is a rechargeable contactless
smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card) is a physical electronic authentication device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) c ...
ticketing system for public transport in
Kōchi Prefecture,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, introduced from 25 January 2009. The card is issued by the , founded by
Tosa Electric Railway (Tosaden) and Kōchiken Kōtsū. Following the restructuring of the two founder companies, the company is now an affiliate of
Tosaden Kōtsū
is a transportation company in Kōchi, Kōchi, Japan. The public company operates tram and bus lines.
The company was established on October 1, 2014, by merging the businesses of , a tram and bus company, as well as its subsidiary , a bus c ...
. The name stands for , and card.
The card claims to work positive for the environment, as it would encourage using
public transport, thus reducing
carbon emission.
土電、県交が共通カード バス、電車利用促進
(Tosa Electric Railway and Kōchiken Kōtsū will issue a common card, encouraging the use of buses and trains), The Kōchi Shimbun, 27 December 2007, retrieved on 30 December 2008. A user is able to add its loyalty point by using the card, as well as by doing something "ecological", such as avoiding a disposable plastic bag
A plastic bag, poly bag, or pouch is a type of container made of thin, flexible, plastic film, nonwoven fabric, or plastic textile. Plastic bags are used for containing and transporting goods such as foods, produce, powders, ice, magazines, c ...
at a store.
Usable area
The card is usable for the following operators' lines:
*Tosaden Kōtsū tram and bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
lines (including former Tosaden, Tosaden Dream Service and Kōchiken Kōtsū bus lines)
* bus lines
* bus lines, between Susaki and Suginokawa or Yusuhara
The card also functions as an electronic money
Digital currency (digital money, electronic money or electronic currency) is any currency, money, or money-like asset that is primarily managed, stored or exchanged on digital computer systems, especially over the internet. Types of digital cu ...
.
Types of cards
*Corresponding different ages, the card is classified into the three different "colors":
**Orange Card: For elementary school students, usable until April 1 of 12 years old.
**Green Card: For 12 years old and older.
**Purple Card: For 65 years old and older.
*Corresponding functions, the three cards are each classified into three, making the nine different cards in total:
**Unregistered card
**Registered card: Needs registration. The card can be reissued when lost.
**Commuter pass: Needs registration.
References
External links
Official website
{{Japanese smartcards
Fare collection systems in Japan
Contactless smart cards
Smart cards introduced in 2009
Transport in Kōchi Prefecture