The West Japan Railway Company, also known as JR West, is celebrating 10 years since the launch of its ICOCA smartcard passes. And they’re doing it in style!
Introducing the JR West and Pokémon Center Osaka limited-edition collaboration railway card! Now you can ride all over Western Japan with your Pikachu train pass, which comes complete with a pop-up stand of the cute critter’s head, for just 2,000 yen (US$20)!
That’s right! JR West will be printing 30,000 limited-edition IC passes sporting the iconic electric-type pokémon on the front. These train passes not only eliminate the need for paper tickets anywhere that uses JR West train lines, but hold great collector value with pokémaniacs throughout Japan!
Because of the predicted popularity of the cards, 10,000 of them are being sold to special online lottery winners, with preorder applications having openined up on September 13 on the official website. If you’re a resident of Japan and wish to apply, just fill in your name and home address (or J-WEST online member’s code, if you happen to have one) along with the number of IC passes you wish to purchase. Winners will be notified in late October via postcard of their eligibility to buy their Pikachu pass. Unfortunately, this preorder lottery doesn’t get you the cards for free; you still have to pay the 2,000 yen start-up fee, but this includes a 500-yen (US$5) deposit if you return your card and 1,500 yen (US$15) to use to on your Pokémon adventure!
Those who don’t manage to win in the lottery will have to try their luck in person at Pokémon Center Osaka store on November 1, the day the cards go on sale. Good luck!
Source: Hachima Kikou
Inset images: JR Odekake
Japan Rail West offering chance to sleep in a platypus’ mouth
JR West comes up with brilliant plan to save turtles and prevent train delays, touches netizens
JR East announces awesomely cheap one-day all-you can ride pass, Shinkansen included
JR West unveils new Japanese long distance train with special features for passengers
Japan’s famous Suica Penguin JR train pass card mascot is “graduating”/being laid off
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
Japanese fashion company’s modernized haori half coats will keep you warm and samurai chic
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success
The new Simose Art Museum in Hiroshima houses a floating, futuristic surprise next to the sea
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan’s new random-destination die-roll train tickets — Amazing bargain for just 36 bucks
New unlimited-ride JR Japan rail pass is perfect for a laid-back trip in east and northeast Japan
JR group offers all-you-can-ride passes for older couples in “Full Moon Couple Green Pass” deal
Finally! General sales of Japan’s ultra convenient Sucia, Pasmo prepaid train cards resume next month
Last chance coming up for amazing east Japan for all-you-can-ride Shinkansen-inclusive train pass
We roll the die on Japan’s new random-destination train tickets
Pokémon photo spots popping up in center of Japan’s third-biggest city for Japan Railway event
Tokyo train stations giving out awesome giant Pokémon cards, but you’ll want to hurry
First-class section being added to Tokyo commuter trains this month with double-decker Green Cars
Two days to hunt down all of Tottori’s 20 Pokémon manhole covers [Part One]