Kitaca card (Hokkaido): price, refund and where it works

Can you buy Kitaca now?

31 August 2026

JR Hokkaido ended face-to-face sales at the ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at the stations listed in its notice on 31 August 2026 and moved them to self-service sales. Talking ticket machines there can top up Kitaca and other IC cards.

14 March 2026

JR Hokkaido's list of Kitaca-compatible counters and machines, dated 14 March 2026, includes sales of non-registered and registered Kitaca.

Checked on the issuer's page on 5 October 2026. Sales and prices change: confirm before you travel.

Where to buy Kitaca

JR ticket counters; machines for non-registered

Kitaca cards are sold at JR ticket counters (Midori-no-madoguchi) in stations inside the Kitaca area. The non-registered Kitaca can also be bought at ticket vending machines that handle Kitaca.

Staffed Kitaca sales stations in the Kitaca area

Kitaca is sold at the staffed Kitaca sales stations inside the Kitaca area.

Price, deposit and top-ups

Price from

2,000 yen

Deposit

500 yen, included in the price

Max balance

20,000 yen

Price

A registered or non-registered Kitaca costs 2,000 yen: 1,500 yen of stored fare plus a 500 yen deposit.

Deposit

A new Kitaca includes a 500 yen deposit in its 2,000 yen price.

Maximum balance

The balance on a Kitaca card can be up to 20,000 yen.

Top-ups

A Kitaca cannot be charged by credit card, except a Kitaca with a credit card function charged at the JR ticket counter.

Where you can use Kitaca

Main area

In JR Hokkaido stations, IC cards can be used only in the Sapporo-Asahikawa area and the Hakodate area.

Watch out

IC cards cannot be used for a trip that runs on between the Sapporo-Asahikawa area and the Hakodate area, such as Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to New Chitose Airport. Buy a ticket before boarding.

Watch out

IC cards cannot be used to travel on from a station where they work to a station where they do not, for example Yoichi, Kutchan, Niseko, Biei, Furano, Noboribetsu, Toya, Tomamu, Obihiro or Kushiro. Buy a ticket before boarding.

Watch out

The balance on a Kitaca cannot be used to pay for fare adjustment on the train.

Trains and buses

When you take a limited express train, buy the limited express ticket or reserved seat ticket separately in advance.

Other areas

Kitaca can be used nationwide on railways and buses that carry the mutual-use mark, but not across areas, except the direct through-service sections of the Tokyo Suica and PASMO areas, the SUGOCA area and the Hayakaken area.

Other areas

In the JR Hokkaido Kitaca area you can use Suica, PASMO, TOICA, manaca, ICOCA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca and Hayakaken cards at ticket gates, to top up and buy tickets at machines, and for shopping (not PiTaPa).

Kitaca on your phone

App

In the Kitaca area, Mobile Suica and similar phone-based cards can pass the ticket gates, but cannot be used at other machines except charge machines.

App

JR Hokkaido's English page says that, excluding a certain portion, other design cards and the Mobile Suica card can be used in the Kitaca area.

Refunds, expiry and lost cards

Refund

A Kitaca can be refunded for a handling fee of 220 yen.

If you lose it

A registered Kitaca and a Kitaca commuter pass can be reissued if lost. Reissue costs a 520 yen handling fee and a 500 yen deposit.

Registered card

A non-registered Kitaca cannot be reissued if lost, but a registered Kitaca and a Kitaca commuter pass can, for a 520 yen handling fee plus a 500 yen deposit, 1,020 yen in total.

Cards for children

Child cards: registered and pass only

Kitaca commuter passes and registered Kitaca are sold in adult and child versions with the same deposit. The non-registered Kitaca is for adults only.

The official wording

The issuer's own words, as published on its English pages.

Related items

• New Chitose Airport
• IC card refunds
• Topping up an IC card