SUGOCA

SUGOCA () is a Japanese rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transport in and around Fukuoka Prefecture. The Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) introduced the system on March 1, 2009. The name comes from "Smart Urban Going Card", while in the local KyÃÂ«shÃÂ« dialect means "great". Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses RFID technology developed by Sony Corporation, known as FeliCa. American graphic artist Rodney Alan Greenblat designed its official mascot, a frog with a clock.

On March 13, 2010, SUGOCA began interoperation with Nishitetsu's nimoca, Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau's Hayakaken, and JR East's Suica. On March 5, 2011, in a reciprocal agreement with JR Central and JR West, SUGOCA became usable in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, Okayama-Hiroshima and Nagoya metropolitan areas. In 2013, interoperation was extended country-wide, and SUGOCA became usable in all major cities across Japan as part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service.

Usable area

SUGOCA was implemented on March 1, 2009, in 124 JR stations in Fukuoka Prefecture, mainly in the Fukuoka-KitakyÃÂ«shÃÂ« area. As of 2022 it's usable in a total of 124 stations of below lines.

Chikuhi Line: Meinohama to Karatsu
ChikuhÃÂ Main Line: (Fukuhoku Yutaka Line, Wakamatsu Line): Wakamatsu to Keisen
Hohi Main Line: Kumamoto to Higo-ÃÂzu, and Nakahanda to ÃÂita
de facto allow travelling between Higo-ÃÂzu and Naka-Handa if no alights of train on halfway stations
Ibusuki Makurazaki Line: Kagoshima-ChÃÂ«ÃÂ to Kiire
Kagoshima Main Line: MojikÃÂ to Yatsushiro, and Sendai to Kagoshima (the currently whole line)
Karatsu Line: Karatsu to Nishi-Karatsu
Kashii Line (Umi-no-Nakamichi Line): the whole line
Kyudai Main Line: Kurume to ZendÃÂji, and Mukainoharu to ÃÂita
de facto allow travelling between ZendÃÂji and Mukainoharu if no alights of train on halfway stations
Miyazaki Kuko Line: the whole line
Nagasaki Main Line: Tosu to Saga, and Isahaya to Nagasaki (includes Nagayo branch)
scheduled to implement supports for Saga to KÃÂhoku section by 2024
Nichinan Line: Minami-Miyazaki to Tayoshi
NippÃÂ Main Line: Nishi-Kokura to KÃÂzaki, Sadowara to Tano, and Kokubu to Kagoshima (except for RyÃÂ«gamizu)
Omura Line: Isahaya to Takematsu
scheduled to implement supports for Haiki to Huis Ten Bosch section by 2024
SanyÃÂ Main Line: Shimonoseki to Moji (the whole line of JR Kyushu operation)
Sasaguri Line (Fukuhoku Yutaka Line): the whole line
Sasebo Line (from 2024): the whole line

Types of cards

There are currently three types of cards available. The is available as either an unregistered or registered card (allowing riders' cards to be reissued if lost). The second is the , which requires registration. The third is which can be used for non-reserved seats of limited express trains.

Other SUGOCA variants and designs exist, such as the Mono SUGOCA, functionally identical to the normal SUGOCA but featuring a design of the Kitakyushu Monorail's Kokura Station. It was issued starting October 1, 2015.

On January 23, 2020, JR Kyushu unveiled SUGOMON Pass, a SUGOCA variant designed for use by tourists to Japan. The card's design features Kumamon, the official mascot of Kumamoto. Unlike JR East's similar Welcome Suica for tourists, SUGOMON Pass has no expiry date and is refundable with a 220 handling fee.

Extended functionality

SUGOCA's functionality includes electronic money and can be used at stores in Fukuoka Prefecture and at vending machines and convenience stores nationwide.

Part of the Nationwide Mutual Usage Service, SUGOCA is usable on public transportation across Japan.

References

External links