Manaca
Encyclopedia
Manaca is a rechargeable contactless smart card
used in Nagoya, Japan and the surrounding area since February 11, 2011. It replaced the existing Tranpass
magnetic fare card system, both in scope and function.
, a national holiday. From that day, sales of Tranpass cards, including Yurika cards and Panorama Cards, ceased, but they will still be usable until the last train departs at the end of February 29, 2012.
Cards may be purchased without registering a name to the card, or with a name registered to it, in which case a season ticket
or commuter pass
may be stored on it. Cards, both registered and unregistered, may be purchased from ticket machines that support manaca cards at any subway station.
Specific features which are new to this card include:
Mileage points are points accumulated from spending money stored on the manaca card as transportation fare, such as from riding the subway or other trains. Cards from either maker will accumulate such points as long as the card is registered with one's name and so on when purchased. These mileage points can be converted to fare stored on the card, but this must be done manually and periodically, or the points may expire.
There is a second type of point called Tamarun points, which accumulate on a manaca card in addition to mileage points, and which can only be used with cards bought from Meitetsu or Toyohashi Rail stations. The use of this system requires online registration after purchase of a registered card, after which one can check one's Tamarun point balance online and get other information related to Tamarun. Tamarun points can be accumulated by making purchases with one's manaca card at participating vendors, and Tamarun points can be used at these vendors to make purchases of goods, but these points cannot automatically be used as transportation fare like mileage points.
Essentially, mileage points are associated with stored fare, and Tamarun points are associated with buying goods.
by 2013. Passengers can use it on the following transportation systems:
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
used in Nagoya, Japan and the surrounding area since February 11, 2011. It replaced the existing Tranpass
Tranpass
is the name of a magnetic fare card that can be used with many trains and buses running in Nagoya and its suburbs, especially trains and buses operated by Nagoya City and Nagoya Railroad, commonly known as Meitetsu...
magnetic fare card system, both in scope and function.
Introduction
Sales of manaca cards began on Friday, February 11, 2011, which was National Foundation DayNational Foundation Day
is a national holiday in Japan celebrated annually on February 11. On this day, Japanese celebrate the founding of the nation and the imperial line by its legendary first emperor, Jimmu, who according to legend established his capital in Yamato in 660 BC....
, a national holiday. From that day, sales of Tranpass cards, including Yurika cards and Panorama Cards, ceased, but they will still be usable until the last train departs at the end of February 29, 2012.
Name
The name comes from the Japanese word , meaning "center", because Nagoya is roughly in the center of Japan, and because it claims to be a central part of your lifestyle. The name, even in Japanese, is written in Roman letters as "manaca", usually with a lowercase "m".Features
Manaca has many of the same features of other smart cards in Japan like TOICA.Cards may be purchased without registering a name to the card, or with a name registered to it, in which case a season ticket
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
or commuter pass
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
may be stored on it. Cards, both registered and unregistered, may be purchased from ticket machines that support manaca cards at any subway station.
Specific features which are new to this card include:
- It is rechargeable, meaning that money can be added to the card an indefinite number of times after it has been purchased.
- It can be used as a prepaid card in restaurants and other businesses to pay for goods in lieu of cash.
- It allows a commuter passSeason ticketA season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
to be stored on it. - As a contactless smart card, it can be read by the automatic gates by placing it close to the smart card reader without having to touch the gates directly.
- It allows passengers to buy a commuter pass at any station
- If it is lost and has been bought in a passenger's name, it can be replaced along with stored fare and any commuter pass that was stored on it
- It can be used an indefinite number of times as a regular fare card or a commuter pass, so it does not create a disposal problem like the single-use Tranpass cards
Points
Manaca cards can accumulate points, but there are two point systems, mileage points and Tamarun points, but Tamarun points are specific to one maker, namely MIC, which makes cards bought at Meitetsu and Toyohashi Rail stations. The other maker is Nagoya Transportation Development Organization, which produces cards bought at any other location. The maker of the card is printed on the back of the card in the bottom left.Mileage points are points accumulated from spending money stored on the manaca card as transportation fare, such as from riding the subway or other trains. Cards from either maker will accumulate such points as long as the card is registered with one's name and so on when purchased. These mileage points can be converted to fare stored on the card, but this must be done manually and periodically, or the points may expire.
There is a second type of point called Tamarun points, which accumulate on a manaca card in addition to mileage points, and which can only be used with cards bought from Meitetsu or Toyohashi Rail stations. The use of this system requires online registration after purchase of a registered card, after which one can check one's Tamarun point balance online and get other information related to Tamarun. Tamarun points can be accumulated by making purchases with one's manaca card at participating vendors, and Tamarun points can be used at these vendors to make purchases of goods, but these points cannot automatically be used as transportation fare like mileage points.
Essentially, mileage points are associated with stored fare, and Tamarun points are associated with buying goods.
Scope
The scope of Manaca is identical to the Tranpass card that it replaced, and will be able to be used interchangeably with TOICA by 2012 and SuicaSuica
is a rechargeable contactless smart card used as a fare card on train lines in Japan. Launched in November 2001, the card is usable currently in the Kantō region, at JR East stations near Sendai and Niigata...
by 2013. Passengers can use it on the following transportation systems:
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