuta Line), and more.
==Usable area==
''As of March 2011''
*Buses:
**Nishitetsu Group: All local bus lines, and some highway bus lines.
**Showa Bus: All local bus lines in Fukuoka Prefecture and some express bus lines.
**Oita Bus: All local bus lines and some express bus lines.
**Oita Kōtsū: All local bus lines and ''Airliner'' airport report bus lines.
**Kamenoi Bus: All local bus lines.
*Trains: All the lines.
*Others (as [[electronic money]]): Solaria Plaza, Solaria Stage, Tenjin Core, Nishitetsu Store (those along Tenjin-Ōmuta Line), and others.


In 2017, the card was expanded to public transport in [[Hakodate]], [[Hokkaido]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-18 |title=函館市電・函館バスのICカードも「イカす」 2017年春スタート |url=https://response.jp/article/2016/11/18/285633.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=レスポンス（Response.jp） |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-20 |title=九州の交通系ＩＣニモカ、なぜポツンと函館に キタカのエリア拡大で激戦に？ |url=https://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/988685/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=北海道新聞 |language=ja}}</ref>
''Future plans''
*Buses:
**Showa Bus: All local bus lines in [[Saga Prefecture]].
**''From 2013.''


==Types of cards==
==Types of cards==
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*nimoca
*nimoca: Does not require registration.
*Star nimoca: Requires registration. It can be reissued when a user lost it.
*Star nimoca (requires registration; can be reissued if lost)
*Credit nimoca: A [[credit card]] with the above functions.
*Credit nimoca (requires registration; includes [[credit card]] functionality)
All registered cards can also function as commuter passes. Other variants and designs, such as the tsu-tsu-nimoca (issued in [[Saga (city)|Saga]]), nagasaki nimoca (issued in [[Nagasaki]]), ICAS nimoca (issued in [[Hakodate]]), and [[Mejiron Nimoca|Mejiron nimoca]] (formerly issued in [[Ōita Prefecture|Ōita]]), also exist.
These three cards can be issued either as [[Stored-value card|prepaid cards]] or [[Season ticket|commuters passes]].


==Mejiron nimoca==
==Interoperation==
[[File:ICCard Connection en.svg|thumb|left|300px|Interoperation map]]
See also: ''[[Mejiron Nimoca|Mejiron nimoca]]''


On March 13, 2010, nimoca began interoperation with [[Fukuoka City Subway|Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau]]'s [[Hayakaken]], [[Kyūshū Railway Company|JR Kyushu]]'s [[SUGOCA]], and [[East Japan Railway Company|JR East]]'s [[Suica]] smart cards.<ref>[http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/f5aec5c02debd8c1492573e80057f617?OpenDocument Official news release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211145823/http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/f5aec5c02debd8c1492573e80057f617?OpenDocument|date=2008-02-11}} by JR Kyūshū, February 7, 2008. {{in lang|ja}}</ref> In 2013, interoperation was extended country-wide, and nimoca became usable in all major cities across Japan as part of the [[Nationwide Mutual Usage Service]].<ref name="mutual" />
The {{nihongo|'''Mejiron nimoca'''|めじろんnimoca|Mejiron Nimoka}} introduced the system on December 26, 2010 by Oita Bus, Oita Kōtsū and Kamenoi Bus in [[Oita Prefecture]].<ref>[http://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/release/2010/10_123.pdf “ICカード『めじろんnimoca』大分都市圏で12月26日よりサービス開始”] by Nishitetsu Press Release, November 2, 2010.{{ja icon}}</ref> The cute design combines nimoca mascot Ferret with Mejiron ([[:ja:めじろん|めじろん]]?), the mascot character widely loved as Oita Prefecture's cheering squad.

Five bus and train operators in [[Kumamoto]] will cease to accept the cards by 2026.<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/kumamoto-bus-train-firms-to-drop-national-ic-cards-embrace-new-cashless-payment-methods/ar-BB1nfD9U {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{ja icon}} [http://www.nimoca.jp/home/ Official website]
*{{in lang|ja}} [http://www.nimoca.jp/home/ Official website]


{{Japanese smartcards}}
{{Japanese smartcards}}
{{Fukuoka transit}}
{{Fukuoka transit}}
{{Authority control}}
{{japan-rail-transport-stub}}

[[Category:Fare collection systems in Japan]]
[[Category:Fare collection systems in Japan]]
[[Category:Contactless smart cards]]
[[Category:Contactless smart cards]]
[[Category:2008 introductions]]

[[Category:2008 establishments in Japan]]
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[[ja:nimoca]]
[[Category:Transport in Fukuoka Prefecture]]

Latest revision as of 11:51, 31 August 2024

nimoca with a commuter pass
How to use nimoca card in a ticket gate

Nimoca, stylized as nimoca (ニモカ, Nimoka), is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu) introduced the system on May 18, 2008. Its name is an acronym of "nice money card", while nimo (にも) in Japanese means "also", as the card is usable also on buses, also on trains, also for shopping, and so on. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses FeliCa, an RFID technology developed by Sony.[1]

The card features a ferret named Nimoca-chan as the official mascot.

Nimoca can be used across Japan as part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.[2] Along with all trains in Fukuoka, Nimoca is usable on most local, highway, and express bus lines in Fukuoka and neighboring prefectures, including those operated by Nishitetsu Group, Showa Bus, Oita Bus, Oita Kōtsū, Kamenoi Bus, and Showa Bus. As electronic money, Nimoca can be used in Solaria Plaza, Solaria Stage, Tenjin Core, Nishitetsu Store (along Tenjin-Ōmuta Line), and more.

In 2017, the card was expanded to public transport in Hakodate, Hokkaido.[3][4]

Types of cards

[edit]
  • nimoca
  • Star nimoca (requires registration; can be reissued if lost)
  • Credit nimoca (requires registration; includes credit card functionality)

All registered cards can also function as commuter passes. Other variants and designs, such as the tsu-tsu-nimoca (issued in Saga), nagasaki nimoca (issued in Nagasaki), ICAS nimoca (issued in Hakodate), and Mejiron nimoca (formerly issued in Ōita), also exist.

Interoperation

[edit]
Interoperation map

On March 13, 2010, nimoca began interoperation with Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau's Hayakaken, JR Kyushu's SUGOCA, and JR East's Suica smart cards.[5] In 2013, interoperation was extended country-wide, and nimoca became usable in all major cities across Japan as part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.[2]

Five bus and train operators in Kumamoto will cease to accept the cards by 2026.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "About FeliCa Technology". Sony. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ "函館市電・函館バスのICカードも「イカす」 2017年春スタート". レスポンス（Response.jp） (in Japanese). 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. ^ "九州の交通系ＩＣニモカ、なぜポツンと函館に キタカのエリア拡大で激戦に？". 北海道新聞 (in Japanese). 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. ^ Official news release Archived 2008-02-11 at the Wayback Machine by JR Kyūshū, February 7, 2008. (in Japanese)
  6. ^ https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/kumamoto-bus-train-firms-to-drop-national-ic-cards-embrace-new-cashless-payment-methods/ar-BB1nfD9U [bare URL]
[edit]
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