The Suica (Japanese: スイカ) card is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on the Japan Rail (JR) East network in Japan. Launched in November 2001, the card is usable currently in the Tokyo-Kanto area. An equivalent system, ICOCA, was launched in the Osaka region in November 2003.
Available at JR Midori no Madoguchi counters or at vending machines, the card costs 2000 yen. This includes a 500 yen deposit which is returned when the card is turned in. The remaining 1500 yen is available for train rides, and more money can be charged on to the card at designated ticket machines. The balance on the card can be checked at these machines, and a travel record can be printed out as well.
There are two types of Suica, the Suica IO card which can be used to ride trains in the place of paper tickets and magnetic cards, and the Suica commuter pass for unlimited travelling between two destinations for work or school. The Suica commuter pass also doubles as the Suica IO card.
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 a mass transit card in Singapore.
Suica stands for "Super Urban Intelligent CArd", with a pun on the Japanese word for watermelon, "suika". The "ic" is highlighted to indicate the smart card chip technology.
See also: mass transit systems, electronic money.
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