A plan by West Japan Railway Co. to the build an extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line between Obama, Fukui Prefecture, and the city of Kyoto has emerged as the front-runner in a tightly contested race, after the railway firm's president gave it his blessing.
However, with July's Upper House election looming — and local leaders in Kansai all grappling to get the train to pass through their electoral districts — JR West's preference may be but one factor in any final decision.
Three possible routes between Tsuruga and Shin-Osaka were under formal review by a ruling project team. These included one that would bypass the city of Kyoto entirely, one that would go to Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, and one that would have to travel down the western shore of Lake Biwa to Kyoto, where passengers could change to the Tokaido Shinkansen.