Shinkansen Route Map
Guide to Japan Travel Society
In the 60 years since the Tōkaidō Shinkansen began running between Tokyo and Osaka, Japan’s high-speed train service has expanded into a broad network of routes that stretches across the nation, and the famous “bullet train” continues to grow.
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Shinkansen Routes in Operation
| Line | Route | Distance | Top Speed | Shortest Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tōkaidō Shinkansen | Tokyo–Shin-Osaka | 552.6 km | 285 km/h | Tokyo–Nagoya: 1 h 33 m Tokyo–Shin-Osaka: 2 h 21 m Tokyo–Hakata: 4 h 46 m Shin-Osaka–Hakata: 2 h 21 m |
| San’yō Shinkansen | Shin-Osaka–Hakata | 644.0 km | 300 km/h | |
| Tōhoku Shinkansen | Tokyo–Shin-Aomori | 713.7 km | 320 km/h | Tokyo–Sendai: 1 h 31 m Tokyo–Shin-Aomori: 2 h 59 m |
| Hokkaidō Shinkansen | Shin-Aomori–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | 148.8 km | 260 km/h | Tokyo–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto: 3 h 57 m Shin-Aomori–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto: 57 m |
| Yamagata Shinkansen* | Fukushima–Shinjō | 148.6 km | 130 km/h | Tokyo–Yamagata: 2 h 22 m Tokyo–Shinjō: 3 h 7 m |
| Akita Shinkansen* | Morioka–Akita | 127.3 km | 130 km/h | Tokyo–Akita: 3 h 37 m |
| Jōetsu Shinkansen | Tokyo–Niigata | 333.9 km | 275 km/h | Tokyo–Niigata: 1 h 29 m |
| Hokuriku Shinkansen | Tokyo–Tsuruga | 575.6 km | 260 km/h | Tokyo–Nagano: 1 h 19 m Tokyo–Tsuruga: 3 h 8 m |
| Kyūshū Shinkansen | Hakata–Kagoshima Chūō | 288.9 km | 260 km/h | Hakata–Kagoshima Chūō: 1 h 17 m Shin-Osaka–Kagoshima Chūō: 3 h 41 m |
| Nishi-Kyūshū Shinkansen | Takeo Onsen–Nagasaki | 69.6 km | 260 km/h | Hakata–Nagasaki: 1 h 20 m Using existing limited express services between Hakata and Takeo Onsen. |
* The Yamagata and Akita Shinkansens connect to Tokyo via the Tōhoku Shinkansen line. They are known as mini-shinkansens as they run on existing railway lines that have been converted to 1,435 mm gauge to accommodate the faster trains.
New Shinkansen Lines Planned or Under Construction
| Line | Route | Scheduled Opening | Expected Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hokuriku Shinkansen | Tsuruga–Shin-Osaka | 2046 | Kanazawa–Shin-Osaka: Around 1 h 20 m |
| Hokkaidō Shinkansen | Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto–Sapporo | 2031 or later | Tokyo–Sapporo: Around 5 h |
| Linear Chūō Shinkansen | Shinagawa–Nagoya | 2027 or later | Shinagawa–Nagoya: 40 m |
| Nagoya–Osaka | 2045 | Shinagawa–Osaka: 1 h 7 m |
(Originally published in October 2014. Last updated on March 16, 2024. Banner photo © Kimura Takuma.)