The refers to five planned routes of Shinkansen, a High-speed rail of Japan, for which the Japanese government announced the basic plan in 1972 pursuant to Article 7 of the (Act No. 71 of 1970), and subsequently approved the development plan on November 13, 1973. At the time, these lines were often referred to as the or , but today the term "Seibi Shinkansen" has become the standard designation.
List of Seibi Shinkansen LinesLine nameJapaneseStartTerminalMajor cities along routeLengthStatusSections in operationSections under construction(Planned opening)Sections not yet startedHokkaidō Shinkansen北海道新幹線Aomori, AomoriSapporo, HokkaidoNear Hakodate and Otaru360 kmPartially openShin-Aomori — Shin-Hakodate-HokutoShin-Hakodate-Hokuto — Sapporo(Scheduled for completion by FY2038)Tōhoku Shinkansen東北新幹線Morioka, IwateAomori, AomoriNear Hachinohe179 kmFully openMorioka — Shin-AomoriHokuriku Shinkansen北陸新幹線TokyoOsaka, OsakaNear Nagano, Toyama, and Obama600 kmPartially openTokyo — Tsuruga Tsuruga — Shin-OsakaKyūshū Shinkansen (Kagoshima Route)九州新幹線（鹿児島ルート）Fukuoka, FukuokaKagoshima, KagoshimaNear Kumamoto and Satsumasendai257 kmFully openHakata — Kagoshima-ChūōKyūshū Shinkansen (West Kyūshū Route) 九州新幹線（西九州ルート）Fukuoka, FukuokaNagasaki, NagasakiNear Saga118 kmPartially openHakata — Shin-Tosu Takeo-Onsen — NagasakiShin-Tosu — Takeo-Onsen
The following earlier Shinkansen lines — Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanyō Shinkansen, Tōhoku Shinkansen (Tokyo — Morioka section), Jōetsu Shinkansen, and the Narita Shinkansen (whose plan was later canceled) — are not included among the Seibi Shinkansen.
Similarly, the twelve , whose basic plans were announced on November 15, 1973—one year later than the Seibi Shinkansen—are not included in the Seibi Shinkansen category. Of these twelve lines, only the maglev Chūō Shinkansen, for which the development plan was approved in May 2011, has actually commenced construction to date.
History Establishment of the basic plan
In 1970, the was enacted. Under this law, the construction of Shinkansen lines was promoted with the aims of fostering economic development and regional revitalization of Japan.
Based on the Act, the following routes were officially designated as part of the national basic plan: Tōhoku Shinkansen (Morioka — Aomori): Notification No. 242 (1972) Hokkaidō Shinkansen (Aomori — Sapporo), Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo — Osaka), and Kyūshū Shinkansen (Fukuoka — Kagoshima): Notification No. 243 (1972) Kyūshū Shinkansen (Fukuoka — Nagasaki): Notification No. 466 (1972)
Decision on the construction plan
On November 13, 1973, the Minister of Transport approved the construction plans for five Shinkansen lines.
LinePropulsion systemMaximum design speedEstimated construction cost (including rolling stock)Construction bodyNotesTōhoku ShinkansenEMU using adhesion drive260 km/h¥330 billionJNRHokkaidō Shinkansen¥630 billionJRCPC1. The Hokkaidō Shinkansen shares the Seikan Tunnel section with the Tsugaru Kaikyō Line.2. The estimated cost does not include the expenses for the Tsugaru Kaikyō Line works.Hokuriku Shinkansen¥1.17 trillionJRCPCThe section between Tokyo and Takasaki is shared with the Jōetsu Shinkansen.Kyūshū Shinkansen (Fukuoka — Kagoshima)¥445 billionJNRKyūshū Shinkansen (Fukuoka — Nagasaki)¥215 billionJNR1. The line diverges from the Kyūshū Shinkansen (Fukuoka — Kagoshima) in the , sharing the section from Fukuoka to the divergence point.2. The estimated cost excludes the shared section with the Fukuoka — Kagoshima route.
The MOT Proposal and the launch of five sections
In 1988, the Ministry of Transport (MOT, the current MLIT) announced what became known as the "". This plan aimed to reduce construction costs while achieving higher operating speeds by combining different construction methods, such as the Mini-Shinkansen system and the Super Tokkyū concept. Under this policy, construction began on sections of three lines — the Tōhoku, Hokuriku, and Kyūshū (Kagoshima Route) Shinkansen — marking the first major progress in the Seibi Shinkansen project since its designation in the 1970s.
The proposed plan was met with strong criticism from local governments and politicians along the designated construction sections. The Governor of Toyama Prefecture at the time criticized this, stating that it was like "I ordered eel (a full-standard Shinkansen) but the restaurant served me conger (Mini Shinkansen) or loach (Super Tokkyū) instead", reflecting widespread dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, since it was unclear when the next opportunity for new Shinkansen construction would arise if this one were missed, local authorities reluctantly accepted the plan. Later that same year, the government and ruling parties agreed on the construction priority order as follows:
1. Hokuriku Shinkansen: Takasaki — Nagano (Takasaki — Karuizawa: Full-standard, Karuizawa — Nagano: Mini-Shinkansen. However, if Nagano were selected to host the Winter Olympics, conversion to full-standard would be considered.) → Eventually opened in 1997 as a full-standard Shinkansen line.
1. Hokuriku Shinkansen: Takaoka — Kanazawa: Super Tokkyū. → Construction started in August 1992 between Isurugi — Kanazawa. → Opened in 2015 as a full-standard Shinkansen line.
2. Tōhoku Shinkansen: Morioka — Aomori (Numakunai — Hachinohe: Full-standard, Sections before and after: Mini-Shinkansen) → Opened as full-standard between Morioka — Hachinohe in 2002, and Hachinohe — Shin-Aomori in 2010.
3. Kyūshū Shinkansen (Kagoshima Route): Yatsushiro — Nishi-Kagoshima : Super Tokkyū → Later revised to start from Shin-Yatsushiro, and opened in 2004 as a full-standard Shinkansen line.
4. Hokuriku Shinkansen: Itoigawa — Uozu: Super Tokkyū → Construction began in October 1993, but no work was carried out between the proposed Shin-Kurobe — Uozu, as that section was intended merely as a connecting link to the conventional line.
However, due to limited national funding for Shinkansen construction, only the highest-priority section, the full-standard Takasaki — Karuizawa segment, began construction the following year in 1989. The remaining sections did not commence until after 1991, when the proceeds from the transfer of existing Shinkansen lines (see the section on the "Old funding scheme") became a designated financial source for new Shinkansen construction.
In 1991, following the decision at the International Olympic Committee General Assembly held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, to award the 1998 Winter Olympics to Nagano, the section between Karuizawa — Nagano was upgraded from the planned Mini-Shinkansen to a full-standard Shinkansen.
Meanwhile, for the Takaoka — Kanazawa section, which had the same construction priority ranking, opposition arose from local municipalities in Toyama Prefecture along the Hokuriku Main Line (Isurugi — Takaoka section), which was to be separated from JR as a heikō zairaisen (parallel conventional line). As a result, the planned route was modified to run between Shin-Takaoka — Kanazawa, and the construction section was shortened to Isurugi — Kanazawa.
In 1994, during the scheduled five-year review of Shinkansen construction plans, momentum grew for authorizing new projects. However, funding constraints again became a major obstacle. Consequently, the Tōhoku Shinkansen Morioka — Numakunai section, which had originally been planned as a Mini-Shinkansen, was upgraded to full-standard, while the start of construction on the Hachinohe — Aomori section was postponed.
Launch of three new sections under the new funding scheme
In 1996, a new funding policy was introduced. This framework utilized property tax reduction measures (50% reduction) granted to the three JR companies on Honshū (JR East, JR Central, and JR West) as a financial resource for new Shinkansen construction. This led to renewed momentum for selecting new construction sections.
On December 25, 1996, the government–ruling party committee agreed to select three candidate sections across three Shinkansen lines. After profitability studies and evaluations by the , the construction authorization and priority order were finalized on January 21, 1998. Construction on these sections officially began in March 1998.
1. Tōhoku Shinkansen: Hachinohe — Shin-Aomori: Full-standard → Opened in 2010.
1. Kyūshū Shinkansen (Kagoshima Route): Funagoya — Shin-Yatsushiro: Super Tokkyū → The starting point of the concurrently constructed Yatsushiro — Nishi-Kagoshima section was changed to Shin-Yatsushiro. → Opened as full-standard Shinkansen in 2011.
2. Hokuriku Shinkansen: Nagano — Jōetsu : Full-standard → Opened in 2015.
Formation of the LDP–Liberal–Komeito Coalition and the launch of three new sections
In 1999, with the formation of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Liberal Party and later the LDP–Liberal–Komeito coalition governments, a new review of Shinkansen development policy was undertaken. The resulting proposal called for both upgrading partially constructed sections to full-standard specifications and starting construction on new sections. In 2000, MOT requested in its FY2001 budget proposal the initiation of new construction for the Hokuriku Shinkansen section between Jōetsu — Itoigawa, and the Kyūshū Shinkansen section between Hakata — Funagoya.
Subsequently, a government–ruling party agreement finalized the decision to begin new construction on two lines (three sections), adding the Shin-Kurobe — Toyama section to the Hokuriku Shinkansen plan.
Hokuriku Shinkansen: Jōetsu — Itoigawa, and Shin-Kurobe — Toyama: Full standard. At the same time, the section already under construction between Itoigawa — Shin-Kurobe was also upgraded to full standard specifications. → Opened in 2015.
Kyūshū Shinkansen (Kagoshima Route): Hakata — Funagoya : Full standard. Simultaneously, the section already under construction between Funagoya — Nishi-Kagoshima was also upgraded to full standard specifications. → Opened in 2011.
Partial opening of the Kyūshū Shinkansen and the launch of three new sections
On March 13, 2004, the section of the Kyūshū Shinkansen between Shin-Yatsushiro — Kagoshima-Chūō opened for service. Around the same time, review work was conducted in preparation for new construction starts. On June 10, 2004, the ruling parties' Shinkansen Construction Promotion Project Team reached an agreement that finalized three new sections (or four if including the section around Fukui Station) to be newly constructed.
Hokkaidō Shinkansen: Shin-Aomori — Shin-Hakodate : Full standard → Opened in 2016. Hokuriku Shinkansen: Toyama — Isurugi, and Kanazawa — Hakusan General Rolling Stock Yard: Full standard. At the same time, the section already under construction between Isurugi — Kanazawa was upgraded to full standard specifications. → Opened in 2015. Hokuriku Shinkansen: Fukui Station: Construction began on June 4, 2005, and was completed on February 19, 2009. From 2015 to 2018, the facility was temporarily used by Echizen Railway. Kyūshū Shinkansen Nagasaki Route (West Kyūshū Route) : Takeo-Onsen — Isahaya: Super Tokkyū → Opened in 2022 as a full standard Shinkansen line.
In 2005, new construction began on the Hokkaidō Shinkansen and Hokuriku Shinkansen sections. As for the Nagasaki (West Kyūshū) Route, construction was delayed because local municipalities along the section of the heikō zairaisen (parallel conventional line) — the Nagasaki Main Line between Hizen-Yamaguchi — Isahaya — specifically Kōhoku Town and Kashima City in Saga Prefecture, opposed the management separation of the line. Although the national government allocated about 1 billion yen annually for the project from 2005 onward as part of public works expenditures, construction could not begin, and the budget remained unused.