Recently, Japan Rail Group has announced it will increase the price of the Japan Rail Pass from October 2023 along with a host of new additions. In this post to discuss what it will mean for you.
Introduction:
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a nationwide valid ticket, that includes unlimited travel on all JR lines, both local and the high speed bullet trains, plus a variety of local JR buses & the JR Ferry to Miyajima. As of October 2023, both the price and usage conditions will be revised. In this post, we go through the upcoming changes and how this will impact the Japan Rail Pass.
New Pricing:
The price increase is very significant and will depend on the pass type and duration. Here is the old and new pricing:
Ordinary Car (2nd Class)
- 7-day = 50,000 yen (current 29,650) = 67% increase
- 14-day = 80,000 yen (current 47,250) = 69% increase
- 21-day = 100,000 yen (current 60,450) = 65% increase
Green Car (1st Class)
- 7-day = 70,000 yen (current 39,600) = 77% increase
- 14-day = 110,000 yen (current 64,120) = 72% increase
- 21-day = 140,000 yen (current 83,390) = 68% increase
There’s no denying that, at first impression, this is a massive price hike. Putting in context with factors: such as the devaluation of the yen against other currencies, the level of energy inflation Japan is seeing and general increase of cost, a price increase was to be expected. Then there’s the fact that the JR Pass base price has not changed in a couple of decades.
In addition to the JR Pass, the cost of normal fares and tickets are also set to increase, so the change is not in isolation and remains good value. To help travellers decide if the JR Pass is right for them, we will continue to offer free resources such as the JR Fare Calculator and free personal advice on our community forum.
Until when can passes be purchased for the old price
The final date of sale is yet to be announced, what we do know is that old vouchers will be honoured up to 3 months after issue date. As the changes are set to go live in October, we highly suggest ordering your passes before October 1st where possible. Note that exchange orders placed by this date can be activated in Japan until Dec 31st, 2023. At time of activation, a first day of travel can be selected up to 1 month ahead of time. That means travel could commence as late as the end of January, given that the pass was active in Japan by Dec 30th.
Summary for ordering passes:
- Old prices remain valid for orders placed BEFORE October (order by Sept 30th latest).
- The pass can be activated 3 months after issue date.
- At activation time in Japan, a starting date up to 30 days in the future can be selected.
- Keep your exchange date + 3 month activation window in mind when placing the order. For example, if your exchange date is Dec 26th - then you should order on Sept 27th or after.
After the updated price goes live, it will no longer be possible to order vouchers at the old rates.
In conclusion
Prices hikes are never fun, there is no way around it. That said, with the new perks and tourism discounts the Japan Rail Pass is becoming a “Japan Pass” that is not just used for transport but tourism and exploring Japan in general. Encouraging travellers to go beyond the “Golden route” like Tokyo and Kyoto, and explore the rich diversity of destinations Japan has to offer.
As for regional passes, these prices remain mainly unchanged (though they have seen more regular price increases through the years). Meaning that regional passes may offer a better value option in the future. To find out if a regional pass would benefit your itinerary, read our expert guide to regional passes.
Disclaimer: This page is up-to-date as of publication, and we will do our best to update this as new information becomes available. However, we can not take any responsibility for action take by readers based on the information provided here.
