Amazon announced on May 28 the start of product transport using Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan. The company will utilize commercial space within train cars on three lines: the Tohoku Shinkansen (Tokyo–Shin-Aomori, Hayabusa), the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen (Tokyo–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, Hayabusa), and the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo–Kanazawa, Hakutaka).
This initiative is being carried out with cooperation from East Japan Railway Company, Hokkaido Railway Company, and West Japan Railway Company. It involves using existing railway infrastructure for Amazon’s middle-mile logistics by transporting goods between company facilities. Transport began in March 2026 on two routes—the Tohoku and Tohoku-Hokkaido lines—and expanded to the Hokuriku line in May 2026. As a result, same-day delivery has become possible for millions of products to Aomori, Hakodate, and Kanazawa areas.
By incorporating the punctuality and speed of Shinkansen into its delivery network and making use of commercial spaces within train cars, Amazon aims to optimize existing infrastructure for efficient logistics. The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Shin-Aomori at up to 320 kilometers per hour in two hours and fifty-eight minutes; the Tohoku-Hokkaido route links Tokyo with Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto in three hours and fifty-seven minutes; while the Hokuriku line connects Tokyo with Kanazawa in two hours and fifty-three minutes. These services expand same-day delivery options for customers in Aomori, Hakodate, and Kanazawa. Additionally, transporting goods by rail is expected to reduce CO2 emissions compared with trucking over mainline segments.
Kohei Shimaya, head of operations at Amazon Japan G.K., said, “We are very pleased to be able to start transporting products using the Shinkansen. This new initiative combines speed with efficiency by effectively utilizing commercial space for shipping goods—a unique approach that symbolizes Amazon’s ever-evolving operations. By leveraging Japan’s world-class accurate and fast Shinkansen network for deliveries, we look forward to further decarbonizing our distribution network while delivering products even more quickly and reliably through diverse shipping methods to customers in Hakodate, Aomori, and Kanazawa.”
Amazon strives to be Earth’s most customer-focused company as well as a leading employer providing safe workplaces; it offers services such as online shopping platforms along with cloud computing solutions—operating across e-commerce retailing as well as technology services—according to its official website.