🚆 JR East to Raise Train Fares by 7.1% from March 2026

East Japan Railway (JR East) will increase train fares by an average of 7.1% starting in March 2026—its first full fare hike since the company was established in 1987.

🔹 The base fare will rise from 150 yen to 160 yen (approx. $1.09).

🔹 Higher increases are planned for major services in the Tokyo area, including the Yamanote Line.

🔹 This is JR East’s first across-the-board hike not related to tax changes.

JR East says it needs over 400 billion yen (about $2.7 billion USD) to invest in safety improvements and service upgrades. The company cites inflation and rising labor costs as reasons for the fare increase.