In the last issue, I wrote about “choosing a credit card”, and in that vein, I thought I would write about transportation IC and online reservation services. Since they are all “region-specific,” that is surely one criterion for making a decision. But it would not be the only story.
Suica for now
In fact, since major transportation IC cards are covered by the nationwide reciprocal use system, one might be tempted to think that it is “the same regardless of which one you use,” but I am not so sure.
The author lives in Tokyo and the JR station is the closest to his home. Therefore, Mobile Suica is my main transportation system IC. Since Mobile Suica can be used on any railroad line covered by the nationwide inter-use system, it can be used from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu and Okinawa in the south. I have no trouble with this.
The so-called “10 cards” that are subject to the “nationwide reciprocal use of transportation system IC cards” are as follows.
Kitaca (JR Hokkaido)
Suica (East Japan Railway, etc.)
TOICA (JR Tokai)
ICOCA (JR West, etc.)
SUGOCA (JR Kyushu)
PASMO (Metropolitan area private railway companies)
manaca (Chukyo area mini-railway companies)
PiTaPa (Kinki area private railway companies)
Hayakaken (Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau)
nimoca (West Japan Railway)
However, in some cases, benefits exist only when using “local” payment systems. One example is Iyo Railway, which offers a cashless discount (-20 yen) as well as a ride with Mobile Suica, but it is not eligible for the point service. It requires the “Mikyan App”.
However, the point service is only useful for those who use it on a daily basis, and there is no merit in the point service if it is used only by first-time visitors from other places. Therefore, we think it is sufficient to ignore this point service, and only provide the convenience of cashless boarding.
Then we see that here, as in the previous discussion of credit card selection, the factor of “how much daily use” has an impact.
Therefore, for example, if you want to accumulate “JRE POINT” by using JR trains and electronic money in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Mobile Suica or My Suica (name system) would be the best choice. However, since the points earned are limited in my situation, I use the points I have accumulated when I use the green car of a regular train.
The author also keeps My Suica (name system) as a remnant from before the introduction of Mobile Suica, but does not use it on a regular basis. I only use it occasionally to charge a small amount of money to maintain its function as a backup. I also have a Kitaca, but this is mainly because “Ezomomonga (Japanese flying squirrel) is cute.
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