The nationwide pass has now risen twice in three years, and the break-even point has moved with it. A Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka trip, which used to be the standard case for buying one, no longer clears the cost on its own. A round trip that reaches Hiroshima or Kanazawa still does.
The regional passes were not raised by the same margin and are worth pricing separately, the Kansai and JR East versions in particular. Point-to-point tickets bought through a station machine remain cheaper than either for anyone staying in one place.