Japan is building the world's fastest Maglev train yet, crossing Tokyo to Nagoya in 40 minutes

Japan, the pioneer of high-speed rail, is about to reclaim its throne with a new monster of a machine: the L0 Series Maglev.

While China's Shanghai Maglev currently holds the speed title, Japan's latest project is set to shatter records. Recent tests show the L0 Series clocking a staggering top speed of 603.5 km/h, nearly double the speed of the current Shinkansen and far surpassing the Shanghai Maglev (460 km/h).

This is a massive win for travellers hoping to hit Japan's most popular cities. The first leg of the Chuo Shinkansen line will connect Tokyo to Nagoya in just 40 minutes. Currently, the trip takes about an hour and a half on the fastest Nozomi train. 

There will be an eventual extension to Osaka, too, cutting that journey down to a mere 67 minutes. Besides the time-savings, it's also pretty cool to be travelling on a train that literally floats above the tracks – no wheels, means no friction, resulting in an incredibly fast ride.

When can you hop on?

We'd love to book a ticket for this weekend, but futuristic tech takes time. While construction is underway, it's been stalled due to complex tunneling through the Shizuoka region. For now, the Tokyo-Nagoya section is projected sometime between 2034 and 2035. 

Japan's rail systems remain the gold standard, though, so don't let the delays hold you back – especially when it's one of the country's most affordable cherry blossom seasons, yet. Check out our guide to the official sakura forecast for 2026 to get started on planning.  

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