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ICOCA facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Iccard
How to use the ICOCA card to get onto trains.

ICOCA is a special smart card used mainly on the JR West train network in Japan. It's like a digital ticket and money all in one! The name ICOCA comes from "Integrated Circuit Operating CArd." You can use it to ride trains or buy things like drinks at a convenience store or bread from a bakery.

Getting Your Own ICOCA Card

ICOCA charging machine
A charge machine for ICOCA.
KIPS ICOCA
KIPS ICOCA (This card is one kind of ICOCA, sold by Kintetsu.)

You can buy an ICOCA card at the "Green Windows" (midori-no-madoguchi) inside JR train stations. The card itself costs 500 yen (about $5 USD). When you first buy it, you pay 2,000 yen (about $20 USD). This gives you 1,500 yen (about $15 USD) ready to use on the card, and the 500 yen is a deposit for the card itself. You can put up to 20,000 yen (about $200 USD) on your card at one time.

What Does "ICOCA" Mean?

The name of the card, "ICOCA," is a fun play on words! It sounds like "Ikoka" (行こか), which means "Let's go!" in the western Japanese language. It's a perfect name for a card that helps you travel around!

Images for kids

  • ICOCA-Gate1

    An ICOCA Ticket Gate.

  • ICOCA-Gate2

    Closeup of an ICOCA Gate reader.

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ICOCA Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.