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
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
7-Eleven now sells rice burgers in Japan, blurring the line between fast and convenience store food
Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch
Japan’s two-month Shut-in Pilgrimage – A 1,200-year-old way to deal with a modern issue
We suspected this Japanese cable car was an overpriced tourist trip, but we underestimated it
Sapporo Breweries reveals Ginza Brown — the only beer in the world made from honey bee yeast!
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
We delight in the gastronomic treasures we found in the Hokkaido Umaimonokan lucky bag
Turn a persimmon into a pudding with one simple ingredient
We tried eating a raw “mizu nasu” eggplant, and it tastes like a weird fruit【Taste Test】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
This hot springs town in Japan sets fire across a mountain every winter in a beautiful tradition
Gundam and Reebok team up for new GQuuuuuuX Pumps【Photos】
More Shinkansen trains being added to Japan’s “golden route” to meet traveler demand
Japanese man who didn’t know how banks work defrauded out of 21 million yen
Japanese woman sues man for 1.5 million yen for violating her “right to chastity”
U.S.A. now the fastest-growing market for Japan’s high-tech toilets, now selling quicker than ever
Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitors
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
A guide to visiting Sagamiko Illumination, one of the three biggest light-ups in Kanto
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
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
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]
Leave a Reply