Future Shinkansen

Upcoming Bullet Trains

Slowly but surely, Japan's network of bullet trains, or shinkansen, is expanding across the entire country :

• The Kyushu shinkansen opened a few years ago, in 2011,
• The Hokuriku shinkansen opened in march 2015, with access to Kanazawa.
• The Hokkaido shinkansen opened in march 2016

What other bullet trains are coming to Japan! Here's a quick overview of what to expect.

The West Kyushu Shinkansen

The Kyushu Shinkansen, which currently runs from Hakata (Fukuoka City) to Kumamoto and Kagoshima, is now adding a second branch that will provide service to Nagasaki, located on the western coast of Kyushu.

This new leg is scheduled to open in 2023.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen

The  new Hokkaido Shinkansen line opened in March 2016 . This train runs from Shin-Aomori Station to Hakodate. It takes now around 4h to reach Shin Hakodate from Tokyo Station.

Service to Sapporo will not begin for another 20 years, unfortunately, as construction on the second leg only began in 2012.

The Hokuriku "Chukyo" Shinkansen

An extra addition to the Hokuriku Shinkansen is also in the planning stages. Starting in 2015, the bullet train will travel down the Hokuriku northern coast from Toyama to Kanazawa. With the next extension, the shinkansen will continue down the coast west to Tsuruga, in Fukui Prefecture.  It will connect to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka via the town of Obama.

As of now all current and upcoming shinkansen routes can be used with your Japan Rail Pass. Order yours today!

More Travel tips

• The new Hokuriku shinkansen
• The shinkansen gran class
• Tips for using the shinkansen
• The new Hokkaido shinkansen
• Hokkaido shinkansen stations and trains
• The Sanyo Evangelion shinkansen