PASPY

PASPY (パスピー) is a rechargeable contactless smart card ticketing system for public transit in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Its name is a portmanteau of pass, happy, and speedy. Like other electronic fare collection systems in Japan, the card uses an RFID technology developed by Sony known as FeliCa, but was the first 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.

While the PASPY system accepts numerous IC cards from across Japan, PASPY cards cannot be used on in other areas. PASPY IC card service will end in March 2025 and be replaced with ICOCA.

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. The PASPY card launched with eight issuing companies, each with their own uniquely colored card, on January 26, 2008.

On March 1, 2008, the PASPY system also began accepting JR West's ICOCA card, but without allowing PASPY to be used 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.

Subsequently on March 17, 2018, Nationwide Mutual Usage IC cards (specifically, Suica, PASMO, TOICA, manaca, ICOCA, Kitaca, SUGOCA, nimoca, Hayakaken, and PiTaPa) can be used in the PASPY area.

The Kure City Transportation Bureau version of PASPY ceased to be sold on 1 April 2012, the Bihoku Kōtsū version ceased on 30 September 2014, while the Geiyō Bus version ceased on 31 September 2014. As a result, there are now only seven colour varieties of new Paspy cards sold.

Operators accepting PASPY
Those with a color in the "Card color" column issue their own version of the cards, while others just accept them. Those with a strikethrough indicate the company has ended sales of their own cards, and thus that color of card is now unavailable.