💳 ICOCA Card 2025: Osaka & Kyoto Transit Guide | Tripmoo
Uncategorized💳 ICOCA Card 2025: Your Guide to Getting Around Osaka & Kyoto
The ICOCA Card is a rechargeable smart transit card for the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe). It works just like Suica/Pasmo in Tokyo — tap to ride trains, subways and buses, and pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and many cafés.
📌 Where to Buy an ICOCA Card
- Main JR West stations: Osaka, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka.
- Ticket machines with the ICOCA logo.
- Midori no Madoguchi (JR West ticket/service counters).
You’ll pay a ¥500 deposit plus an initial balance (typically ¥1500).
💰 Card Price & Recharge
- Card price: ¥2000 (¥1500 stored value + ¥500 refundable deposit).
- Top-up: at JR/subway stations and most convenience stores.
- Max balance: ¥20,000.
🚆 How to Use the ICOCA Card
- Trains & subways across Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
- City buses and many regional bus routes.
- Stores & cafés: 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, and more.
- Vending machines and participating restaurants.
Tap in/out at ticket gates. Keep a small buffer (e.g., ¥1000) to avoid insufficient balance at exit.
🔄 ICOCA vs. Suica/Pasmo
All IC cards work the same way; the main difference is the region of issuance.
– ICOCA: Western Japan (Kansai).
– Suica / Pasmo: Eastern Japan (Tokyo).
They’re largely interoperable nationwide for local transit and in-store payments.
For a deep dive, see:
Suica & Pasmo Guide.
❓ FAQ
Can I use ICOCA in Tokyo? Yes — interoperable with Suica/Pasmo on most local lines and stores.
Where do I refund the deposit? JR West counters (Midori no Madoguchi) in Kansai.
Does it work on the Shinkansen? Not for base fares — buy Shinkansen tickets separately (you can still use ICOCA to reach the station on local trains).
Is it good for tourists? Definitely. It saves time vs. buying single tickets and works across trains, subways, buses and shops.
