The is a small-sector

private railway A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector. Japan In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railway o ...

company operating a railway line in northern

Saitama Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture ...

, Japan. In addition to its railway operations, the company deals in the real estate and tourism industries. It managed the Mitsumine Ropeway (三峰ロープウェイ) until it closed in December 2007 and the Mikajiri Line until its closure in 2020.

Taiheiyo Cement is a Japanese cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel (aggrega ...

is its largest shareholder, and one of Chichibu Railway's main operations is the transportation of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

from

Mount Bukō is a mountain in Chichibu, Saitama is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 61,159 in 26,380 households and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Geography Chichibu is ...

. The railway's passenger services concentrate on the tourism industry, as there are popular destinations along the line. A train hauled by a

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

also operates regularly during some seasons, attracting tourists from around the country.

Lines

Railway lines

Chichibu Main Line The is a railway line in Japan, owned by the private railway operator Chichibu Railway, linking and , both in Saitama Prefecture. Stations ;Legend * ● - All trains stop * ○ - Some trains stop * ▲ - Some trains pass * ▼ - Trains ...

: from to (passenger line)

Former Lines

* Mikajiri Line (三ヶ尻線): from

Takekawa Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Fukaya, Saitama, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Chichibu Railway. Lines Takekawa Station is served by the 71.7 km Chichibu Main Line from to , and is located 24.8&nbs ...

to Kumagaya Kamotsu Terminal (freight line closed in 2020)

Aerial tramway lines

* Mitsumine Ropeway at Mitsumineguchi (closed in December 2007)

History

* 8 November 1899 - Founded as Jōbu Railway (Headquartered in now-defunct

Nihonbashi is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603. The current ...

Ward,

Tokyo City was a Cities of Japan, municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo Prefecture (1868–1943), Tokyo-fu which existed from 1 May 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on 1 July 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by ...

). * 7 October 1901 - Started operations between

Kumagaya is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 195,277 in 87,827 households and a population density of 1200 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kumagaya is one of the largest c ...

and Yorii. * 1916 - Company name changed to Chichibu Railway. * 1921 - Started operations between Hokubu Railway's Hanyu Station and Gyoda Station (now Gyodashi Station). * 1922 - Chichibu Railway acquired Hokubu Railway. * 1930 - Started operations on the full line between Hanyu and Mitsumineguchi. * 1954 - Started direct operations with the

Tōbu Tōjō Line The is a 75.0 km suburban railway line in Japan which runs from Ikebukuro Station in Toshima, Tokyo to Yorii Station in Yorii, Saitama, operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway. Its official name is the , but it is referred to ...

. * 1980 - Headquarters moved to

Kumagaya, Saitama is a Cities of Japan, city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 195,277 in 87,827 households and a population density of 1200 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kumagaya is one ...

. * 1988 - Started operations of a steam locomotive-hauled train, the ''Paleo Express''. * 1989 - Started direct operations with

Seibu Railway is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism, and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbreviati ...

. * 1997 - Moved bus operations to a separate entity, Chichibu Railway Sightseeing Bus Co., Ltd. * 12 March 2022 - Start of fare collection with

PASMO is a rechargeable contactless smart card electronic money system. It is primarily used for public transport in Tokyo, Japan, where it was introduced on 18 March 2007. Pasmo can also be used as a payment card for vending machines and stores. ...

transit smartcard.

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.

External links

* {{Authority control Railway companies of Japan Companies based in Saitama Prefecture Japanese companies established in 1899 Railway companies established in 1899