OKICA

OKICA (オキカ, Okika), short for "Okinawa IC Card", is a contactless smart card used for public transport in Okinawa.

History and overview

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OKICA was the first contactless public transportation card introduced in Okinawa Prefecture.[1][2][3] It was named by public contest, with the winning name submitted by a fifth grade student named Yuko Nakajima from the village of Yomitan, chosen from 357 submissions.[4] OKICA was introduced on October 20, 2014 on the Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail),[4] with major bus operators across the main island of Okinawa (Naha Bus, Ryukyu Bus Kotsu, Okinawa Bus, Toyo Bus) adding support on April 27, 2015.[5][6] On August 16, 2021, some taxis also introduced support for OKICA.[7][8][9] Nanjō City's community bus system, N Bus, began support for the card on October 20, 2021.[4]

OKICA sold over 130,000 units during its introductory year and a half.[10] As of March 2023, cards had been issued to 537,000 riders, surpassing the initial 2023 goal of 356,000. A limited-edition design featuring Pokémon characters was released in August 2021 as part of the "Flying Pikachu Project" to promote travel in Okinawa.[4] There is a utilization goal (on Yui Rail) of 60% by 2024.[10]

As of 2020, OKICA supports fareless transport for high school students in the prefecture, along with some senior and disabled riders.[4]

The card is maintained and administered by Okinawa IC Card Co., Ltd., a public corporation based in Naha and created for the purpose of overseeing the card's use.[11]

Usage

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OKICA is used on Yui Rail, bus operators, and some taxi services on Okinawa Island. While Yui Rail has also supported the use of Japan's ten major IC cards (such as Suica or SUGOCA) since March 10, 2020,[12][13] as of 2024, buses only accept payment via OKICA or cash.[14] Feasibility studies have been conducted as to whether ferries may see support in the future.[1]

Fare loaded onto cards may also be used as e-money at over 100 stores and restaurants on the island.[7][8][15]

The card cannot be used outside Okinawa Prefecture, and expires after a period of 10 years without use.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "来月２０日から「オキカ」稼働 モノレールのＩＣ乗車券" ["OKICA" will begin operations on the 20th of next month, monorail IC ticket]. The Ryukyu Shimpo (in Japanese). 2014-09-01. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  2. ^ "Local bus companies switching to OKICA system". Japan Update. 29 April 2015.
  3. ^ Kuzamichi, Yoshizaki (29 January 2014). "沖縄本島のICカード、名前は「OKICA」…2015年度導入へ" [Okinawa main island IC card, called "OKICA"...will be introduced in 2015]. Response.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Yonaha, Satoko (2023-05-13). "ポケモンともコラボ 満10年のOKICA "沖縄経済圏"の実現へ ハイペースで拡大中" (PDF). Okinawa Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-13. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  5. ^ "オキカはなぜスイカと連動しないのか？ 沖縄初の交通系ICカードが描く未来". Okinawa Times (in Japanese). 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  6. ^ "4月27日（月）、ICカード「OKICA」のバス運用が開始| おでかけ情報｜ちゅらとく". ちゅらとく (in Japanese). 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  7. ^ a b "OKICAカードのタクシー、商業店舗での利用開始をお知らせします". 沖縄の交通ICカード OKICA（オキカ） (in Japanese). 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  8. ^ a b "OKICA取扱事業所・取扱店". 沖縄の交通ICカード OKICA（オキカ） (in Japanese). 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  9. ^ "タクシー会社一覧" (PDF). 沖縄の交通ICカード OKICA（オキカ）. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  10. ^ a b "沖縄モノレール1600万人超え OKICA順調、4年連続過去最多" [Okinawa Monorail has over 1.6 million riders, OKICA does well, the most passengers in 4 years]. Okinawa Times (in Japanese). 2016-04-09.
  11. ^ "OKICA Main Website" (in Japanese).
  12. ^ "令和2年3月10日より「Suica」およびSuicaと相互利用する交通系ICカードの利用が始まりました".
  13. ^ "沖縄エリア｜利用可能エリア｜Suica". JR East (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  14. ^ "よくある質問". 琉球バス交通 那覇バス 公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-13. Q20.路線バスでSuicaやPASMOは使えますか？ A. いいえ。交通系ICカードはOKICAのみご利用いただけます。
  15. ^ "オキカ、小売り・飲食店で利用可能 - 日本経済新聞". 日本経済新聞 電子版 (in Japanese). 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  16. ^ "OKICA取扱規則" [OKICA Terms of Use] (in Japanese).
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