Japan theme parks raise entry fees for high costs, overcrowding

As of last month, 32 of the 101 amusement park facilities in Japan have decided to raise ticket prices this year, according to research company Teikoku Databank Ltd.
   
Many facilities have adopted dynamic pricing systems, in which ticket prices vary depending on the season and day of the week.
   
Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, is set to raise the maximum admission price under its dynamic pricing system from 10,900 yen to 11,900 yen on Oct. 10, and to 12,400 yen the following day, both for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

Sanrio Puroland in Tama in Tokyo hiked its maximum ticket price by 1,000 yen to 6,900 yen on Aug. 1.

Universal Studios Japan in the western city of Osaka will introduce a system on Sept. 1 that enables it to flexibly change prices for specific days on which the park is likely to be crowded, even if advance ticket sales have begun. The park is specifically expected to raise fees mainly for holiday periods and weekends.
   
Visitors are prompted to pay more inside parks as well. Tokyo Disney Resort operator Oriental Land Co. is set to increase next month the number of attractions covered by the Disney Premier Access paid service that enables users to book time slots for attractions and reserved seats to watch parades. It will also raise prices for some parades.
   

Additionally, Oriental Land will terminate the Priority Pass service, which allows visitors to reserve time slots for attractions for free, at the end of this month.
   
Teikoku Databank said that parks' price hikes at a time when many consumers are grappling with inflation "pose the risk of a decrease in visitors."
   
Parks should respond flexibly to the situation, such as introducing value-added tickets with benefits such as shorter waiting times as well as separate fees for foreign visitors, rather than raising prices uniformly.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]