Suica
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Suica card.JPG Suica (Japanese: スイカ) is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on the (JR) East network, Tokyo Monorail, and Rinkai Line in Japan. Launched in November 2001, the card is usable currently in the Kanto region, and at stations near Sendai and Niigata. The card can also be used interchangably with JR West's ICOCA card in the Kansai region.
Suica stands for "Super Urban Intelligent CArd", and the pronunciation is also a pun on the Japanese word for watermelon, "suika". In the logo, the "ic" is highlighted, as the initials stand for integrated circuit, the technology inside the smart card, in common Japanese usage.
Contents |
Where to buy the card
Image:KuzuokaEkiKaisatsuguchi2005-5.jpg These cards are available at card vending machines at the train stations. The card costs 2000 yen, which includes a 500 yen deposit that will be returned if the card is turned in. The remaining 1500 yen is immediately available for train rides, and more money can be charged on to the card at similar ticket vending machines or fare adjustment machines inside each station.
Functions/Services
Usage of the card involves passing it over a card reader. The technology allows for the card to be read at some distance from the reader, so contact is not required, and many people leave the card in their wallet and just pass the wallet over the reader as they enter the ticket gate.
The balance on the card is displayed when you enter the ticket gate this way. The balance is also displayed whenever the card is inserted into the ticket or fare adjustment machines as well. A travel record is stored on the card, and can be displayed or printed out as well.
On occasion, when travelling to a station where Suica is not supported, the card must be handed over to the staff at the exiting station, so that they can calculate the remaining fare, and also so that they can return a slip of paper which must be given to the staff at the next station where Suica is used. Since the system keeps track when a card enters and leaves a station, if the records show that the card had entered a station but not left (due to the situation such as described above), the station staff can reset the card.
Although the same Suica card can be used in all regions where the system is supported, it is not possible to travel from a station in one region to a station in another region using the card.
Additional Features
Recent cards (easily identified by the penguin logo) can be used for much more than purchasing train tickets. In addition many stores inside the station, separate chains such as FamilyMart and Bic Camera also are beginning to support transactions with Suica. Older cards without the penguin logo are not widely supported in such a way, but they can be replaced at ticket vending machines at no charge.
Types of cards
The Suica card are sold by the three railway companies that use the Suica card system.
- Suica IO card - sold by JR East
- Rinkai Suica card - sold by Tokyo Waterfront Railway (Rinkai Line)
- Monorail Suica card - sold by Tokyo Monorail
There are two types of standalone Suica cards, the standard prepaid Suica card which can be used to ride trains in the place of paper tickets, and the Suica commuter pass for unlimited travelling between two destinations for work or school. The Suica commuter pass also doubles as a prepaid Suica card for purchases or tickets outside of the normal commute route.
There are also Suica cards which double as credit cards. The Suica operation of these cards is no different than the normal cards; however, they can be used as credit cards at shops which do not normally support the Suica system.
Due to a rash of incidents where a commuter may have more than one type of Suica in their wallet when passing through the ticket gates, and the resulting trouble that can result when the wrong card is scanned when exiting the station, JR East has begun an awareness campaign that discourages the storage of more than one card together.
Technology
The card incorporates contactless radio frequency identification RFID technology developed by Sony, called FeliCa. The same technology is also deployed in the Edy electronic cash cards used in Japan, the Octopus card in Hong Kong, and the ezlink Card in Singapore.
Future of Suica
Currently, preparation has begun to implement the Suica system by all railway companies using the Passnet SF card system in the Tokyo area. This will allow passengers to use Suica to ride almost any railway in the Tokyo area.
mobile Suica: Since January 2006, Suica has been incorporated into mobile FeliCa wallet phones by Japan's mobile operators. This system includes JAVA applications to manage the Suica function in the mobile phone, to recharge the Suica card stored in the mobile phone, review the stored value and perform other functions via the mobile phone. An enhancement for 2007 will allow for Suica charges to be added directly to the phone bill, eliminating the requirement to constantly add to and monitor the remaining balance.
See also: mass transit systems, electronic money.