View source for ICOCA

{{Short description|Contactless smart card used in Japan}}
{{Expand Japanese|date=May 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox electronic payment
| image = [[File:ICOCA logo.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| name = ICOCA
| location = Usable nationwide<br>Distributed in the [[Kansai region|Kansai]], [[San'yō region|San'yō]], and [[Hokuriku region]]s
| launched = November 1, 2003
| sales_location_1  = Stations of [[JR West]], [[Osaka Metro]], [[Kyoto Municipal Subway]], [[Kobe Municipal Subway]], [[Kintetsu Railway]], [[Hankyu|Hankyu Railway]], [[Hanshin Electric Railway]], [[Nankai Electric Railway]], [[Osaka Monorail]], [[Keihan Railway]], [[Eizan Railway]], and [[Keifuku Railway]]
| currency = [[Japanese yen]]
| stored_value = Pay as you go
| credit_expiry = Ten years after last use
| maximum_credit = ¥20,000
| automatic_recharge =
| unlimited_use =
| variant_1 = ICOCA
| variant_2 = SMART ICOCA
| variant_3 = Shikoku ICOCA (sold by [[Shikoku Railway Company|JR Shikoku]])
| variant_4 = IR Ishikawa ICOCA (sold by [[IR Ishikawa Railway]])
| variant_5 = Ainokaze ICOCA (sold by [[Ainokaze Toyama Railway]])
| variant_6 = Hapi-Line Fukui ICOCA (sold by [[Hapi-Line Fukui]])
| technology_1 = [[FeliCa]]
| operator =
| manager = [[JR West]]
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/}}
}}
'''ICOCA''' ({{langx|ja|イコカ|Ikoka}}) is a rechargeable contactless [[smart card]] used on the [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] rail network in [[Japan]]. The card was launched on November 1, 2003, for usage on the [[Urban Network]], which encompasses the major cities of [[Osaka]], [[Kyoto]], and [[Kobe]] ([[Keihanshin]]). It is now [[#Interoperation|usable on many other networks]] nationwide. The ICOCA area has gradually been expanded, and now includes the San'yo region through the [[Okayama]] and [[Hiroshima]] urban areas, and some lines in northern [[Shikoku]], San'in and [[Hokuriku region|Hokuriku]] regions as of 2024.<ref name="ICOCA area">{{cite web |title=ご利用可能エリア│ICOCA：JRおでかけネット |url=https://www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/area/map/all.html |website=www.jr-odekake.net |publisher=JR West |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref>

ICOCA is an abbreviation of "IC Operating Card" and is also a play on the phrase {{nihongo|''"Iko ka"''|行こか}}, an informal, [[Kansai dialect]] invitation meaning "Shall we go?"

The mascot for ICOCA is a blue [[platypus]] named {{nihongo|Ico the Platypus|カモノハシのイコちゃん|Kamonohashi no Iko-chan}}. Platypus characters for the children's ICOCA also exist and are named {{nihongo|Icota|イコ太|Ikota}} and {{nihongo|Icomi|イコ美|Ikomi}}.

== Functions and services ==
Usage of the card involves passing it over a card reader. The technology allows for the card to be read at some distance from the reader, so contact is not required, and many people leave the card in their wallet and just pass the wallet over the reader as they enter the ticket gate.
<gallery>
File:ICOCA-Gate1.jpg|alt=An ICOCA Ticket Gate|An ICOCA ticket gate
File:ICOCA-Gate2.jpg|alt=Closeup of an ICOCA Gate reader|Closeup of an ICOCA gate reader
</gallery>
The balance on the card is displayed when passing through fare gates or inserting it into a [[Ticket machine|ticket vending machine]].  A travel record is stored on the card, and may be displayed or printed out at fare adjustment or ticket vending machines.

On occasion, when traveling to a station where ICOCA is not supported, the card must be handed over to railway staff at the ticket gate so that they may calculate the fare to deduct, and to provide riders with a transfer slip, which can be given to staff at the next station where ICOCA is used.

ICOCA functions as a {{Nihongo|boarding ticket|乗車券|jōshaken}} also supports {{Nihongo|commuter pass|定期券|teikiken}} functionality. However, for express services, such as the [[Haruka (train)|Haruka]] service to Kansai airport, on which an additional fee is required, ICOCA can only be used as {{nihongo|fare ticket|乗車券|jōshaken}}, for passing the ticket gate, for non-reserved travel, while the express ticket must purchased from the conductor on board the train (see [[Rail transport in Japan#Tickets, fare and surcharges|train tickets in Japan]]).

=== Variants ===
*Standard ICOCA
**ICOCA 定期券 (''teikiken'') – with commuter pass
**こどもICOCA (''kodomo'') – children's ICOCA (discounted fare)
**こどもICOCA 定期券 – children's ICOCA with commuter pass
*Smart ICOCA
**Smart ICOCA 定期券 – with commuter pass

Cards that are functionally equivalent to the standard ICOCA but with a visually different front design are sold by [[Shikoku Railway Company|JR Shikoku]], [[IR Ishikawa Railway]], [[Ainokaze Toyama Railway]], and [[Hapi-Line Fukui]].

The KIPS ICOCA variant was formerly sold by [[Kintetsu Railway]].

== Interoperation ==
[[File:ICCard_Connection en.svg|thumb|right|300px|Interoperation map]]
Since March 2013, ICOCA has been part of Japan's [[Nationwide Mutual Usage Service]], allowing it to be used in major cities across the country.<ref name=":0">{{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> Prior to this system of interoperability between the 10 IC cards, a number of bilateral partnerships were formed with other companies and operators:
* On August 1, 2004, in a reciprocal agreement with [[East Japan Railway Company|JR East]], ICOCA became usable in the [[Tokyo]]-[[Kantō region|Kantō]] area. Conversely, JR East's [[Suica]] became usable on JR West rail services.
* On January 21, 2006, ICOCA became usable at all locations accepting Osaka [[PiTaPa]] smart cards.
* On September 1, 2007, ICOCA became usable in the [[Hiroshima Prefecture|Hiroshima]] and [[Okayama Prefecture|Okayama]] areas, in agreement with local transit operators.
* On March 29, 2008, in a reciprocal agreement with [[Central Japan Railway Company|JR Central]], ICOCA became usable in the [[Chūkyō metropolitan area|Nagoya metropolitan area]]. Similarly, JR Central's [[TOICA]] became usable on JR West rail services.
* On March 5, 2011, in a reciprocal agreement with [[Kyushu Railway Company|JR Kyushu]], ICOCA became usable in the [[Fukuoka prefecture|Fukuoka]]–[[Saga Prefecture|Saga]] area. Similarly, JR Kyushu's [[SUGOCA]] became usable on JR West rail services.
* On June 1, 2011, ICOCA became usable on [[Keihan Electric Railway|Keihan]] lines.
* On March 17, 2012, ICOCA became usable in some stations of [[Shikoku Railway Company|JR Shikoku]], such as in the [[Takamatsu]] area.
* On December 1, 2012, ICOCA became usable on [[Kintetsu Railway|Kintetsu]] lines.

==Retail==
These cards are available at card [[vending machine]]s at the train stations. Cards cost 2000 [[Japanese yen|yen]], which includes a 500 yen deposit that will be returned if the card is returned. The remaining 1500 yen is immediately available for use on transit, and more money can be charged on to the card at similar ticket vending machines or fare adjustment machines inside each station.

Cards may only be returned in JR West stations, meaning that travelers who start their trip in JR West's service area and finish their trip elsewhere may not be able to return it before departure. Shikoku ICOCA are sold at several stations in Shikoku and can only be returned at those stations, and feature a special design.

== Technology ==
The card incorporates contactless [[RFID]] technology developed by [[Sony]] called [[FeliCa]]. The same technology is also deployed in other IC cards across Japan, in [[Edy]] electronic cash cards, and in the [[Octopus card]] in [[Hong Kong]].

== Mobile devices ==
A version for [[Smartphone|mobile phones]] known as {{nihongo|'''Mobile ICOCA'''|モバイルICOCA|Mobairu Ikoka}}, which uses [[Mobile FeliCa]] and [[Osaifu-Keitai]] functionality, was launched in March 2023.<ref name="release20230222">{{Cite press release |title=｢モバイル ICOCA(仮称)｣の導入計画について |publisher=西日本旅客鉄道株式会社 |date=2023-02-22 |url=https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/230222_00_press_mobaico.pdf |access-date=2024-03-08 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=モバイルICOCA |url=https://www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/mobileicoca/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=JRおでかけネット |language=ja}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Mass transit system]]s
*[[Electronic money]]
*[[List of smart cards]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/ Official homepage]

{{Japanese smartcards}}
{{Japan Railways Group}}
{{Osaka transit}}
{{Hiroshima transit}}
{{Toyama transit}}
{{Shikoku transit}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Osaka Prefecture]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kyoto Prefecture]]
[[Category:Fare collection systems in Japan]]
[[Category:E-commerce in Japan]]
[[Category:Contactless smart cards]]
[[Category:West Japan Railway Company]]
[[Category:Japanese inventions]]
[[Category:2003 introductions]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Transport in Osaka]]
[[Category:Transport in Kyoto]]