From March 14th, JR East will revise fares across all its areas. Excluding increases due to consumption tax hikes and other factors, this will be the first fare increase since privatization and the first in 40 years. Just how much will it actually increase?
The average increase in regular fares is 7.8%. The minimum fare, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, will increase from 150 yen to 160 yen for tickets. The Yamanote Line, in particular, will see a significant increase, with the Tokyo-Shinjuku section rising from 210 yen to 260 yen, a 50 yen increase.
People on the street were heard saying things like, “From Ikebukuro to Shinjuku, (using a transportation IC card) it’s going from 167 yen to 199 yen? What! It’s changing that much!? It’s quite an increase! I’m a little surprised,” and “Prices have been high in recent years, and now even train fares are going up, which is economically tough.” Not only are regular fares increasing, but commuter passes will also rise, with commuter passes increasing by an average of 12%. A one-month commuter pass between Tokyo and Shinjuku will increase by 1,550 yen to 7,840 yen. The fare between Tokyo and Hachioji will increase to 24,880 yen, a price hike of 1,990 yen.
Amidst this, on the 12th, people were seen buying commuter passes at Shinjuku Station before the price increase. One man who bought a commuter pass said, “I bought a three-month pass. I usually only buy one month’s worth. It’s from Shinjuku to Musashi-Koganei Station.” The man bought a three-month pass for the Shinjuku-Musashi-Koganei route. He said he decided to buy it early because the pass, which normally costs 27,440 yen, will increase to 29,860 yen if purchased after the 14th.
The man who bought the pass said, “2,000 yen is a lot, isn’t it? If the price is even a little cheaper, I can use that money for things like food.” With an increase in people rushing to buy commuter passes expected, JR East is taking measures such as extending the operating hours of its ticket offices until the 13th. On the other hand, a curious reversal is occurring with this price increase. Keio Corporation is promoting its low prices on its website.
Actually, if you buy a one-month commuter pass for the Hachioji-Shinjuku section of the Keio Line, it used to be 340 yen cheaper to buy it on JR, but from the 14th onwards, that will be reversed. The Keio Line will be 3410 yen cheaper. When is the best time to buy a JR East commuter pass? We asked railway journalist Jun Umehara. Railway journalist Jun Umehara: You can buy JR East commuter passes up to two weeks in advance, so if you buy it on March 13th, the day before the price increase, you can buy a pass that will be valid from March 27th. For example, if your start date is April 1st, it might be more economical to buy it (before the price increase). It will differ depending on your case, so you’ll have to do the calculations yourself.
According to JR East, the reasons for the price increase include a decrease in users and rising prices, and the increased revenue from the price increase will be used for safety measures such as the installation of platform doors and capital investments.
