Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture clears Chuo Shinkansen maglev tunnel route

Yasutomo Suzuki, governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, granted permission on 7 July 2026 for Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tokai) to proceed with tunneling work on the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line. The authorisation was disclosed during a session of the prefectural assembly.

The decision brings to a close an impasse lasting nearly nine years. Suzuki's move represents a policy shift from his predecessor in office, Heita Kawakatsu. Kawakatsu had maintained that boring tunnels under the prefecture would diminish water volumes in the Oi River and harm the ecosystem of the Southern Japanese Alps. The approved route will pass under mountainous areas within Shizuoka city limits.

A natural environment conservation agreement between the prefectural administration and JR Tokai is scheduled for signature on 18 July. This agreement must be executed before tunneling can commence. The underground segment measures 8.9 kilometres in length. Even with work beginning in 2026, completion of this section is projected to require a minimum of ten years.

JR Tokai initiated construction of the approximately 286-kilometre maglev route in 2014. The line will link Shinagawa Station in Tokyo with Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture, which lies to the west of Shizuoka. The opening date for revenue service is now anticipated no earlier than 2036.

While the governor's consent removes a significant obstacle, The Japan Times notes that the project continues to face difficulties including escalating construction costs and shortages of skilled labour.