Japan Revisited Hokkaido Shinkansen Extension Faces Full Delay Until 2039

Published on March 14, 2025

Japan’s ambitious plan to extend the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line has been delayed by eight years, with completion now expected around March 2039, the Japanese government confirmed on March 8, 2025. The extension, which was originally scheduled to reach Sapporo by spring 2031, faces significant setbacks due to tunnel construction difficulties and labor shortages.

Major Construction Challenges Behind the Delay

The 212-kilometer expansion from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo is a critical infrastructure project intended to strengthen connectivity in northern Japan. However, the project has been hampered by:

• Severe workforce shortages in the construction sector, exacerbating project delays.
• Geological complications, including massive rock formations and unstable ground conditions.
• Tunnel-heavy construction, with approximately 80% of the route requiring underground excavation, particularly through the areas surrounding the Niseko ski resort.

These factors have forced project authorities to reevaluate the timeline, pushing back the expected completion date to 2039—eight years later than initially planned.

Background and Financial Constraints

Plans to extend the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line to Sapporo were first approved in 2012, with an initial budget of $11.3 billion. However, due to inflation and rising material costs, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism revised the cost projection in December 2022, bringing the estimated total to 2.3 trillion yen.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen Line, which first opened on March 26, 2016, connects Tokyo to Hokkaido through the Seikan Tunnel, the world’s longest undersea rail tunnel. The extension to Sapporo was meant to further enhance high-speed rail connectivity across Japan, but construction setbacks now mean passengers will have to wait much longer for the completion of this crucial transport link.

While the delay is a setback for regional connectivity and tourism, the government remains committed to overcoming the logistical and engineering challenges to eventually complete the project.