Japan Rail Pass - large increase in prices from October.

[Three-Nine]

For those of you like myself who have been fortunate enough to visit Japan, you probably took advantage of the "Japan Rail Pass", which offered a certain period of use (up to 21 days) on Japan Railway services and which was a real bargain. Sadly, from October, the price of the Pass is going up by a massive 70%; in the case of the 21 day pass this will add approx. £200 at current UK exchange rates to the cost:

Drastic price increase announced for the Japan Rail Pass

About the price increase of the Japan Rail Pass announced for October 2023.

www.japan-guide.com

From October 1, 2023, the cost of the Japan Rail Pass will increase by around 70%, turning the pass into a much less attractive product than it currently is. On July 26, more details about the changes to the pass were released by the JR Group.


Apart from the cost increase, the pass will undergo some minor changes: it will newly allow holders to use Nozomi and Mizuho trains if they pay a hefty supplement fee and to enjoy discounts at selected tourist sites. In addition, the sale of the pass at stations inside of Japan will end on October 1. The old pass will remain on sale until September 30 and can theoretically be used until early 2024.


It was furthermore announced that the cost of many regional rail passes will also increase.

I know Japan Railways have been hit by COVID like everyone else and theres also been concern about "over tourism" in Japan, but its a real shame. My next trip is going to involve several long distance trips which in the past would have made the pass a no-brainer, but I'm going to have to look the cost figures much more closely now.

 

[jfollows]

Thank you for posting that, it's interesting to know.
I went to Japan for a couple of weeks in June and chose not to get the pass - even less likely now I guess. I used a few Nozomi trains buying tickets at the station at the time of travel (Osaka-Hiroshima & return, Osaka-Tokyo single green class) and made most of my other train travel on local trains around Osaka which are very cheap anyway.
I was probably borderline in cost but saved having to wait for slower trains for my few journeys, but the point at which the pass would be sensible seems to be quite a lot more use than I'd be likely to put it to in future.

 

[dutchflyer]

Used one myself in a year shortly after 2000 for 8 days and even managed to visit nearly all of Japans about 20 urban tramways (my very first interest). Have been as far north as north Hokkaido and south as souther tip by rail on Kyushu.
I believe that the price has not been raised in all that period-but Japan does have hardly inflation. Price to pay will of course also depend on the then valid exchange rate to JPY and this valuta is also not that high the last years.
It remains valid on JR only, but on the normal gauge ´hi´speed line these Nozomi trains, now with REServations mandatory, are about the only sector growing that excludes these passes. All Japanese who I ever spoke to and who knew about this pass etc. were quite jealous and envious that the visiting foreigners could get such a good deal they themselves could never get.
This very same message was set on the german DSO forum some 2-3 monthes ago to give ample advance warning.

 

[Three-Nine]

You're welcome, yes, it was a bit of a shock just how ln increase it is!

 

[samuelwilliams]

If you are planning to visit Japan in the near future, you can still take advantage of the current, lower prices by purchasing your JR Pass before the price increase takes effect on October 2023. JR Passes can be activated up to 3 months after the issue date. You can order your pass at the current price point until September 25th.

When you exchange your voucher for the physical pass upon arrival in Japan, you can select an activation start date up to 30 days in the future. This means that depending on when you make your purchase, you potentially could travel with the JR Pass in Japan as late as the end of January, despite the upcoming price hike.

For more detailed information on
purchasing a pass, pricing differences, and benefits of the new passes, please visit: https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/japan-rail-pass-prices-increase.