Kitaca
| Website | www |
|---|---|
Kitaca (キタカ, Kitaka) is a rechargeable contactless
Pteromys volans orii), a kind of flying squirrel found in Hokkaidō. The mascot is designed by Sora, an illustrator who lives in Sapporo.[1]
Usable area
As of March 2024, 69 stations in the Sapporo-Asahikawa area, as well as 6 stations in the Hakodate area including unmanned stations, accept Kitaca.[2]
- Hakodate Main Line: From Hakodate to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and from Otaru to Asahikawa
- Chitose Line: From Shiroishi to Numanohata, and branch from Minami-Chitose to New Chitose Airport (the whole line)
- Muroran Main Line: From Numanohata to Tomakomai
- Sasshō Line (Gakuentoshi Line): From Sōen to Hokkaidō-Iryōdaigaku (the whole line)
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. [3]
Integration
In 2009, Kitaca became interchangeable with
electronic money functionality.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6][7]
References
- ^ (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.
- ^ JR Hokkaido. "Usable Area". Retrieved 2022-10-19.
- Hokkaidō Shimbun, October 16 2008
- ^ (in Japanese) Official press release by JR Hokkaidō, December 12 2007.
- ^ (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.
- ^ 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.
- MLIT. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
External links
- (in Japanese) Official website by JR Hokkaido
- (in Japanese) Official press release by JR Hokkaido