Beware: JR is raising its prices in 2026!

Published on : 29/12/2025
by : Phoebe

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For the first time since 1987, rail giant Japan Railways (JR) will be increasing its fares from March 2026. What can you expect if you're planning a trip to Japan next year? Japan Experience takes stock.

A historic decision

Japan Railways (JR), Japan's largest rail network, had not raised its fares since its creation in 1987 (excluding consumption tax increases).

In December 2025, JR East requested the government's agreement to raise its fares. Executive Vice President Chiharu Wataru justified this request by the need to "reinforce network safety and reliability".

In concrete terms, the increase is expected to bring in 88.1 billion yen per year, a budget that will be reinvested in infrastructure modernization (equipment and repairs), wage increases and covering operational costs.

Although this increase is scheduled for March 2026 on all JR services, it remains moderate for users.

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What will change in March 2026

Rest assured, price increases on the JR network will be minimal!

Local train fares will increase by 4.4% to 5.2% depending on the line, while monthly season tickets (Teiki) will rise by 7.2%. A trip on the famous Yamanote line, which circles Tokyo, will thus rise from 150 yen to 160 yen.

Itshould be noted that IC cardholders (Suica, Pasmo) will benefit from slightly lower fares than for paper tickets (an increase of around 9%) - a significant saving.

On the Shinkansen side, the increase applies only to the following lines:

Tohoku Shinkansen (except Hokkaido, between Shin-Aomori and Shin Hakodate Hokuto stations)
Yamagata Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Joetsu Myoko only (so Tokyo - Nagano - Kanazawa routes will not be affected by this price increase)

The price of Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto), Japan's most popular high-speed train, remains unchanged.

Good to know: regional passes and the Japan Rail Pass are not affected by this increase either.

To find out the exact fares for each line, or to confirm the conditions of use, please visit the official JR East website (in Japanese).