Nimoca

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 from May 18, 2008. Its name is an acronym of "nice money card", while nihongo|nimo|にも in Japanese means "also", as the card will be usable on buses, "also" on trains, "also" on shopping, etc. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses RFID technology developed by Sony corporation known as FeliCa. The card features a ferret as an official mascot.

Usable area

"As of May 2008"
*Buses: Some local bus lines in Fukuoka city and Nakagawa town area.
*Trains: Tenjin-Ōmuta Line, Dazaifu Line, and Amagi Line.
*Others (as electronic money): Solaria Plaza, Solaria Stage, Tenjin Core, Nishitetsu Store (those along Tenjin-Ōmuta Line), and others.

"Future plans"
*Buses: All the local bus lines and some highway bus lines.
*Trains: All the lines. (Above lines and Kaizuka Line.)
*Others: Stores and facilities of Nishitetsu Group.

Types of cards

*nimoca: Does not require registration.
*Star nimoca: Requires registration. It can be reissued when a user lost it.
*Credit nimoca: A credit card with the above functions.These three cards can be issued either as prepaid cards or commuters passes.

Future integrations

In future, there will be two other systems in Fukuoka, SUGOCA by Kyūshū Railway Company (JR Kyūshū) and Hayakaken by Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau, both to be introduced from spring 2009. The three cards in Fukuoka and Suica, a card already used in Greater Tokyo Area by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), will have integrated services from spring 2010. [ [http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/f5aec5c02debd8c1492573e80057f617?OpenDocument Official news release] by JR Kyūshū, February 7, 2008.]

References

External links

*ja icon [http://www.nimoca.jp/home/ Official website]