The Japanese Transport Ministry said yesterday it will issue 5,000 smart cards during the 2002 World Cup finals that can be used in Japan and South Korea for shopping and using public transport.
The cards will be programmed to provide up to 1,000 yen worth of public transport and up to 2,000 yen worth of shopping, officials said.
Cardholders can use it as a MasterCard credit card and for electronic money transactions in the Japanese yen and the South Korean won, the ministry said. Use of the cards will be restricted to selected airport shops, big hotels, and 2002 World Cup official goods shops in the host cities in Japan and South Korea, it said. The cards will not be accepted at World Cup venues.
The holders can use the cards to pay subway and shuttle bus fares to the Sapporo Dome Stadium in Hokkaido, the ministry said. Currency can be loaded into the card at special machines that will be set up in each country, the ministry said.
