Japanese railway operator JR East will raise fares across its entire network from March 15, the first comprehensive fare review in 39 years, since the company was privatized in 1987.
According to the company, fares will increase by an average of 7.1%, and the minimum fare will be raised from 150 yen (approximately EUR 0.82) to 160 yen (approximately EUR 0.87).
The increases will be more significant for some short trips in the Tokyo metropolitan area, following the elimination of reduced fares on certain sections of the line.
For example, a ticket between Tokyo and Shibuya will increase from 210 yen (approximately 1.14 EUR) to 260 yen (approximately 1.42 EUR), an increase of approximately 23.8%.
The fare increase was approved by the Japanese government in August 2025 and will apply to tickets and passes purchased after the new prices come into effect.
Rising costs and changes in passenger behavior
JR East explained that the fare revision is necessary to cope with rising costs and changes in transportation demand.
Rail transport use has declined in recent years due to demographic developments in Japan, where the population is declining and aging.
At the same time, the spread of teleworking after the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the number of commuters.
In parallel, costs for energy, labor, and infrastructure maintenance have risen steadily.
The operator is also facing increasing costs for modernizing aging rail infrastructure and investing in safety.
Investments in infrastructure and safety
The company estimates that the fare increase will generate additional revenue of approximately 88 billion yen (about 480 million EUR) per year.
The funds will be used to modernize infrastructure and improve safety, including the installation of platform screen doors at several stations and the introduction of systems designed to reduce accidents at level crossings.
Along with the new fares, JR East will also stop selling printed round-trip or consecutive tickets, as electronic transport cards and online reservations become more common.
Other Japanese rail operators, including Seibu Railway and Tsukuba Express, will also introduce fare increases during the same period, amid growing cost pressures in the rail industry.
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