Expo Commemorative ICOCA Gains Popularity: Limited Quantity, Key to Acquisition Is ‘West Gate’

The Osaka-Kansai Expo has finally opened. Inside the venue, there are multiple goods stores, each offering a variety of original products.

Among the various items, the highlight is the ‘Osaka-Kansai Expo Commemorative ICOCA’ available at the JR West Group’s official store located in the West Gate area. The ICOCA character ‘Iko-chan’ and the Expo’s official mascot ‘Myakumyaku’ are depicted enjoying Osaka specialties such as okonomiyaki, pork buns, and mixed juice.

This commemorative ICOCA cannot be purchased separately. One is included with each purchase of eligible items. The eligible items are: ‘Iko-chan & Myakumyaku Station Master Plushie’ (7,600 yen including tax, limited to 5,000 pieces), ‘Glass Photo/Card Frame’ (8,150 yen, limited to 200 pieces), ‘Plushie Pass Case Set Iko-chan Version/Myakumyaku Version’ (4,300 yen each, limited to 5,000 pieces each), ‘Iko-chan & Myakumyaku Mascot Card Stand’ (5,950 yen, limited to 5,000 pieces), ‘Iko-chan Plushie Card Case’ (6,500 yen, limited to 5,000 pieces), ‘Wooden Pass Case A/B’ (3,200 yen each, limited to 10,000 pieces each), ‘Synthetic Leather Pass Case’ (3,200 yen, limited to 3,000 pieces), ‘Original Pass Case’ (2,650 yen, limited to 14,800 pieces), totaling 10 types. These range from decorative to practical items.

The commemorative ICOCA comes with 500 yen worth of SF (electronic money), so considering the 500 yen deposit, effectively, it’s a 1,000 yen discount off the above prices.

While the Expo venue is entirely cashless, note that for products with ICOCA, the four payment methods PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d Payment, and Merpay cannot be used due to restrictions.

The store is located inside the Expo venue, at the West Gate Marketplace. Opening hours are from 9 AM to 9:30 PM daily (entry until 9 PM). As the commemorative ICOCA goods are already becoming popular, to ensure purchase, it is recommended to enter through the West Gate as soon as it opens and head straight to the store.

Besides these, the store also offers a wide range of original products currently only available at the Expo, like the ‘Nendoroid Platypus Iko-chan’, so be sure to check them out.