Last Updated: Jan 7, 2025

Dissecting the JR Rail Passes

Who Benefits from Buying ‘Em

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium

Ah, the mighty Japan Rail Pass… When I originally penned this piece back in 2018, I didn’t think that I would ever need to do as significant an update as I have now completed. Alas, nothing lasts forever, my dear readers, and that includes the pricing for this ever-economical pass. As you probably have already heard, Japan Railways announced a price hike in 2023 for the beloved Japan Rail Pass, increasing it by as much as 70%. This change took effect in October 2023, meaning that all foreign tourists purchasing a pass in Japan since then have needed to pay more to enjoy the same benefits.

As you might imagine, much of the internet was up in arms about the change in price for the beloved Japan Rail Pass. Honestly speaking, given what a steal it was for many people, it’s easy to understand why they were irate. To put just how much of a money-saving investment it had been thus far in context, know that Japan Rail Pass holders could enjoy unlimited travel on all JR lines for just a little over the price of a round trip ticket to Kyoto Station from Tokyo Station. Because of this, most people would have been foolish not to buy one when making a trip to Japan.