Always Dreamed Of Riding A Bullet Train In Japan? Tourists Will Now Shell Out 70% More

For the first time in forty years, Japan’s JR train network has raised its rail pass prices by an average of 70% for tourists.

According to Bloomberg, this price change became effective from the start of this month. The rail pass, which allows 14 days of unlimited travel across Japan, now costs ¥80,000 ($534), up from ¥47,250. The price hikes range from about 65% to 77% for various pass options.

The JR group of six train operators argues that the new fares reflect the extension of services into northern regions and system upgrades, such as online seat reservations and automatic ticket gates. Previously, prices were set when there were fewer bullet-train destinations.

See Also: Warehouse Manager Retires After $8K Shiba Inu Bet Reaps Him $500K — What If He Had Held On To SHIB?

“We never raised the prices other than making slight adjustments during consumer-tax hikes,” said Koki Mizuno, a spokesman at Central Japan Railway Co.

Despite the price hike, tourists have the option to pay an extra fee to ride the Nozomi and Mizuho, the fastest shinkansen bullet-train services. Rachel Wright, a tourist from San Francisco, called the new prices a “screaming deal”.

However, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Denise Wong suggests that the price increase may push some visitors to shift to low-cost carriers, such as Jetstar and All Nippon Airways Co.’s Peach, for long-distance intercity travel.

Photo Courtesy: Sean Pavone on Shutterstock.com

Read Next: Plug Power Stock Is Plunging: What’s Going On?