Japan raises bullet train rail pass prices by 70% for tourists

Tourists in Japan will pay more for rail passes after the JR train network raised prices for the first time in four decades, by an average of 70% but even with the big increase, demand is likely to stay strong thanks to a cheaper yen and flow of inbound visitors.g)..

We never raised the prices other than making slight adjustments during consumer-tax hikes, said Koki Mizuno, a spokesman at Central Japan Railway Co. System upgrades made over the years, such as introducing online seat reservations and the ability to use automatic ticket gates, hadnt been reflected in pass prices, he added..

Some visitors may shift to low-cost carriers, including Jetstar and All Nippon Airways Co.s Peach, for long-distance intercity travel, Wong said, given that airfares can cost 10% to 70% less than regular train tickets..

Hone, who toured Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyoto on a recent trip, said she would rather buy individual tickets because it wouldnt make sense to buy passes at the new, higher price..

. Yet, Wong said that trains could maintain a strong edge over airlines for short- to medium-distance trips, where traveling by air is less efficient due to airport access and dwell time, and with modest dollar cost savings. ..

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