ICOCA

ICOCA is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on the JR West rail network in Japan. The card was launched on November 1, 2003, for usage on the Urban Network, which encompasses the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe (Keihanshin). It is now usable on many other networks nationwide. The ICOCA area has gradually been expanded, and now includes the San'yo region through the Okayama and Hiroshima urban areas, and some lines in northern Shikoku, San'in and Hokuriku regions as of 2024. ICOCA is an abbreviation of "IC Operating Card" and is also a play on the phrase "Iko ka" (行こか), an informal, Kansai dialect invitation meaning "Shall we go?" The mascot for ICOCA is a blue platypus named Ico the Platypus (カモノハシのイコちゃん, Kamonohashi no Iko-chan). Platypus characters for the children's ICOCA also exist and are named Icota (イコ太, Ikota) and Icomi (イコ美, Ikomi).