was a rechargeable contactless
smart card
A smart card (SC), chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card), is a card used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an Embedded system, embedded integrated circuit (IC) chip. Many smart ...
ticketing system for public transport in
Oita Prefecture
Oita often refers to:
* Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
*Ōita (city), the capital of the prefecture
Oita or Ōita may also refer to:
Places
* Ōita District, Ōita, a former district in Ōita Prefecture, Japan
*Ōita Stadium, a multi-use stadi ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. Oita Bus, Oita Kōtsū, and Kamenoi Bus introduced the system on December 26, 2010. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses
FeliCa
FeliCa is a contactless RFID smart card system from Sony in Japan, primarily used in electronic money cards. The name stands for ''Felicity Card''. First utilized in the Octopus card system in Hong Kong, the technology is used in a variety of cards ...
,
RFID
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder called a tag, a radio receiver, and a transmitter. When tri ...
technology developed by
Sony
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
. The design of the card features
nimoca
Nimoca (), stylized in lowercase as nimoca, is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu) introduced the system on May 18, 2008. Its name is an acr ...
's ferret mascot Nimoca-chan alongside Mejiron (
めじろん), the
mascot character of Oita Prefecture.
Tte card (along with the normal nimoca variant) was initially usable on local bus lines operated by Oita Bus and Oita Kōtsū, with expanded support to more operators beginning March 20, 2011. As Mejiron Nimoca and nimoca had integrated services,
SUGOCA,
Hayakaken,
Suica
Suica () is a prepaid rechargeable contactless smart card and electronic money system used as a fare card on train lines and other public transport systems in Japan, launched on November 18, 2001, by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The ...
, and other Japanese IC cards were also usable in the area.
Sales of Mejiron Nimoca cards ended in 2014, with all existing operators transitioning to the standard nimoca design.
Usable area
*Buses
**Oita Bus: All local bus lines, and some express bus lines
**Oita Kōtsū: All local bus lines and ''Airliner'' airport report bus lines
**Kamenoi Bus: All local bus lines
*Others (as
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 ...
):
** All
Lawson stores in Oita Prefecture
Types of cards
*Nimoca: "Anonymous" card without required registration
*Star Nimoca: Named card with the ability to be reissued if lost; also supports commuter passes
*Credit Nimoca: Same as the above with additional
credit card functionality
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Fare collection systems in Japan
Contactless smart cards
Transport in Ōita Prefecture