For paying almost all our transportation during the trip in
Japan, we used Prepaid IC Card ICOCA. Footy chose this due to its cute mascot,
blue platypus named Iko-chan (イコちゃん). Hahaha..... It is one of the reasons but not
really actually. Can’t deny but this blue platypus is the cutest among all the
other IC Card mascots.
ICOCA refers to IC Operating CArd. ICOCA uses RFIC
technology called Felica, developed by Sony, as SUICA smart card. Nowadays, due
to agreements with the other smart cards (Kitaca, PASMO, PiTaPa, Suica, Hayakaken,
Nimoca, Namaca, TOICA and SUGOCA), ICOCA becomes smart card that could be used in
almost all of our journey in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and Tokyo for trains,
buses, subways and shopping (find ICOCA logo to know if it is supported). We
bought Nankai Airport Express, Port Liner and Shinkansen tickets seperately, by
cash.
As what we had posted in our previous post, we arrived at
Kansai International Airport (KIX) and directly purchased ICOCA card there. Get
to the second floor and you will find ICOCA vending machine and follow the
instructions below.
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| www.westjr.co.jp |
To get a new ICOCA card, you need to pay 2.000 yen. 500 yen is for
deposit of smart card issuance and 1.500 yen is amount that you can use for
trains, subways and buses rides and also shopping. This card is recharge-able.
You may use ticket vending machine or smart card recharge machines inside
stations.
 |
| www.westjr.co.jp |
The deposit fee (500 yen) could be returned in case of refund
but remained balance will be deducted 220 yen for handling fee. Just bring the
card to Ticket Office (Midori no Madoguchi みどりの 窓口) at Greater Osaka area and also prepare your
passport as an identity. We didn’t make a refund because we prefer to bring
ICOCA home as souvenirs. Beware that it will be expired if it isn’t used in ten
years.
This is a more convenient way, better than stuck at choosing
which ticket you have to buy. Just tap the smart card to the card reader. After
you reach exit gate at your destinated train station, just do the same way. You
could also see the final balance on a small screen. In buses, you may find the
card reader placed next to bus driver.
For Shinkansen or limited express trains that requires a
supplement fee, you can pay base fare using ICOCA but you need to buy a
supplement ticket separately at ticket machine or ticket office. We were afraid
of getting confused in this stuff so we bought the tickets directly, not using
ICOCA.
One thing that you need to pay attention to is that the smart
card can’t be used by multiple travelers. You need to buy it in person due to
its recording usage history.
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| www.westjr.co.jp |
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