Amazon is now using Japan’s iconic Shinkansen bullet trains to deliver packages
By leveraging the world-class Shinkansen network, known for its punctuality and speed, Amazon is further advancing the decarbonization of its transportation network.
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Key takeaways Amazon has announced it is using Japan’s bullet trains for middle-mile transportation between its facilities. The initiative is a unique effort to utilize available non-passenger space within existing rail infrastructure. The trains, famed for their punctuality, travel at speeds of up to 200mph.
Amazon has announced the launch of package delivery using Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains, an initiative set to cut both delivery times and CO₂ emissions.
Packages are transported using non-passenger space on three routes—the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Tohoku–Hokkaido Shinkansen, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen—connecting Amazon operations in the Greater Tokyo area with central and northern Japan.
Under this initiative, Amazon commissions the transportation of packages through cooperation with the Japan Railway companies—JR East, JR Hokkaido, and JR West.
Traveling at speeds of up to 200mph, the Shinkansen network is famed for its high level of punctuality, enabling Amazon to provide faster and more secure deliveries to the Hakodate, Aomori, and Kanazawa areas.
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In addition, compared to road transport, the use of these high-speed trains is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions in the line-haul segment, the long-distance transportation of packages between cities. Amazon is using non-passenger space to achieve more efficient transportation with existing infrastructure.
Kohei Shimatani, vice president, Japan Operations at Amazon Japan, said: “We are very pleased to launch package delivery using the Shinkansen. This is a unique initiative that uses non-passenger space for transporting packages and enables faster deliveries—symbolizing Amazon’s continuously evolving operations.
“By leveraging Japan’s world-class Shinkansen network, known for its high level of punctuality and speed, we will further advance the decarbonization of our transportation network. We look forward to delivering packages more quickly and reliably to customers in the Hakodate, Aomori, and Kanazawa areas through a variety of delivery options.”
The new package delivery system began operation in March 2026 on the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Tohoku–Hokkaido Shinkansen, and in May 2026 on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Other unique ways Amazon delivers packages around the world Bullet trains are just the latest example of Amazon thinking creatively about how to get packages to customers quickly and more sustainably.
Across the globe, Amazon has embraced a range of innovative delivery methods —each tailored to the unique geography, infrastructure, and needs of the communities it serves. For more news, visit About Amazon Japan Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.
This is our story. In cities across Europe, compact e-cargo bikes are a convenient way for our delivery partners to make deliveries in crowded neighborhoods with zero-tailpipe emissions. And while drones have taken flight in parts of the U. S.
, delivering packages to customers by air, more traditional methods including motorbikes, boats, and even horse-drawn carriages are used in other regions.
On Michigan’s Mackinac Island, where motor vehicles have been banned since the end of the nineteenth century, the resort’s 500 or so residents rely on these horse-drawn carriages to receive their deliveries. And in Venice, last-mile deliveries are often made by boat on the city’s famous waterways.
Next, read more about Amazon’s growing lineup of electric vehicles.
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This briefing is based on reporting from About Amazon. Use the original post for full primary-source context.
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