Profitability of Hokkaido Shinkansen Project Profitability

Jiji Press

17:56 JST, April 25, 2026

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Finance Ministry has released an estimate finding that the profitability of a planned extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line to Sapporo could fall to a level at which the project should be suspended.

The ministry underlined the need to carefully examine the profitability and set appropriate leasing fees for railroads and other infrastructure charged to the operator of the Shinkansen line.

At a subcommittee meeting on Thursday of the Fiscal System Council, which advises the finance minister, the ministry presented the profitability estimate for the section between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station and Sapporo Station based on a projection that project costs would increase by some ¥1.2 trillion due to prolonged tunnel construction and other factors.