Given the current state of the Global economy, especially here in the UK, that size of price hike is really not going to encourage or help people to visit, as wonderful Japan and JR is. The current great value of the ticket is what makes the visits viable assuming most visitors want to explore the beauty of Japan beyond their port of entry. This may well push pricing beyond most people’s budgets especially from the European side of the pond.

I totally agree with Kevin… this amount of price raise makes that travelling without a JR pass is more expensive than pay for each ticket with,for example a IC card. You got to travel a hell of a lot to get some benefits out of the JR card. We plan to go to Japan next year and for 17 days and visit 7 city’s,I made an estimate of the cost for travelling these city’s and I don’t come near the new price for a JR pass. Very disappointed about the action of JR rail,this will indeed stop people from visiting Japan.