Japan bullet rail pass gets expensive by 70 per cent for tourists
bullet train prices increased by 70 per cent from October onwards. This is the first price hike in four decades.
The 14 days unlimited travel pass will now cost 80,000 yen (INR 44719). Earlier, the same pass used to cost 47,250 yen (INR 26412).
Children between the age of 6-11 are still eligible for half-price tickets.
The cost of a seven-day pass also went up to 50,000 yen against the current price of 29,650 yen, indicating a 68.6 per cent increase.
As per Bloomberg, the JR group of six train operators contends that previous fares were set when there were fewer bullet-train destinations and that higher prices are justified with services extending into the northern regions. The JR network covers more than 19,000 kilometers (11,800 miles) across the archipelago.
“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, hadn’t been reflected in pass prices, he added.
According to Denise Wong, a Bloomberg intelligence analyst, the increase in prices may affect other travel options.
For long-distance intercity travel, travellers might shift to Jetstar and All Nippon Airways Co.’s Peach. These are low-cost carriers and cost less.
The Itsukushima shrine outside of Hiroshima, whose bright orange torii gate looks like it’s floating in a lake, Japan’s most iconic attractions began charging a visitor fee this week for the first time in its history.
