5.5 magnitude earthquake causes Shinkansen to be stopped in Japan; resumption in Joetsu and Hokuriku scheduled for 10:15 pm
Train service on the important Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines remains suspended this Tuesday, June 16, 2026, after a seismic shock of intensity 5- on the Richter scale hit the Japanese provinces of Gunma and Saitama. JR East, responsible for the operation, estimates that travel will return to normal at around 10:15 pm local time. The interruption of this high-speed transport mode causes significant impacts on the logistics and daily routine of thousands of passengers who depend on the Japanese railway network for their journeys.
According to information released by JR East, the stoppage of operations was initiated due to an earthquake registered at 7:46 pm on the 16th, which reached a maximum seismic intensity of 5- in the provinces of Gunma and Saitama. The measure affected traffic in both directions on the Joetsu Shinkansen line, between Tokyo and Niigata, and on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, in the section between Tokyo and Nagano.
The interruption of service was a necessary precaution so that detailed inspections could be carried out on the tracks. However, the equipment verification process is taking longer than initially anticipated, which led to the estimate that the service will only be reestablished around 10:15 pm.
On the same day, the Tohoku Shinkansen also had its operation suspended on the entry and exit lines, connecting Tokyo and Morioka. Fortunately, this line was able to resume operations earlier, at 8:12 pm, mitigating some of the inconvenience for travelers.
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Updates at 9:30 p.m. indicated that the Tohoku Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen lines were operating with delays in both directions. In contrast, the Yamagata Shinkansen line, another important route, maintained its operation without any irregularities or interruptions, running normally.
Details released by the Japan Meteorological Agency reveal that the epicenter of the tremor was located in the southern region of Ibaraki Prefecture, at an approximate depth of 50 kilometers. The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated at 5.5, and a seismic intensity of 3 was recorded in the city of Muikamachi, located in Niigata Prefecture.
