Photo/Illutration The Japan Rail Pass (Provided by East Japan Railway Co.)

The price for a Japan Rail Pass, which provides foreign tourists with unlimited access to almost all JR trains, has risen by around 70 percent this month.

It is the first price increase, aside from consumption tax hike, since the JR Pass became available more than 40 years ago.

There is worry the hike will deter many tourists from buying it, but the heads of the JR companies remain optimistic.

“Considering the price levels in other countries, we do not expect this to halt tourism to Japan or reduce railway use,” said Kazuaki Hasegawa, president of West Japan Railway Co. (JR West).

Six JR companies jointly sell the JR Pass, which can be used on all JR train services except for the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen trains.

It comes in two types: one for use of the regular cars on the trains, the other for the Green Car, a first-class carriage with more spacious seats. The pass is valid for seven, 14 or 21 consecutive days.

As of Oct. 1, the price for a seven-day regular car pass was 50,000 yen ($336), up around 69 percent from 29,650 yen.

The sharpest price hike is for a seven-day Green Car pass, which reached 70,000 yen, up by around 77 percent from 39,600 yen.

As compensation, users can now ride the previously excluded Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen trains for an additional fee.

Discounts are also available at various tourist facilities and accommodations nationwide.

LOCALS COMPLAINED ABOUT 'UNFAIR' PRICES

The pass was introduced to encourage tourism and attract visitors to regional areas in 1981, when the railways were state-owned.

Until September, a seven-day regular car pass could be paid off with just one round trip on a bullet train from Tokyo to destinations such as Morioka, Kanazawa and Shin-Kobe.

Therefore, domestic travelers, who have faced frequent fare hikes, often complained that the JR Pass was “too cheap” and “unfair.”

However, the sharp price hike has prompted some travelers from abroad to opt out of using the pass.

An English-language tourist information website called Japan Guide conducted an online survey in May, asking if travelers would still use the pass after the price increase.

Of the approximately 1,100 responses, about 800, or more than 70 percent, said they would “probably not use it” or “definitely not use it.”

JR COMPANIES OPTIMISTIC

But JR companies are not concerned about cooling demand.

Shunsuke Niwa, president of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), pointed out that travel areas have expanded with the extension of Shinkansen lines, and services have improved, such as allowing travelers to purchase tickets and reserve seats on dedicated websites.

“Looking at how the pass is actually used, its value far exceeds its price, so, in fact, the pass still offers a significant discount right now,” he said.

Yuji Fukasawa, president of East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), cited the impact of the weak yen in believing those from abroad will still buy the pass.

“We do not think the price hike will drastically reduce the number of users,” he said.

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