Hokkaido Shinkansen speeds up to 260 km/h in the Seikan Tunnel over New Year, 30 Dec – 4 Jan
北海道新幹線 年末年始 青函トンネル内 時速260km走行
For six days the bullet trains run faster under the Tsugaru Strait, cutting Tokyo–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to 3 hours 51 minutes — and some departures move earlier.
When30 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027
WhereSeikan Tunnel (Hokkaido Shinkansen)
The Seikan Tunnel under the Tsugaru Strait is shared by bullet trains and freight trains, so Shinkansen normally keep to 160 km/h inside it. Over the 2026–27 New Year holidays, JR Hokkaido will again run them at 260 km/h through the roughly 54 km shared section in both directions during set time windows.
The faster running applies on 30 December 2026 from the first train until about 12:00, and from 31 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 from the first train until about 15:30 — six days in all. The fastest Tokyo–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto trip drops to 3 hours 51 minutes, six minutes quicker than the usual best of 3 hours 57 minutes.
Extra trains run too: the Hayabusa 53 northbound on 30 December and the Hayabusa 60 southbound on 2–4 January. To match, some Hakodate Liner shuttle trains between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Hakodate change their times.
For visitors
- Check your ticket times again: some Shinkansen and Hakodate Liner trains leave earlier than usual on these days (for example the Hayate 93, Hayabusa 1 and Hayabusa 17 leave Kikonai earlier).
- Hokkaido Shinkansen trains are covered by the JAPAN RAIL PASS; reserve seats early, as New Year is one of Japan's busiest travel periods.
- Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is about 15–20 minutes from Hakodate by the Hakodate Liner.
Sources
- JR Hokkaido press release (22 Oct 2026, PDF) (official, Japanese)
Summarised in our own words from the sources above; last checked 3 Nov 2026. Plans can change — confirm with the operator before you travel.