Kitaca
Smart card ticketing system used in Hokkaido, Japan
title: "Kitaca" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["fare-collection-systems-in-japan", "contactless-smart-cards", "hokkaido-railway-company"] description: "Smart card ticketing system used in Hokkaido, Japan" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaca" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Smart card ticketing system used in Hokkaido, Japan ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox electronic payment"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Kitaca |
| image | [[File:Kitaca logo.svg |
[[File:Kitaca card.jpg|250px]] | | caption | Normal unregistered Kitaca (on top) and the debut commemorative Kitaca (on bottom) | | location | Usable nationwide Distributed in Hokkaido | | launched | October 25, 2008 () | | technology1 | FeliCa technology by Sony | | service_1 | JR Hokkaido | | service_2 | Sapporo Municipal Subway | | service_3 | Sapporo Streetcar | | service_4 | Hokkaido Chuo Bus | | service_5 | Valid areas of Suica, PASMO, manaca, TOICA, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, Hayakaken, nimoca | | operator | Hokkaido Railway Company | | manager | Hokkaido Railway Company | | currency | Japanese yen | | stored_value | Pay as you go | | automatic_recharge | None | | unlimited_use | None (Other non-related unlimited use passes available) | | sales_location1 | Card vending machines at stations | | sales_location2 | Train information counters | | sales_location3 | Ticket counters | | homepage | | ::
| name=Kitaca | image=[[File:Kitaca logo.svg|frameless]]
[[File:Kitaca card.jpg|250px]] | caption=Normal unregistered Kitaca (on top) and the debut commemorative Kitaca (on bottom) | location=Usable nationwide Distributed in Hokkaido | launched=October 25, 2008 () | technology1=FeliCa technology by Sony | service_1=JR Hokkaido | service_2=Sapporo Municipal Subway | service_3=Sapporo Streetcar | service_4=Hokkaido Chuo Bus | service_5=Valid areas of Suica, PASMO, manaca, TOICA, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, Hayakaken, nimoca | operator=Hokkaido Railway Company | manager=Hokkaido Railway Company | currency= Japanese yen | stored_value= Pay as you go | credit_expiry= | automatic_recharge=None | unlimited_use=None (Other non-related unlimited use passes available) | sales_location1=Card vending machines at stations | sales_location2=Train information counters | sales_location3= Ticket counters | variant_1= | homepage=
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Kitaca_readers.jpg" caption="Ticket gates with Kitaca readers at [[Hassamu-Chūō Station]], Sapporo"] ::
Kitaca () 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" and the English loanword "card". 北 is also the first character of Hokkaidō. 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.
As of end August 2022, the number of cards issued was approximately 1.96 million.
Usable area
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.
- 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.
Integration
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/ICCard_Connection_en.svg" caption="Interoperation map"] ::
In 2009, Kitaca became interchangeable with JR East's Suica, including its use of electronic money functionality. 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.
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.
References
References
- {{in lang. link. (2008-10-09 (Northern card "Kitaca" vol.4, the crator of the "Ezo momonga"), from Satsueki.jp, retrieved on October 26, 2008.)
- (December 28, 2023). "『『ICカード Kitacaエリアを拡大します！』 〜2024年春、函館、旭川各エリアでKitacaサービスを開始します〜 (PDF) (Press Release) Hokkaido Railway Company".
- JR Hokkaido. "Usable Area".
- [[Hokkaidō Shimbun]], October 16, 2008
- {{in lang. ja [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/press/2007/071212-2.pdf Official press release] by JR Hokkaidō, December 12, 2007.
- {{in lang. ja [http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/23613.html 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". Japan Railway & Transport Review.
- "交通系ICカードの普及・利便性拡大に向けて".
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