There is good and bad news for travellers intending to purchase a Japan Rail Pass.
JR group of companies will raise prices for the pass that allows unlimited travel on trains across Japan, including most shinkansen bullet train services.
Prices for the pass, which are offered by Japan’s six passenger railway operators and sold by designated overseas agents and the official website, will increase by around five to six percent from 1 October.
Prices for passes purchased through the official website will remain unchanged for a limited period, with the timing of the revision to be announced later.
The price of the adult (1st Class) 7-day pass will go up to 74,000 yen (US$464) from 70,000 yen. An adult 7-day standard pass will rise to US$328.
The company last revised prices for its Japan Rail Pass – only available to foreign tourists visiting Japan – in October 2023, when they were raised by almost 70%.
However, while prices are going up, it is now easier to pick up a Japan Rail Pass.
Where previously, pass pickup had to be handled by a live attendant at a designated ticket office, passes reserved via the official Japan Rail Pass reservation website can now be exchanged at select JR East ticket vending machines equipped with passport readers.
The list of stations equipped with these readers include:
Japan Rail passes purchased from JR-designated third-party retailers or agents are not eligible for this reservation and must still be exchanged at a designated exchange counter.