JR East Japan’s six railway passes experienced a comprehensive price increase in October 2023, with a maximum surge of up to 10,000 Japanese Yen. JR West Japan has also announced that its travel passes and one-way West Japan Visit Tickets will undergo a price hike across the board. This means that transportation budgets for trips to Japan will see a significant increase.

JR West Japan Travel Ticket Content Adjustment

Price Adjustment

Starting from October 1, 2023, all passes are sold at the revised prices.

Until September 30, 2023, the passes sold before that date will be available at the previous prices, regardless of when they are used.

Adjustment to Reserved Seat Usage

To provide passengers with a more comfortable experience in the reserved seats on trains, certain products like the “Kansai Wide Area Rail Pass” abolish the limit on reserved seat usage. After October 1, passengers purchasing the corresponding rail passes can have unlimited access to the reserved seats on applicable train types.

Additionally, the number of times reserved seats can be used with the “Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass” and the “Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass” will be increased from 4 to 6 times.

Other Changes

Starting from September 30, 2023, some products are no longer available for purchase at domestic train stations’ green windows and will instead require online reservations.

The “ICOCA & HARUKA” combination ticket, which allows travel on the “HARUKA” airport express train to Kansai International Airport,  also ceases to be sold starting from September 30, 2023.

Furthermore, adjustments to the content will be made for Northern Region-related travel passes such as the “Hokuriku Arch Pass” and the “Kansai & Hokuriku Area Rail Pass” as the Hokuriku Shinkansen extends to Tsuruga.

Price Increase for JR West Japan Passes

Price Increase for The one-way “Visit Japan Ticket for West Japan”