Manaca

Manaca, written in lower-case letters, manaca (マナカ, Manaka) is a rechargeable contactless smart card used in Nagoya, Japan and the surrounding area since February 11, 2011, when it replaced the Tranpass magnetic fare card system. As of March 23, 2013, it became compatible with 9 other IC cards, allowing it to be used nationwide.[1]

For the plant, see Euterpe precatoria.
For the Mozambican-Portuguese football player, see Manaca (footballer).
Manaca
LocationNagoya area
LaunchedFebruary 11, 2011
CurrencyJapanese yen (¥20,000 maximum load)
Stored-valuePay as you go
Validity
Retailed
WebsiteNagoya City Transportation Bureau web page
Nagoya Railroad's web page (in Japanese)
How to use Manaca card in a ticket gate.

Etymology
Yellow balloons with Manaca text

The name comes from the Japanese word mannaka (真ん中), meaning "center", because Nagoya is roughly in the center of Japan, and because it claims to be a central part of your lifestyle.[2] The name, even in Japanese, is written in Roman letters as "manaca", usually with a lowercase "m".

Usage

Manaca has a feature set similar to other prepaid IC Cards used across the country. It provides a convenient method of payment for train and bus fares while also being accepted as payment at some shops, restaurants, and vending machines.[3][4]

Manaca cards can be purchased from ticket machines located in subway, city bus and Meitetsu bus and train stations, and are available in both registered and unregistered form. Registered cards require the buyer to provide their name, date of birth, gender, and phone number, but can be replaced if lost or stolen. A registered card is also required in order to purchase a commuter pass. When a new or replacement card is issued, a 500 yen deposit is required. This deposit is refundable if the card is returned. Once it has been issued, credit can be added by inserting it into a compatible credit terminal at any station, choosing the amount to add, and then inserting bills.[5]

Points

There are two kinds of point systems for Manaca cards: mileage points and Tamarun points. The point systems vary depending on the card's maker, either MIC or the Nagoya Transportation Development Organization. The maker of the card is printed on the back of the card in the bottom left.

All cards accumulate mileage points whereas MIC cards can, when registered, also accumulate Tamarun points.

Mileage points are accumulated from spending money stored on the manaca card as transportation fare, such as from riding the subway or non-JR trains. These points are calculated each month and are sent to the "point center" every month on the 10th, they are not automatically credited to the card. In order to use them as fare, they must be transferred to the card, which can be done at a charging station, ticket machine or ticket window.[6] Despite interoperability with JR Central's TOICA service, points cannot be used for JR train fare and are not accumulated by using JR services.[7]

However, cards issued by MIC, once registered online, can also accumulate Tamarun points through purchases paid for with the card at participating vendors. Once acquired, Tamarun points can be used at these vendors to make purchases of goods, but unlike mileage points, these points cannot automatically be used as transportation fare.[8]

Points are also preserved when a registered card is replaced due to loss or theft.

Discounts

When making the following transfers within 90 minutes using a single manaca card, an 80 yen discount is applied:[5]

  • City bus ↔ City bus
  • City bus ↔ Subway
  • City bus ↔ Aonami line
  • Subway ↔ Aonami line
  • City bus ↔ Yutorito Line Raised Zone (Ozone - Obata Ryokuchi)
  • Subway ↔ Yutorito Line Raised Zone (Ozone - Obata Ryokuchi)

Scope

As of March 23, 2013, the Manaca card began interoperability with nine other major Japanese IC cards, allowing it to be used nationwide.[1] In the Nagoya area, it can be used on the following transportation systems:[3][9][10]

See also

References
  1. "Prepaid IC Cards in Japan". Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  2. ＩＣカード乗車券の名称とデザインを決定しました [Name and Design of Passenger's Smart Card has been Decided] (in Japanese). Nagoya Railroad. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  3. "ICカード「マナカ（manaca）」のサービス開始日について" [Concerning the Start of Manaca Smart Card Service] (in Japanese). Nagoya City Bureau of Transportation. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  4. "manaca（マナカ）とは" [Manaca] (in Japanese). E-Money Japan. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  5. "Manaca｜English｜名古屋市交通局". City of Nagoya Transportation Bureau. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  6. "manacaマイレージポイント" (in Japanese).
  7. "TOICAとの相互利用" (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  8. 名鉄たまルン (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  9. "ＩＣカード《manaca》の概要～当社の展開構想～" [Outline of This Company's Conception for Development of the Manaca Smart Card] (in Japanese). Nagoya Railroad. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  10. "manaca（マナカ）とTOICAの乗車券機能の相互利用サービスを平成24年4月21日(土)に開始します" (in Japanese). Nagoya Railroad. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
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