PASPY
Contactless smart card system in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
PASPY (パスピー, Pasupī) was a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transit in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.[1] Its name is a portmanteau of pass, happy, and speedy.[2] Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card used an RFID technology developed by Sony known as FeliCa, but was the first card to employ an 8 KB capacity instead of the standard 4, owing to the need for more capacity to interoperate with the Hiroshima bus system.[3]
PASPY IC card service ended in March 2025 and was replaced with MOBIRY DAYS and ICOCA.[4]
History
The system was conceived as an alternative to the magnetic fare system in place since 1994, which by 2008 was already beginning to show signs of wear; machines were needing to be replaced and customers preferred IC cards over magnetic fare cards.[5] The PASPY card launched with eight issuing companies, each with their own uniquely colored card, on January 26, 2008.[6]
On March 1, 2008[citation needed], the PASPY system also began accepting JR West's ICOCA card (without allowing reciprocal use of PASPY at ICOCA terminals). This was seen as an expedient way to avoid having to obtain agreement from the entire ICOCA service area to have local campaigns and promotional discounts to entice Hiroshima residents to use the PASPY card, while still allowing for travelers from outside the area to use the more widely accepted ICOCA card and visit Hiroshima without having to purchase a PASPY.[7]
Subsequently on March 17, 2018, Nationwide Mutual Usage IC cards became accepted for usage the PASPY area.[8]
The Kure City Transportation Bureau version of PASPY ceased to be sold on April 1, 2012. The Bihoku Kōtsū version ceased sales on September 30, 2014, while Geiyō Bus suspended sales the following day. Hiroshima Rapid Transit ceased sales of PASPY on May 31, 2024, and will stop accepting usage of the cards on the Astram Line on November 30, 2024.[9] After this date, only six color varieties of new PASPY cards were sold.[10]
PASPY service was fully discontinued on March 29, 2025. Refunds will remain available until March 31, 2027.[4]
Operators accepting PASPY
Those with a color in the "Card color" column issue their own version of the cards, while others just accept them.[11]
| Card color | Operator | Sales period | Mode of transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light green | Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) | Ended March 2025 | Railway (tram), bus |
| Yellow | Hiroshima Rapid Transit (Astram Line) | Ended May 2024[9] | Railway (people mover) |
| Hiroshima Tourism Promoting (Miyajima Ropeway) | Railway (aerial tramway) | ||
| Pink | Hiroshima Bus | Ended March 2025 | Bus |
| Orange | Hiroshima Kōtsū (Hirokō Bus) | Ended March 2025 | |
| Dark blue | Geiyō Bus | Ended October 2014 | |
| Blue | Chūgoku JR Bus | Ended March 2025 | |
| Light blue | Bihoku Kōtsū | Ended September 2014 | |
| Green | Tomotetsudou (Tomotetsu Bus) | Ended March 2025 | |
| Purple | Kure City Transportation Bureau | Ended March 2012 | |
| HD Nishi-Hiroshima (Bon-Bus) | |||
| Daiichi Taxi | |||
| Hirokō Kankō | |||
| Dark Green | Chūgoku Bus | Ended March 2025 | |
| Setonaikai Kisen | Ship (ferry and cruise ship) | ||
| Miyajima Matsudai Kisen | Ship (ferry) |