NATIONAL NEWS
Inbound visitors who want to explore Japan by rail now have to pay a bit more.
On 1 October, the popular Japan Rail Pass, an all-you-can-ride Japan Railways ticket only available to foreign tourists, raised prices across its different iterations.
Concerning the regular national 7 days, 14 days and 21 days Japan Rail Passes, prices rose around 70%.
For instance, the 7 days pass, which was JPY29,650 (US$198) before 1 October is now JPY50,000 (US$334) and the 21 days pass rose from JPY60,450 ($404) to JPY100,000 ($668).
While this is a significant price hike, inbound visitors who aim to travel to several areas of Japan will still save compared to buying each ticket à la carte.
Regional Japan Rail Passes, which serve specific areas, also rose in price, although far less dramatically.
The 5 day Hokkaido Rail Pass, for example, rose 5% in price from JPY19,000 (US$27) to JPY20,000 (US$134).
Japan Railways, in explaining the price hike, pointed out that when the old fares were established in 2006 there were fewer Shinkansen (bullet train) destinations.
It is expected that the Japan Rail Pass will remain a popular option for inbound tourists, due to its ease of use and the weak yen.
Sources:
japan-guide.com – 26 July 2023
The Japan Times – 4 October 2023
Image:
ion66
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