final JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser();
    
    // Add listener on chooser to detect changes to current directory
    chooser.addPropertyChangeListener(new PropertyChangeListener() {
        public void propertyChange(PropertyChangeEvent evt) {
            if (JFileChooser.DIRECTORY_CHANGED_PROPERTY.equals(evt.getPropertyName())) {
                JFileChooser chooser = (JFileChooser)evt.getSource();
                File oldDir = (File)evt.getOldValue();
                File newDir = (File)evt.getNewValue();
    
                // The current directory should always be the same as newDir
                File curDir = chooser.getCurrentDirectory();
            }
        }
    }) ;