TOKYO - JR East raised fares across all of its service areas on March 14th, marking the first fare hike since the company’s privatization and the first major increase in about 40 years, excluding adjustments tied to consumption tax increases.
The average increase for standard fares is about 7.8 percent. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the base fare for a single ticket has risen from 150 yen to 160 yen.
The Yamanote Line saw some of the largest increases. The fare between Tokyo and Shinjuku, for example, rose from 210 yen to 260 yen, an increase of 50 yen.
Commuters expressed surprise at the changes. One person in the city said, "From Ikebukuro to Shinjuku it was 167 yen with an IC card, and now it’s 199 yen? Really? That’s quite a jump." Another said rising train fares add to the burden as living costs continue to climb.
Not only regular fares but also commuter passes have become more expensive. Commuter pass prices have increased by an average of about 12 percent.
A one-month commuter pass between Tokyo and Shinjuku has risen by 1,550 yen to 7,840 yen. For the Tokyo to Hachioji route, the price has increased by 1,990 yen to 24,880 yen.
Ahead of the fare hike, many passengers rushed to buy commuter passes early. At Shinjuku Station on March 12th, people were seen purchasing passes before the higher prices took effect.
One man who bought a pass said, "I bought a three-month pass. Normally I only buy one month at a time. I commute from Shinjuku to Musashi-Koganei."
He explained that the three-month commuter pass for that route costs 27,440 yen if purchased before March 14th, but would rise to 29,860 yen afterward, prompting him to buy it early.
"Two thousand yen is a big difference," he said. "If I can save even a little, I can use that money for things like food."
With a surge in last-minute purchases expected, JR East extended the operating hours of its Midori no Madoguchi ticket counters until March 13th to accommodate demand.
The fare increase has also created an unexpected reversal in price competitiveness.
Keio Corporation has begun promoting lower prices on its website. Previously, a one-month commuter pass between Hachioji and Shinjuku was 340 yen cheaper on JR lines than on the Keio Line. After March 14th, however, the situation reverses, with the Keio Line becoming 3,410 yen cheaper.
Railway journalist Jun Umehara noted that commuters can still plan strategically when purchasing passes.
"JR East commuter passes can be purchased up to two weeks in advance," Umehara said. "On March 13th, you could buy a pass valid from March 27th. For example, if someone starts a new job on April 1st, it might be cheaper to buy the pass before the fare increase. But it depends on each individual situation, so people need to calculate it themselves."
According to JR East, the fare increase reflects declining ridership and rising costs. The additional revenue will be used for safety measures such as installing platform screen doors and for other infrastructure investments.
Source: FNN
