TOKYO 12 March 2026 (The Capital Post)- East Japan Railway Co (JR East) will increase train fares across its network for the first time since its establishment in 1987, with the revised rates set to take effect on March 14.
The company said fares on its lines will rise by an average of 7.1 per cent as part of efforts to strengthen revenue and support maintenance of its railway infrastructure. The revision marks the first time the operator has raised fares primarily to boost revenue since it was formed following the privatisation of the former Japanese National Railways.
Under the new structure, regular fares will increase by about 7.8 per cent, while commuter pass prices will rise by around 12 per cent. Student fares will see a smaller increase of about 4.9 per cent, with some student commuter passes in regional areas remaining unchanged to ease the financial burden on households.
Base fares for paper tickets will rise by 10 yen from the current 150 yen, while certain routes in the Tokyo metropolitan area will experience larger increases. For example, the fare between Tokyo and Shinjuku stations will climb from 210 yen to 260 yen.
JR East said the additional revenue generated from the increase will be used to improve safety, maintain railway facilities and cover rising operational costs as the company continues to modernise its extensive rail network.
The new fares will apply to tickets and commuter passes purchased from March 14, with the railway operator extending ticket office hours at several stations ahead of the change as more passengers are expected to buy passes before the price hike takes effect.-The Capital Post
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