ICOCA
Appearance
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Iccard.gif/200px-Iccard.gif)
ICOCA is an IC (Integrated Circuit) Card used on the JR West rail network in Japan. It stands for "Integrated Circuit Operating Card." It can be used as a riding ticket or digital cash. For example, you can use it to get on a train or, to buy a drink at a convenience store, or bread from a bakery.
How To Purchase
[change | change source]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/ICOCA_charging_machine.jpg/200px-ICOCA_charging_machine.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/KIPS_ICOCA.png/220px-KIPS_ICOCA.png)
The Green Windows (midori-no-madoguchi) of JR stations sell ICOCA cards. The price of the card is 500 yen (about $5 USD), but at first you must pay 2,000 yen (about $20 USD), and you immediately get 1,500 yen (about $15 USD) of cash on the card. The limit you can have on the card is 20,000 yen (about $200 USD).
Origin of Name
[change | change source]The name of the card is a play on the phrase, "Ikoka" (