Hankyu Railway and Hanshin Electric Railway will reportedly start selling “ICOCA” from March 1.
↓ Hankyu Railway flyer
Where ICOCA Will Be Sold
The places where ICOCA will be sold differ between Hankyu and Hanshin. If you are getting a new ICOCA card, a 500 yen deposit is required.
Hankyu Railway
ICOCA: Only at the red ticket machines at each station
Children’s ICOCA: Only at commuter pass sales offices（In Nishinomiya, that means Nishinomiya-kitaguchi Station and Shukugawa Station）
ICOCA Commuter Pass
If you are buying a new ICOCA commuter pass: At the red ticket machines at each station and at commuter pass sales offices
If you already have an ICOCA card: At the red ticket machines at each station and at commuter pass sales offices
Children’s ICOCA Commuter Pass
If you are buying a new ICOCA commuter pass: Only at commuter pass sales offices
If you already have an ICOCA card: At the red ticket machines at each station and at commuter pass sales offices
※Red ticket machines exclude Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome and Hanakuma on the Kobe Kosoku Line.
Hanshin Electric Railway
ICOCA: Only at the blue ticket machines at each station
Children’s ICOCA: Only at commuter pass sales offices（In Nishinomiya, that means Nishinomiya Station and Koshien Station）
ICOCA Commuter Pass
If you are buying a new ICOCA commuter pass: At automatic commuter pass machines installed at some stations and at commuter pass sales offices
Children’s ICOCA Commuter Pass
If you are buying a new ICOCA commuter pass: At automatic commuter pass machines installed at some stations and at commuter pass sales offices
※Blue ticket machines exclude Osaka Namba Station, Higashi-Naruo Station, and Suzaki Station.
The Difference Between ICOCA and PiTaPa
The difference between ICOCA and PiTaPa is that ICOCA is issued by JR West, and the biggest difference in Kansai is the payment method.
| ICOCA | Prepaid（pay in advance / rechargeable） |
| PiTaPa | Postpaid（credit card payment / auto-charge） |
ICOCA Is Basically Paid in Advance
You can buy it at stations. Basically, ICOCA needs to be charged with cash at ticket machines, convenience stores, and similar places. There is also something like an upgraded version called SMART ICOCA, where by registering a credit card, you can charge the card up to your desired amount using only the SMART ICOCA card at quick-charge machines inside stations.
PiTaPa Uses Auto-Charge
You cannot buy it at stations. PiTaPa is postpaid, and in most cases requires a credit card screening. Since it is tied to a credit card, monthly payments are withdrawn from your bank account. It auto-charges every time you pass through the ticket gate, so it is convenient not having to think about going to a ticket machine.
Summary
This should make things more convenient for people living along the Hankyu and Hanshin lines who have been using ICOCA.
