News JR East to raise train fares in first increase since its privatisation

JR East will raise fares across its network from Saturday, 14 March, the first system-wide increase since the company was privatised in 1987. Ticket prices will rise by an average of 7.1%. The minimum base fare will increase from ¥150 to ¥160. Short journeys in the Tokyo metropolitan area will see sharper rises in some cases.

Discounted fares that had applied to certain sections of track, including those used by the Yamanote Line, will be absorbed into the standard distance-based main-line fare system. A ticket between Tokyo Station and Shibuya Station will increase from ¥210 to ¥260, a 23.8% increase.

The fare increase, approved by the government in August 2025, will apply to tickets and commuter passes purchased on or after Saturday. Tickets and commuter passes purchased by Friday will still be sold at current prices, even if the travel date or start of validity falls after the fare revision. JR East has warned that ticket counters and machines may become crowded ahead of the change as commuters rush to buy passes before the higher fares take effect. Off-peak commuter passes, which are about 15% cheaper than standard commuter passes, will continue to be offered, and their coverage area in the Tokyo metropolitan region will be expanded starting Saturday to include stations such as Kuki and Hiratsuka.

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JR East expects the fare increase to add about ¥88 billion ($556 million) in annual revenue. JR East says the funds will support safety measures and infrastructure upgrades, including more platform screen doors and equipment to prevent accidents at level crossings. The revision will also bring operational changes. The company will end sales of round-trip and consecutive paper tickets as IC cards and online reservations become more common. Seibu Railway and the Tsukuba Express will raise fares on the same day, reflecting mounting cost pressures across Japan's rail industry.