Price of popular tourist rail pass in Japan to increase from October
Passengers will pay around £14 more for a week pass
Aliver
Tourists will soon pay more to travel by train in Japan as a railway operator increases its prices.
From 1 October, the Japan Rail Pass will increase by 3,000 yen (£14) to 53,000 yen (£247) for an adult week pass in a standard train carriage.
Seven-day adult passes for premium Green Car carriages will also increase by 4,000 yen (£19) to 74,000 yen (£345).
The “convenient pass” allows tourists visiting Japan unlimited train travel, including most bullet train services, said the operator, the JR Group.
Three-week passes will rise by 5,000 yen (£23) to 105,000 yen (£490) for adults in standard cars, and by 7,000 yen (£33) to 147,000 yen (£685) for those travelling in premium seats.
Anyone who enters Japan under a 14-day or 90-day tourist visa is eligible to use a Japan Rail Pass.
Prices for child tickets have increased from between 2,000 (£10) and 4,000 yen (£19) across all ticket classes.
The JR Group said: “Since the last price changes of the Japan Rail Pass on October 1, 2023, some JR companies adjusted their ticket prices. As a result, we have decided to revise the Japan Rail Pass prices accordingly.”
Japan rail passes can be purchased online or through designated JR sales offices and agencies.
Online prices will remain unchanged for a limited time to “encourage the use of our online purchasing service”.
Concerns have recently been raised at a Mount Fuji Unesco World Heritage site over tourists tossing coins in crystal-clear ponds.
Tourists have been tossing coins into the famous ponds at the base of Mount Fuji, causing both residents and visitors to become worried about the water quality.
The eight ponds, found in the village of Oshino Hakkai, are known for their mineral-rich spring water fed by an underground reservoir created by Mount Fuji’s melted snow and often teeming with koi fish.
The Yamanashi Prefecture Government told The Independent that it is strongly asking visitors to stop throwing coins into the ponds and urges all visitors to Oshino Hakkai to “recognise the importance of the natural environment and to act responsibly during their visit”.
Read more: Tourists asked to stop tossing coins in Mount Fuji ponds
