The Kyoto governor's election is set to be announced on the 19th, amidst significant controversy regarding the proposed route of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension into the Kansai region, particularly its passage through the underground of central Kyoto. The current governor, Takatoshi Nishiwaki, who is vying for re-election, has not taken a clear stance on the route, stating his focus on monitoring the ruling party's decisions. In past conferences and meetings, Nishiwaki has avoided definitive comments about the merits of the route, emphasizing that it is up to national authorities and the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency to determine the appropriateness of the route, all while garnering support from both ruling and opposition parties.

In the election, Nishiwaki is facing challenges from other candidates, including independent newcomer Nobuo Fujii, an honorary professor at Kyoto Kacho University, who publicly opposes the extension through Kyoto, supported by the Communist Party, which is against the plan in general. Another candidate, Satoshi Hamada, a former member of the NHK Party in the House of Councillors, advocates for a route that avoids central Kyoto, proposing instead a path that would pass through Maizuru City. The current route, known as the 'Obama-Kyoto route', is designed to connect Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture to Osaka via central Kyoto and was decided by the LDP-Komeito government before Nishiwaki took office in 2016.

There is growing opposition from citizens against the plan to lay the tunnel more than 40 meters underground through the central area, which they argue could threaten the local groundwater that supports life in Kyoto. The Kyoto basin is surrounded by mountains, making the local ecology and water supply particularly sensitive to disturbances, leading to heightened concerns about the long-term implications of such infrastructure projects for the residents and environment of Kyoto.